Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
23/07/2026 1:57 AM AWST
23/07/2026 1:57 AM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Develop and analyse the behaviour and suppression options for a Level 2 wildfire
Develop and analyse the behaviour and suppression options for a Level 2 wildfire
Unit of competency
National Code
PUAFIR512
PUAFIR512
State Code
WG130
WG130
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Transition (Replaced)
Transition (Replaced)
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
19/06/2013
Field of Education
039905 - Fire Technology
Original Release Date
19/06/2013
Nominal Hours
105
Description
This unit covers the competency required to provide an analysis of the spread and behaviour of an intermediate wildfire and to prepare fire suppression options that are appropriate for the expected fire behaviour. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Analyse factors impacting on the spread and behaviour of an intermediate wildfire and develop an incident prediction
- 1.1 Information on the current and future fire spread and fire behaviour is collected from a range of sources and recorded.
- 1.2 Analysis is conducted using consideration offuels and fuel assessment, weather analysis, the effects of topography and likely resultant fire behaviour.
- 1.3 Fire prediction toolsand references are effectively utilised in the analysis of fire spread and behaviour.
- 1.4 Results of the fire behaviour analysis are validated against fire observations as they become available.
2. Develop maps and data, and maintain associated information regarding projected fire spread and behaviour
- 2.1 Necessary map information and data is prepared.
- 2.2 Fire spread and behaviour projections are developed in a manner appropriate to the incident.
- 2.3 Use of the information in planning the control of the incident is facilitated through quality, timeliness and presentation of the information.
- 2.4 Fire spread and fire behaviour projections are updated as new weather and fire information becomes available.
3. Analyse and communicate key risks of the projected fire spread and behaviour
- 3.1 Site information is sought from agency databases or experts.
- 3.2 Area and timing of potential future impact of the fire is projected.
- 3.3 Key risks of the fire to human, economic and environmental assets are considered.
- 3.4 Fire and weather are monitored to assess if or when fire danger is likely to suddenly increase.
4. Prepare and analyse a range of fire suppression options consistent with incident objectives
- 4.1 Range of options with an analysis of probable level of success and consequences of failure is prepared for consideration by the Incident Management Team.
- 4.2 Time available and the threshold fire behaviour for which each strategy and tactic is likely to be effective are considered.
- 4.3 Projected changes to or variation in fire behaviour conditions (due to fuel, weather, topography, fire size) are considered.
- 4.4 Advice and analysis are provided to the Incident Management Team to assist in development of strategies and fallback strategies.
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.
Fire behaviour must include:
fire perimeter
fire size/growth/shape
fire whirls
flame characteristics (height and depth)
heat output and intensity
junction zones
rate of spread
smoke
spotting
Sources may include:
air or ground observations
automated weather stations
Bureau of Meteorology websites and/or fire weather experts
fire history maps
fuel type maps
fireground information, operational situation reports and infrared scans
geographic information systems (GIS) and agency site-related databases
land managers
persons with local knowledge
Consideration of fuels and fuel assessment may include:
bark fine fuels
canopy fine fuels
coarse fuels
coarse standing fuels
coarse surface fuels
dead course fuel moisture
dead fine fuel moisture
elevated fine fuels
fine fuels
fuel and fire behaviour
live fuel moisture
moisture content assessment
near surface fine fuels
surface fine fuels
total fuel load
Weather analysis may include:
atmospheric stability
Bureau of Meteorology products and tools
calculation of fire danger ratings
cold fronts
diurnal cycles
droughts
Foehn winds
Katabatic and Anabatic winds
long-term weather cycles
relative humidity and dew point temperature
sea breezes and land breezes
seasonal cycles
short-term and local weather effects
temperature
temperature inversions
wind gustiness and directional variation
wind speed and direction
Eeffects of topography on fire behaviour must include:
acceleration effects
dry upper winds - mixing/range effect
drought index and drought factor
fuel distribution
elevation
rockiness/continuity
land form (channelling)
slope and aspect
Fire prediction toolsand references may include:
CSIRO (Mcarthur) forest fire danger meter
CSIRO (Mcarthur) grassland fire danger meter
CSIRO (Mcarthur) grassland fire spread meter
Vesta fire model
WA forest fire behaviour tables
overall fuel hazard guide (DSE, 1999)
other fuel specific fire behaviour prediction systems (such as buttongrass in Tasmania, mallee-heath model, spinifex model)
Map information and data may include:
maps of fire spread, estimated at time intervals as required by the incident management team, with separate mapping for probable and possible scenarios
narrative regarding limitations, assumptions, prediction uncertainties and other comment to assist in the interpretation of the data
victoria fire behaviour estimates
Risks may include:
operational risk
public safety risk
risks to public and private assets
economic risk
environmental risk
legal risk
technical risk
political risk
Human, economic and environmental assets may include:
areas of environmental or conservation value
areas of tourism value
crops and farm assets
historic sites
indigenous cultural sites
key infrastructure such as a major bridge or power transmission lines
plantations
private or public buildings
towns or settlements
water catchments
Strategy may include:
offensive strategies:
direct attack
indirect attack
parallel attack
defensive strategies:
community and asset protection
Tactic may include:
aerial suppression
back-burning/burning out
control line construction (hand, machine)
Fire behaviour must include:
fire perimeter
fire size/growth/shape
fire whirls
flame characteristics (height and depth)
heat output and intensity
junction zones
rate of spread
smoke
spotting
Sources may include:
air or ground observations
automated weather stations
Bureau of Meteorology websites and/or fire weather experts
fire history maps
fuel type maps
fireground information, operational situation reports and infrared scans
geographic information systems (GIS) and agency site-related databases
land managers
persons with local knowledge
Consideration of fuels and fuel assessment may include:
bark fine fuels
canopy fine fuels
coarse fuels
coarse standing fuels
coarse surface fuels
dead course fuel moisture
dead fine fuel moisture
elevated fine fuels
fine fuels
fuel and fire behaviour
live fuel moisture
moisture content assessment
near surface fine fuels
surface fine fuels
total fuel load
Weather analysis may include:
atmospheric stability
Bureau of Meteorology products and tools
calculation of fire danger ratings
cold fronts
diurnal cycles
droughts
Foehn winds
Katabatic and Anabatic winds
long-term weather cycles
relative humidity and dew point temperature
sea breezes and land breezes
seasonal cycles
short-term and local weather effects
temperature
temperature inversions
wind gustiness and directional variation
wind speed and direction
Eeffects of topography on fire behaviour must include:
acceleration effects
dry upper winds - mixing/range effect
drought index and drought factor
fuel distribution
elevation
rockiness/continuity
land form (channelling)
slope and aspect
Fire prediction toolsand references may include:
CSIRO (Mcarthur) forest fire danger meter
CSIRO (Mcarthur) grassland fire danger meter
CSIRO (Mcarthur) grassland fire spread meter
Vesta fire model
WA forest fire behaviour tables
overall fuel hazard guide (DSE, 1999)
other fuel specific fire behaviour prediction systems (such as buttongrass in Tasmania, mallee-heath model, spinifex model)
Map information and data may include:
maps of fire spread, estimated at time intervals as required by the incident management team, with separate mapping for probable and possible scenarios
narrative regarding limitations, assumptions, prediction uncertainties and other comment to assist in the interpretation of the data
victoria fire behaviour estimates
Risks may include:
operational risk
public safety risk
risks to public and private assets
economic risk
environmental risk
legal risk
technical risk
political risk
Human, economic and environmental assets may include:
areas of environmental or conservation value
areas of tourism value
crops and farm assets
historic sites
indigenous cultural sites
key infrastructure such as a major bridge or power transmission lines
plantations
private or public buildings
towns or settlements
water catchments
Strategy may include:
offensive strategies:
direct attack
indirect attack
parallel attack
defensive strategies:
community and asset protection
Tactic may include:
aerial suppression
back-burning/burning out
control line construction (hand, machine)
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:
provide (for use by the Incident Management Team to plan the control of an intermediate wildfire):
accurate analysis and projection of fire spread and fire behaviour, indicating probable and possible scenarios
analysis of a range of appropriate fire suppression options
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated over time in actual or simulated wildfire incidents.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed in a range of actual or simulated wildfire incidents.
Specific resources for assessment
Access is required to:
range of actual or simulated fires
range of sources of information related to fire spread and behaviour
agency templates for fire behaviour prediction
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
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
provide (for use by the Incident Management Team to plan the control of an intermediate wildfire):
accurate analysis and projection of fire spread and fire behaviour, indicating probable and possible scenarios
analysis of a range of appropriate fire suppression options
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated over time in actual or simulated wildfire incidents.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed in a range of actual or simulated wildfire incidents.
Specific resources for assessment
Access is required to:
range of actual or simulated fires
range of sources of information related to fire spread and behaviour
agency templates for fire behaviour prediction
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
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAY49 | PUAFIR508 | Develop and analyse the behaviour and suppression options for a wildfire | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| BDL0 | DEF50717 | Diploma of Range Control and Management | Qualification |
| AD726 | DEFSS00019 | Range Control Skill Set | Skill set |