Suppress Wildfire

PUAFIR303B – Suppress  wildfire

CERTIFICATE III

Overview

The suppression of wildfires requires a team approach from the time a fire is reported, until it is made safe. It requires accurate reception of reported information, careful preparation and travel to the fire location, application of safe and appropriate fire control strategies, and timely recovery and maintenance of equipment in readiness for further deployment.

This learner resource will assist an individual to gain the skills and knowledge to work as a member of a team when suppressing a wildfire, in some situations without direct supervision.

Target

audience

The target audience for this training are individuals who are required to work as a member of a team when suppressing a wildfire and who may be working without direct supervision.

Nominal

duration

80 hours

Relationship to PUA units

This document is part of the support materials for the unit of competency, PUAFIR303B Suppress Wildfire. PUAFIR303B is a core unit in Certificate III in Public Safety (Firefighting Operations) and an elective unit in Certificate III in Public Safety (Firefighting and Emergency Operations).

Course
content

This learner resource is divided into seven sections.

·         Section 1 discusses fire reporting and resource preparation.

·         Section 2 examines issues that must be considered in accessing the fire location, including the protection of evidence of fire cause.

·         Section 3 discusses fire behaviour and the factors that should be assessed in describing and predicting it.

·         Section 4 examines fire suppression strategies and tactics.

·         Section 5 examines backburning and burning out operations.

·         Section 6 discusses the implementation of strategies and tactics in attacking and mopping up a wildfire.

·         Section 7 discusses the hazards of wildfires, how to identify and avoid them.

Learning objectives

On completion of PUAFIR303B, participants will be able to:

·         work as a member of a team when suppressing a wildfire, in some situations without direct supervision

·         demonstrate the procedures for fire reporting and resource preparation and accessing the fire location, including the protection of evidence of fire cause

·         describe fire behaviour and the factors that should be assessed in describing and predicting it

·         identify a range of techniques for wildfire suppression and tactics

·         demonstrate and describe the techniques used for lighting a backburn and describe the importance of controlling a backburn

·         describe and demonstrate the procedures to be followed when attacking and mopping up a wildfire

·         identify and describe the precautions to be taken against the hazards of wildfire firefighting.