This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to prepare, conduct and evaluate simple 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. A simple prescribed burn is characterised by low risk, low intensity, small area, low potential impact on assets, completion in one shift and minimal variation of fuel and terrain.

A prescribed burn plan is an approved plan for the conduct of prescribed burning, it includes a map identifying the area to be burned and incorporates the specifications and conditions under which the operation is to be conducted.

The unit is applicable to personnel responsible for preparing, conducting and evaluating a simple prescribed burn 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.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Prepare to burn

1.1

Burn operations for a simple prescribed burn are identified and undertaken, in accordance with approved prescribed burn plan, burn plan 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 persons 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 are 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 and prescribed burn plan

1.8

Resource requirements are confirmed with reference to burn plan

2

Conduct burn

2.1

Prescribed 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 are briefed, in accordance with prescribed burn plan and contingency arrangements

2.5

Burn ignition strategies, including lighting techniques patterns and sequences are implemented, in accordance with organisational procedures and prescribed burn plan

2.6

Burning is monitored, patrol activities are conducted and operational changes made, as required

2.7

Contingencies are implemented, in accordance with prescribed burn plan, as required

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 procedures

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 the burn are assessed against burn objectives, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.2

Variations from the 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

Prescribed burn records are submitted, in accordance with the organisational procedures

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

prescribed burn plan must include

approval of plan for the conduct of prescribed burning

map identifying area to be burned

specifications and conditions under which operation is to be conducted

burn objectives must include one or more of the following

asset protection

biodiversity protection

community protection

habitat management

hazard reduction

management of cultural sites and activities

protection of fire sensitive ecological communities

vegetation management

personnel or organisation must include one or more of the following

personnel or organisations who

have an interest in adjacent land to which a burn could spread

have an interest in managing the consequences of a burn

have an interest in specific assets

have an interest in the area to be burned

may be concerned by evidence of a burn

resources must include one or more of the following

contingency resources

crews for control, suppression and ground ignition

equipment and supplies

logistical support

other vehicles

tankers

burn ignition strategies and tactics must include

contingency arrangements

fire behaviour to be achieved

ignition methods, lighting patterns, sequencing and timing of ignition

lighting techniques must include one or more of the following

hand held

vehicle mounted propelled incendiaries

wind and waterproof matches

lighting techniques and patterns must include

contour lighting

echelon

grid

line

multi-line

spot

lighting sequence must include one or more of the following

lighting sequences that considers

fuel arrangement

fuel moisture

slope

time of day

wind direction

monitoring burn must include one or more of the following

fire shape and spread

flame height

fuel moisture content

predictions

rate of spread

recording

safety considerations

smoke development

weather observation

wind speed and direction

concluding operations and burn security must include one or more of the following

mitigating hazards for public safety

mopping up and black out

patrolling burn area

reopening roads

transfer of responsibility, as per organisational procedures

outcomes of the burn must include one or more of the following

achievement of burn objectives

escapes

external impacts

levels of scorch

percentage of area burnt

reporting and storage of burn documentation

Fire

Fire