Qualification details

Release 1.  This is the first release of this qualification in the PUA Public Safety Training Package.

The PUA60922 Advanced Diploma of Public Safety (Fire Investigation) is designed for firefighting professionals performing fire investigations. Fire investigation is the analysis of the origin and cause of unexplained or suspicious fires using basic fire science skills and knowledge.

The role of a fire investigator is to analyse fire-related incidents to determine whether a crime has been committed. This includes reviewing the remains of a fire and seeking to obtain information to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the incident. Fires can involve a variety of ignition sources and fuels, therefore, fire investigators need to have a working understanding of areas such as construction, electricity and mechanical devices.

This qualification includes the units of competency required by fire investigators to perform a range of activities such as conducting investigations, analysing fire origin and cause and attending judicial hearings. It typically involves the use of specialised equipment, resources and services.

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 qualification at the time of publication.

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

A total of 15  units of competency is required for this qualification, comprising:

• 12 core units  listed below; plus
• 3 elective units  from the general elective units listed.

Choose a minimum of 1 elective unit from Group A related to either fire and land management or air service fire operation agencies.

Choose the remaining 2 elective units from Group B or elsewhere within this Training Package or another endorsed Training Package or accredited course.

All elective units selected from outside this qualification must contribute to the vocational outcome of the qualification. Where imported units are selected, care must be taken to ensure that all prerequisite units specified are complied with. Prerequisites attached to any of the units must be obtained and are additional to the number of units required for this qualification.

Where a prerequisite is attached to a unit it is identified by the symbol ∟.

Note: 

Refer to the PUA Public Safety Training Package Companion Volume Implementation Guide for information on fire prerequisites.

Core units  

CPPINV3032

Develop factual investigation reports

POLFOR021

Use and maintain specialist forensic equipment

PSPREG039

Gather information through interviews

PUAFIR605

Determine origin and cause of mobile property fire

∟ PUALAW001 Protect and preserve incident scene

∟ PUALAW002 Conduct initial investigation at incident scene

PUAFIR606

Apply principles of combustion and fire dynamics to fire scene investigation

PUAFIR607

Apply electrical/electronic knowledge to fire investigations

∟ PUAFIR605 Determine origin and cause of mobile property fire

∟ PUAFIR609 Collect, record and coordinate the analysis of physical evidence

* and one of the following:

∟ PUAFIR603 Determine origin and cause of wildfire

∟ PUAFIR604 Determine origin and cause of structure fire

PUAFIR608

Investigate fatal fires

∟ PUAFIR605 Determine origin and cause of mobile property fire

∟ PUAFIR609 Collect, record and coordinate the analysis of physical evidence

* and one of the following:

∟ PUAFIR603 Determine origin and cause of wildfire

∟ PUAFIR604 Determine origin and cause of structure fire

PUAFIR609

Collect, record and coordinate the analysis of physical evidence

∟ PUALAW001 Protect and preserve incident scene

PUAFIR610

Manage imaging and electronic data

PUALAW003

Give evidence in a judicial or quasi-judicial setting

PUALAW004

Represent the organisation in a judicial or quasi-judicial setting

PUAWHS002

Maintain safety at an incident scene

∟ PUAFIR210 Prevent injury

Group A: Elective units 

PUAFIR603

Determine origin and cause of wildfire

∟ PUAFIR303 Suppress wildfire

∟ PUALAW001 Protect and preserve incident scene

∟PUALAW002 Conduct initial investigation at incident scene

PUAFIR604

Determine origin and cause of structure fire

∟ PUAFIR302 Suppress urban fire

∟ PUALAW001 Protect and preserve incident scene

∟ PUALAW002 Conduct initial investigation at incident scene

Group B: Elective units 

DEFFOR014

Compile and submit digital forensic documentation

PUACOM016

Manage media requirements at major incident

PUAFIR001

Coordinate state aerial operations

PUAFIR004

Manage complex aerial operations for an incident

PUAFIR611

Process and analyse fire scene data and laboratory results

∟ PUAFIR609 Collect, record and coordinate the analysis of physical evidence

PUAFIR612

Undertake post-incident analysis

∟CPPINV3032 Develop factual investigation reports

∟ PUAFIR605 Determine origin and cause of mobile property fire

*and one of the following:

∟ PUAFIR603 Determine origin and cause of wildfire

∟ PUAFIR604 Determine origin and cause of structure fire

This qualification replaces and is equivalent to PUA60919 Advanced Diploma of Public Safety (Fire Investigation).