Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 10:37 AM AWST

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Suppress wildfire

Suppress wildfire

Unit of competency
National Code
PUAFIR303B
State Code
D2989
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Transition (Replaced)
Current Release Number
2.00
Current Release Date
13/03/2013
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
04/08/2014
Field of Education
039905 - Fire Technology
Original Release Date
04/08/2014
Nominal Hours
35
Description
This unit covers the competency required to work as a situation-aware member of a crew to apply appropriate fire control strategies and safe work practices to extinguish a wildfire, participate in mop-up and patrol operations, and prepare equipment for the next crew. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Receive and report details of wildfire
  • 1.1 Details of the wildfire including its location, type, behaviour and development are received and recorded.
  • 1.2 Fire details are reported in accordance with organisational procedures.
2. Prepare to respond to fire
  • 2.1 Location of the wildfire is confirmed and the safest effective access route is determined.
  • 2.2 Personal protective clothing and equipment, apparel, food and water are obtained before departure, in accordance with organisational requirements.
  • 2.3 Most appropriate method of transport to the wildfire is selected and used.
3. Proceed to fire
  • 3.1 Location of the wildfire is confirmed by observation or from instructions while on approach.
  • 3.2 Access to area is determined and achieved without injury to personnel or damage to vehicles, equipment or environmentally sensitive areas.
  • 3.3 Evidence observed on approach relevant to wildfire cause is noted and brought to the attention of the appropriate authority.
  • 3.4 Navigational aids are used for planning and operational purposes.
4. Protect people and assets
  • 4.1 As far as conditions allow, number, location and safety of people and assets in the threatened area is determined and assessed.
  • 4.2 Appropriate protective procedures are implemented under direction, to protect persons in the path of a wildfire.
  • 4.3 Access by the public and personnel to hazardous locations is controlled as directed and in accordance with organisational procedures.
  • 4.4 Defensibility of property is considered and, if appropriate, assistance is provided to help occupiers.
  • 4.5 Safety of people and assets in the threatened area is monitored during the course of the fire.
  • 4.6 Safety of people and security of assets in the area is checked and reported after the passing of the fire.
5. Combat wildfire
  • 5.1 Access to the area of operations is gained in the safest and most effective manner.
  • 5.2 Notification of arrival and appropriate report is provided.
  • 5.3 Briefing is received including area of operations, strategies and tactics to be employed.
  • 5.4 Most suitable location to commence wildfire control operations is selected.
  • 5.5 Firefighting media and equipment are selected and used effectively and safely in accordance with organisational procedures.
  • 5.6 Fire hazards are identified and action taken to minimise the risk of injury to the public, personnel and self.
  • 5.7 Firefighting strategies are implemented to achieve objectives in accordance with organisational procedures.
  • 5.8 Fire control activities are undertaken to minimise overall damage and impact on assets and the environment.
  • 5.9 Potentialfire behaviour is considered and acted upon to ensure safety and achievement of objective.
  • 5.10 Fuel, weather and topographicalfactors are observed and potential fire behaviour anticipated.
  • 5.11 Communication is maintained with supervisor and other firefighters in the work area.
  • 5.12 Fire reports are provided to supervisor as required.
  • 5.13 Area of origin and evidence of fire cause are protected and brought to attention of supervisor or relevant authority.
  • 5.14 Escape routes and safety zones are established and communicated to personnel.
6. Conduct mop-up and patrol activities
  • 6.1 Mop-up activities are carried out in accordance with guidelines and conditions.
  • 6.2 Patrol of the perimeter or sector of the fire is maintained in accordance with organisational procedures and guidelines.
7. Recover and maintain equipment
  • 7.1 Equipment is made up and made ready for operational use in accordance with organisational procedures.
  • 7.2 Damaged or missing equipment is replaced, recorded and/or reported in accordance with organisational procedures.
The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.
Types must include:
crown
ground
surface
Access may include:
aircraft
boat
foot
vehicle
Environmentally sensitive areas may include:
areas of:
fragile soils
native flora and fauna
rare and endangered species
threat to water quality
Navigational aids must include:
maps
and may also include:
aerial photographs
compass
global positioning systems
Assets may include:
area of rare or sensitive flora and fauna
buildings
culturally significant sites
crops
plantations
property
public lands
stock
utilities and infrastructure (rail, power and telephone lines, water supply structures, communications towers, bridges)
Protective procedures may include:
alerts and warnings
in-situ protection
relocation
Firefighting media must include:
water
and may also include:
Class A foam
earth
fire suppressants (short and long term)
retardants
wetting agent
Firefighting
equipment must include:
driptorch
hand tools
hose and small gear
pump
tanker
and may also include:
aircraft
chainsaw
earth moving machinery
knap sack
ropes and lines
Fire hazards must include:
burns
disorientation
environmental
falling branches and trees
falling objects
fatigue
heat-related illness (heat exhaustion and dehydration)
lack of visibility
manual handling
mine shafts
rolling objects
smoke inhalation
snake or insect bite
sprain or fracture
trips/falls
water bombing operation
Firefighting strategies must include:
combination attack
combined strategy
defensive strategy
direct attack
indirect attack
mop-up
offensive strategy
parallel attack
patrol
Potential fire behaviour may include:
fire development
flame height and intensity
fuel load and arrangement
rate of spread
spotting
change due to terrain, topography
change due to weather conditions - winds, fire whirls
Fuel may include:
crop
forest
grass
heath
plantation:
stage 1 - post establishment
stage 2 - pre-canopy closure
stage 3a - canopy closure (unpruned)
stage 3b - canopy closure (pruned)
stage 4 - thinned
stage 5 - mature
stage 6 - harvesting/clear felling
scrub
Fuel factors which may impact on fire development must include:
arrangement/distribution
effects of drought
moisture content
quantity
seasonal effects
size
topography
type
Weather factors which may impact on fire development must include:
anabatic winds
atmospheric stability
cold fronts
diurnal variations
katabatic winds
land breezes
local effects
relative humidity
sea breezes
temperature
vegetation edge effects
wind changes
wind direction and speed
Topographical factors which may impact on fire development must include:


aspect
elevation
local wind effects
slope
wind turbulence
Fire reports may include:
effectiveness of strategies and tactics
fire behaviour
number and status of resources
safety and hazards
weather
welfare of personnel
work achieved and required
Evidence of fire cause may include:

fresh vehicles tracks
nature and behaviour of fire at the scene upon arrival
nature and colour of smoke and number of columns
people and vehicles leaving the scene
whether gates on access routes to the fire are closed, opened or locked
Escape routes may include:
prepared tracks
roads
trails
waterways
Safety zones may include:
bare ground
burnt areas
clearings
rivers
site of a recent wildfire or prescribed burn
static water bodies
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
anticipate and react to changing wildfire behaviour
observe and react to weather behaviour
accurately assess whether or not it is safe to defend assets
undertake dry wildfire control activity
monitor effectiveness of tactics
use firefighting equipment and extinguishing media
maintain safety and health of self, other workers and people in the wildfire area
use communication equipment
read maps
protect area of origin and evidence of fire cause
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of actual and/or simulated workplace environments.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Evidence of performance at a wildfire or prescribed burn is required for attainment of Elements 5 and 6 of this unit.
The remaining elements should be assessed in an agency approved field-based environment or simulation.
Specific resources for assessment
Access is required to:
access to wildfire or prescribed burns and/or approved field-based environment
firefighting equipment and extinguishing media
Method of assessment
In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook.
Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment.
Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an agency-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include:
direct observation
interviewing the candidate
journals and workplace documentation
third party reports from supervisors
written or oral questions
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
C5765 PUAFIR303A Suppress wildfire Unit of competency
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
OAY87 PUAFIR303 Suppress wildfire Unit of competency