Elements and Performance Criteria

Types of fire must include
structures
mobile property
non-structures
fires involving dangerous goods and/or hazardous materials

Protective clothing and equipment must include
turnout uniform and gloves
eye protection
hearing protection
breathing apparatus
chemical protective clothing

Access methods must include
forcible entry
normal entry
roof access from ladder and or aerial appliance

Equipment must include
Hoses and hose fittings
branches, nozzles and monitors
standpipes, hydrants and booster connections
small gear and ancillary equipment
ladders and rope lines
forcible entry tools
fire extinguishers
radios
breathing apparatus and control equipment
portable lights
salvage gear

Fire extinguishing media must include
water
foam
extinguishing powder
gaseous extinguishing agents
and may also include
other fire extinguishing substances
vaporising liquids

Water supplies must include
reticulated
static
open

On-scene hazards must include
smoke, darkness and heat
electricity
gas
structural hazards
structural collapse
industrial (machinery, equipment, products)
hazardous products and materials
unauthorised personnel

Casualty assistance must include
handing over to ambulance, medical care, or other organisation
first aid
provision of refreshment
protection from the elements

Firefighting considerations must include
type of fire
fire exposures
topography
size of fire
weather
available firefighting resources
extinguishing media
signs of structural collapse

Firefighting strategies must include
rescuing occupants
protecting exposures
confining the spread of fire
extinguishment
salvage and overhaul
ventilation

Firefighting methods and tactics must include
cooling the fuels
interrupting the chemical chain reaction
removal of fuels
exclusion of oxygen
ventilation

Firefighting activities must include
locating and accessing the fire
search and rescue
anticipation of fire behaviour
ensuring safety
application of extinguishing media
application techniques to maximise the effect and minimise the damage
finding evidence of fire cause

Firefighting techniques must include
defensive mode
offensive mode
direct attack
indirect attack
combination attack
overhead
direction of attack

Changing conditions at the fire must include
other materials becoming involved in fire
increase/decrease in heat of fire
increase/decrease in oxygen available to fire
increase/decrease in fuel available to fire
impending structural collapse

Evidence of changing conditions at the fire may include
weather conditions
flame colour and size
smoke colour
fire spread
signs of structural collapse

Ancillary activities may include participating in
guarding against hazards
ventilation
salvage
overhaul
making-up equipment
securing the area
damming water run off

Recording incident information must include
recording information in accordance with organisational requirements
and may also include
attendance records
objectives set
strategies and tactics
owners/occupants details
values
equipment used
problems encountered
completing personal notebooks logs and/or report forms

Environmental damage may include
Air
water
soil
hazards to flora and fauna

Critical aspects of evidence
It is essential for this unit that competence is demonstrated in:
identification of different construction types and their behaviour in fire
identification of signs of structural collapse
application of firefighting tactics
selection and use of appropriate protective clothing
selection and use of firefighting equipment
actions implemented in the workplace to avoid the risk of injury
breathing apparatus procedures

Interdependent assessment of units
Pre-requisite units:
PUAFIR201A Prevent injury
PUAFIR207A Operate breathing apparatus
Co-requisite units:
PUAEME001A Provide emergency care

Underpinning knowledge
identification of various building types including structural elements and materials, causes and signs of structural failure
behaviour of a building/structure in a fire
fire ground signals (audible and visual)
natural ventilation procedures
salvage and overhaul
organisational procedures
fire tetrahedron
methods of heat transfer
principles and methods of extinguishment
fire behaviour
portable fire extinguishers
extinguishing media
firefighting foams
hazards
procedures for working with ladders, ropes and lines and
tying knots
map reading
firefighting tactics, techniques, and procedures
safe work practices
breathing apparatus procedures

Underpinning skills
applying extinguishing media to the fire
obtaining water from reticulated/static water supplies
operating a fire extinguisher
operating a branch
search and rescue procedures
moving in smoke and darkness
use of BA and BA equipment

Resource implications
access to a range of controlled or simulated fires
firefighting equipment
extinguishing media
breathing apparatus and associated equipment

Consistency of performance
Evidence should be gathered over a period of time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments.

Context of assessment
A combination of oral or written presentation, observation on the job and/or in a range of simulated environments.