Respond to Wildfire

PUAFIR204B – Respond to wildfire

CERTIFICATE II

Overview

Safe and effective response to a wildfire requires teams of firefighters who are well prepared, can access a fire area safely, can use a range of firefighting equipment to implement a range of suppression techniques effectively, can safely react to changing wildfire behaviour in a timely way and can conclude operations ready for further deployment. This learner resource will assist an individual to gain the skills and knowledge to respond to a wildfire as a member of a team, under direct supervision.

Target

audience

The target audience for this training are individuals who are required to respond to a wildfire as a member of a team under direct supervision.

Nominal

duration

60 hours

Relationship to PUA units

This document is a part of the support materials for the unit of competency, PUAFIR204B Respond to Wildfire. PUAFIR204B is a core unit in Certificate II in Public Safety (Firefighting Operations) and an elective unit in Certificate II in Public Safety (Firefighting and Emergency Operations).

Course
content

This learner resource is divided into four sections.

·         Section 1 discusses individual and crew preparation, factors to consider in approaching a wildfire safely, and the importance of observing and protecting evidence of fire cause.

·         Section 2 discusses wildfire behaviour, including the basic processes of combustion, and the way fire behaviour can change in response to changes in fuel, weather and topography.

·         Section 3 discusses wildfire suppression, including the options available in suppression techniques, the types of equipment commonly used, how to work with aircraft in wildfire suppression, and the principles of good communication at wildfire incidents.

·         Section 4 discusses the hazards encountered at wildfires, how to avoid them, and how to survive in life-threatening situations.

Learning objectives

On completion of PUAFIR204B, participants should be able to:

·         respond to a wildfire as a member of a team, under direct supervision

·         identify and apply procedures for individual and crew preparation

·         list and explain the factors to consider in approaching a wildfire safely

·         explain the importance of observing and protecting evidence of fire cause

·         identify the factors which affect wildfire behaviour, including process of combustion, and the way fire behaviour can change in response to changes in fuel, weather and topography

·         describe and demonstrate wildfire suppression strategies and tactics

·         demonstrate the use of wildfire firefighting equipment

·         demonstrate safe work practices when working in or around aircraft

·         identify hazards encountered at wildfires; demonstrate procedures to avoid hazards, and how to survive in life-threatening situations.