Description

Pre-requisites

Pre-requisite units:

• PUAFIR201B Prevent injury
• PUAFIR207B Operate breathing apparatus

Co-requisite units:

• PUAEME001B Provide emergency care

Performance Criteria

1. Proceed to fire

1.1. Information received about the location and type of fire is recorded in accordance with the organisation’s requirements
1.2. Appropriate protective clothing is donned in accordance with the organisation’s procedures
1.3. The most effective route to the fire is identified

2. Prepare extinguishing media and/or equipment for use

2.1. Water supplies at the incident to support firefighting are located
2.2. Equipment to access and supply water to the firefighting operations is identified and assembled according to organisation’s procedures
2.3. Nominated extinguishing media and or equipment is identified, obtained and/or accessed
2.4. Extinguishing media and equipment are used in accordance with the manufacturers’ specifications and the organisation’s procedures

3. Enter the structure

3.1. Hazards are identified, monitored and controlled in accordance with the organisation’s procedures
3.2. Protective clothing selected is appropriate to the hazards
3.3. Breathing apparatus is checked and donned in accordance with the organisation’s procedures
3.4. Breathing apparatus procedures are followed
3.5. Structure is entered in accordance with the organisation’s procedures and safety practices
3.6. Safe paths of egress are identified and maintained at all times
3.7. Access to the fire is gained, protecting life and minimising damage to property and environment in accordance with the organisation’s procedures

4. Conduct search and rescue

4.1. Systematic primary and secondary searches are conducted
4.2. Rooms are searched and marked in accordance with the organisation’s procedures
4.3. Occupants are led to safety
4.4. Casualties are located and rescued in accordance with the organisation’s procedures
4.5. Casualty assistance is provided
4.6. Fatalities are located and protected in accordance with the organisation’s procedures and relevant legislation

5. Combat fires

5.1. Personal safety is maintained at all times in accordance with the organisation’s procedures and occupational health and safety guidelines
5.2. Organisational firefighting tactics are received, confirmed and implemented as directed
5.3. Equipment and extinguishing media used to combat the fire are appropriate to the class of fire and support operational procedures
5.4. Firefighting equipment is positioned to achieve maximum affect in suppressing the fire and/or protecting exposures
5.5. Extinguishing media are applied using appropriate application techniques
5.6. Fire suppression techniques applied minimise hazards to occupants trapped or lost within the structure
5.7. Communications with other team members and the supervisor are maintained throughout the incident
5.8. Breathing apparatus is operated in accordance with the organisation’s procedures

6. Observe and react to changes in conditions and fire behaviour

6.1. Changing conditions at the fire are observed and their effects on fire behaviour are noted and reported
6.2. Firefighting tactics are adapted to meet changing conditions and fire behaviour

7. Participate in ancillary operations

7.1. Ancillary operations to complement firefighting operations and prevent further damage to the structure and its contents are undertaken
7.2. Water run off from fire is monitored and conditions reported to the supervisor
7.3. Firefighting and ancillary activities at the incident avoid or minimise risk and/or damage to the environment

8. Conclude firefighting operations

8.1. Firefighting equipment is collected and stowed at the incident
8.2. The incident scene is made safe for the public
8.3. Defective or missing equipment is identified and reported
8.4. Assistance is given to complete and record appropriate incident information

Key Competencies

Communicating ideas and information

• Communicate ideas and information to reporting procedures (verbal and written) 

Collecting analysing and organising information

• Collect, organise and understand information related to recognising and reporting situations

 Planning and organising activities 

• Plan and organise activities which implement and follow standard procedures 

Working with others and in teams

• Work with others and in a team by assisting and cooperating with team members 

Using mathematical ideas and techniques 

• Use mathematical ideas and techniques to document and report numbers for emergency procedures

Solving problems 

• Establish diagnostic processes which recommend improvements for OH&S issues

Using technology 

• Use workplace technology related to the use of technology to assist with safe work practices

Range Statement

Types of fire must include

• structure fires
• mobile property
• non-structures
• fires involving dangerous goods and/or hazardous materials

Protective clothing must include

• Turnout uniform and gloves
• eye protection
• hearing protection
• breathing apparatus
• chemical protective clothing

Access methods into must include

• forcible entry
• normal entry
• roof access from ladder and or aerial appliance

Equipment must include

• hoses and hose fittings
• branches
• nozzles
• standpipes
• small gear and ancillary equipment
• rope lines
• forcible entry tools such as cutting tools, axes, bolt cutters
• fire extinguishers
• radios
• breathing apparatus and control equipment
• portable lights
• salvage gear

Fire extinguishing media must include

• water
• foam
• extinguishing powder
• gaseous extinguishing agents

and may also include

• other fire extinguishing substances
• vaporising liquids

Water supplies must include

• reticulated
• static
• open

On-scene hazards must include

• smoke
• darkness and heat
• electricity
• gas
• structural hazards
• structural collapse
• industrial (machinery, equipment, products) hazardous products and materials
• unauthorised personnel

Casualty assistance must include

• handing over to ambulance
• medical care
• or other organisation
• first aid
• provision of refreshment
• protection from the elements

Firefighting considerations must include

• type of fire, fire exposures
• topography
• size of fire
• weather
• available firefighting resources
• extinguishing media
• signs of structural collapse

Firefighting strategies must include

• rescuing occupants
• protecting exposures
• confining the spread of fire
• extinguishment
• salvage and overhaul
• ventilation

Firefighting methods and tactics must include

• cooling the fuels
• interrupting the chemical chain reaction
• removal of fuels
• exclusion of oxygen
• ventilation

Firefighting activities must include

• locating and accessing the fire
• search and rescue
• anticipation of fire behaviour
• ensuring safety
• application of extinguishing media
• application techniques to maximise the effect and minimise the damage
• finding evidence of fire cause

Firefighting techniques must include

• defensive mode
• offensive mode
• direct attack
• indirect attack
• combination attack
• overhead
• direction of attack

Changing conditions at the fire must include

• other materials becoming involved in fire
• increase/decrease in heat of fire
• increase/decrease in oxygen available to fire
• increase/decrease in fuel available to fire
• impending structural collapse

Evidence of changing conditions at the fire must include

• weather conditions
• flame colour and size
• smoke colour
• fire spread
• signs of structural collapse

Ancillary activities may include

• guarding against hazards
• ventilation
• salvage
• overhaul
• assisting with making-up equipment
• securing the area
• damming water run off

Recording incident information must include

• recording information in accordance with organisational requirements

and may also include

• attendance records
• objectives set
• strategies and tactics
• owners/occupants details
• values
• equipment used
• problems encountered
• completing personal notebooks logs and/or report forms

Environmental damage may include

• air
• soil
• water
• hazards to flora and fauna

Evidence Guide

Critical Aspects of Evidence

It is essential for this unit that competence be demonstrated in:

• identification of different construction types and their behaviour in fire
• identification of signs of structural collapse
• application of firefighting tactics
• selection and use of appropriate protective clothing
• selection and use of firefighting equipment
• actions implemented in the workplace to avoid the risk of injury
• breathing apparatus procedures

Underpinning Knowledge

• identification of various building types including structural
• elements and materials, causes and signs of structural failure
• behaviour of a building/structure in a fire
• fire ground signals (audible and visual)
• natural ventilation procedures
• salvage and overhaul
• organisational procedures
• fire tetrahedron
• methods of heat transfer
• principles and methods of extinguishment
• fire behaviour
• portable fire extinguishers
• extinguishing media
• firefighting foams
• hazards
• procedures for working with ladders, ropes and lines and tying knots
• map reading
• firefighting tactics, techniques, and procedures
• safe work practices
• breathing apparatus procedures

Underpinning Skills

• applying extinguishing media to the fire
• obtaining water from reticulated/static water supplies
• operating a fire extinguisher
• operating a branch
• search and rescue procedures
• moving in smoke and darkness
• use of BA and BA equipment

Resource implications

• access to a range of controlled or simulated fires
• firefighting equipment
• extinguishing media
• breathing apparatus and associated equipment

Consistency in performance

• Evidence should be gathered over a period of time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments

Context of assessment

• A combination of oral or written presentation, observation on the job and/or in a range of simulated environments