Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 4:27 PM AWST

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Conduct complex prescribed burns

Conduct complex prescribed burns

Unit of competency
National Code
PUAFIR506
State Code
OAY51
TGA Status
Current
DTWD Status
Approved
Current Release Number
2.00
Current Release Date
08/02/2021
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
08/04/2020
Field of Education
039905 - Fire Technology
Original Release Date
08/04/2020
Nominal Hours
105
Description
This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to prepare and conduct complex prescribed burns, in accordance with approved burn plans.A prescribed burn is the controlled application of fire under specified environmental conditions to a predetermined area and at the time, intensity and rate of spread required to attain planned resource management objectives. An approved prescribed burn plan includes a map identifying the area to be burned and incorporates the specifications and conditions under which the operation is to be conducted.Complex prescribed burns are characterised by moderate to high risk, a range of fire intensity, being in medium to large areas, having significant potential impact on assets and involving a variety of fuels and terrain. A burn operation may involve a large number of resources requiring the establishment of a formal management and support structure. A prescribed burn may require several separate ignitions (ground and/or aerial) possibly over several days. It may have several high value assets requiring complex protection actions. The unit applies to personnel responsible for preparing, conducting and evaluating complex prescribed burns on public and private land.The fire sector is those sections of government departments, statutory authorities or organisations that have responsibility under jurisdictional arrangements for the delivery of firefighting and fire management services.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Prepare to burn
  • 1.1 Complex prescribed burn operations are identified and undertaken, in accordance with approved prescribed burn plan, burn objectives, organisational procedures, and legislative and regulatory requirements
  • 1.2 Permits are obtained, in accordance with organisational procedures and legislative and regulatory requirements
  • 1.3 Burn notifications and plans are issued to personnel or organisations, in accordance with prescribed burn plan, organisational procedures and legislative requirements
  • 1.4 Control lines, including secondary control lines are specified and prepared, in accordance with organisational procedures
  • 1.5 Prescribed burn plan, operational hazards and risks to safety of people, property, assets, ecology and environment are identified and risk mitigation works completed
  • 1.6 Forecast weather conditions are monitored, recorded and assessed, in accordance with organisational procedures
  • 1.7 Fuel conditions are monitored, in accordance with organisational procedures
  • 1.8 Resource requirements are confirmed with reference to burn plan and anticipated conditions
  • 1.9 Forecast weather conditions are monitored throughout prescribed complex burn
2 Conduct burn
  • 2.1 Burn notifications are issued, in accordance with organisational procedures
  • 2.2 Pre-burn checks are conducted, in accordance with organisational procedures
  • 2.3 Local weather conditions for day of burn are monitored and contingency arrangements actioned and communicated accordingly
  • 2.4 Resources are gathered and personnel briefed, in accordance with prescribed burn plan and contingency arrangements
  • 2.5 Burn ignition strategies and tactics are implemented, in accordance with prescribed burn plan and organisational procedures including lighting techniques for ground and/or aerial ignition, as relevant to the specific burn, lighting patterns and lighting sequence
  • 2.6 Burning is monitored, patrol activities are conducted and operational changes made, as required
  • 2.7 Contingencies are implemented, as required, in accordance with prescribed burn plan
  • 2.8 Burn documentation is kept, in accordance with organisational procedures
  • 2.9 Burn operations are concluded and burn security is implemented in accordance with organisational requirements
  • 2.10 Crews are debriefed and resources released from the burn
  • 2.11 Incidents are reported and investigated in accordance with organisational procedures
3 Conduct post burn activities
  • 3.1 Outcomes of burn are assessed and reported against burn objectives, in accordance with organisational procedures
  • 3.2 Variations from burn plan are reported, in accordance with organisational procedures
  • 3.3 Restoration and rehabilitation works are identified and carried out, in accordance with organisational procedures
  • 3.4 Complex prescribed burn records are submitted, in accordance with organisational procedures
No information
No information
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
WG129 PUAFIR511 Conduct complex prescribed burns Unit of competency