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

This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to respond to an urban fire where offensive and defensive strategies are used. It includes proceeding to a fire, preparing extinguishing media and/or equipment for use, entering a structure, conducting search and rescues and combatting fires.

The unit applies to firefighting personnel who work as a member of a team, under direct supervision. Work at this level is undertaken under direct supervision, and with instruction.

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.

It is essential that the prerequisite units listed below are obtained prior to the issuance of this unit to individuals within the fire sector or the units contributing to the attainment of a fire qualification.

PUAFIR207 Operate breathing apparatus open circuit

Fire

Fire

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1  

Proceed to fire 

1.1 

Information received about the location and type of fire is confirmed

1.2 

Appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment is donned, in accordance with organisational procedures

1.3 

Most effective route to the fire is identified and navigated safely

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 firefighting operations are identified and assembled, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.3 

Nominated extinguishing media and/or equipment is identified, obtained and accessed

2.4 

Extinguishing media and equipment are used, in accordance with manufacturers’ specifications and organisational procedures

3 

Enter the structure 

3.1 

Hazards are identified, monitored and controlled, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.2 

Personal protective clothing and equipment selected is appropriate to the hazards

3.3 

Organisational breathing apparatus procedures and safe work practices are followed

3.4 

Structure is entered, in accordance with organisational procedures and safety practices

3.5 

Safe paths of access and egress are identified and maintained throughout the incident

3.6 

Life is protected and damage to property and the environment is minimised, in accordance with organisational 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 organisational procedures

4.3 

Casualties are located, assisted and rescued, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.4 

Fatalities are located and protected, in accordance with organisational procedures and relevant legislation

4.5 

All persons are accounted for and information is reported utilising the organisations chain of command.

5 

Combat fires 

5.1 

Personal safety is maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures and workplace health and safety guidelines

5.2 

Organisational firefighting objectives, strategies and tactics are received, confirmed and implemented as directed

5.3 

Firefighting considerations are taken into account when implementing firefighting tactics

5.4 

Equipment and extinguishing media used to combat the fire are appropriate to the class of fire and support firefighting requirements

5.5 

Firefighting equipment is positioned to achieve maximum effect in suppressing the fire, protecting exposures and preserving evidence of fire cause

5.6 

Extinguishing media is applied using appropriate application techniques

5.7 

Fire suppression techniques are applied to minimise hazards to occupants trapped or lost within the structure

5.8 

Communication with team members and the supervisor are maintained throughout the incident

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 

Evidence of changing conditions at the fire are reported

6.3 

Firefighting tactics are adapted to meet changing conditions and fire behaviour

7 

Participate in ancillary operations 

7.1 

Ancillary activities to complement firefighting operations and prevent further damage to the structure and its contents are undertaken

7.2 

Water runoff from the fire is monitored and conditions are reported

7.3 

Damage to the environment at the incident is minimised through appropriate firefighting and ancillary activities

8 

Conclude firefighting operations 

8.1 

Firefighting equipment is collected and stowed at the incident

8.2 

Incident scene is made safe for the public

8.3 

Defective or missing equipment is identified and reported

8.4 

Incident information is record and completed, in accordance with 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.

types of fire must include

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

personal protective clothing and equipment must include

• breathing apparatus
• eye protection
• hearing protection
• turnout uniform and gloves

water supplies must include

• open
• reticulated
• static

equipment must include

• and may also include other extinguishing substances
• BA and control equipment
• branches, nozzles and monitors
• fire extinguishers
• forcible entry tools
• hoses and hose fittings
• ladders and rope lines
• portable lights
• radios
• salvage gear
• small gear and ancillary equipment
• standpipes, hydrants and booster connections

extinguishing media must include:

• extinguishing powder
• foam
• gaseous extinguishing agents
• water

hazards must include three or more of the following:

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

assisted must include

• first aid
• handing over to ambulance, medical or other organisational care
• protecting from the elements
• providing refreshments

firefighting objectives must include

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

fire strategies must include

• defensive mode
• direct attack
• indirect attack
• offensive mode

firefighting tactics must include

• cooling the fuels
• excluding oxygen
• interrupting the chemical chain reaction
• removing fuels
• ventilation

firefighting considerations must include

• available firefighting resources
• extinguishing media
• fire exposures
• indications of extreme fire behaviour
• signs of structural collapse
• size of fire
• stage of fire development
• topography
• type of fire
• weather

firefighting activities must include

• anticipating fire behaviour
• applying extinguishing media
• applying techniques to maximise effect and minimise damage
• ensuring safety
• hose stream techniques
• locating and accessing fire
• protecting and notifying supervisor of evidence of fire cause
• search and rescue

changing conditions at the fire must include

• fire spread
• flame colour and size
• impending structural collapse
• increase in heat
• increase or decrease in fuel available to fire
• increase or decrease in heat of fire
• increase or decrease in oxygen available to fire
• other materials becoming involved in fire
• signs of structural collapse
• smoke colour
• weather conditions

evidence of changing conditions at the fire must include

• fire spread
• flame colour and size
• impending structural collapse
• increase in heat
• smoke colour
• weather conditions

ancillary activities must include

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

recording appropriate incident information must include

• attendance records
• completing personal notebooks logs and/or report forms
• equipment used
• objectives set
• obtain relevant details
• owner or occupant details
• problems encountered

This unit replaces and is equivalent to PUAFIR203B Respond to urban fire.

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

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions on at least one occasion and includes

• applying Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements including maintaining the health and safety of self and others
• combating fires through implementing firefighting objectives, strategies and tactics
• concluding firefighting operations
• conducting search and rescue
• controlling fire environment by cooling fire gases
• entering structures affected by fire
• identifying hazardous materials
• instigating actions to avoid risk of injury
• moving in smoke and darkness
• observing and reacting to changes in conditions and fire behaviour
• obtaining water from reticulated or static water supplies
• operating a firefighting branch
• operating fire extinguishers
• participating in ancillary operations
• preparing extinguishing media and equipment for use
• proceeding to a fire
• recording incident information
• selecting and using firefighting equipment
• using extinguishing media on a fire
• using personal protective clothing and equipment
• using structural entry techniques
• utilising breathing apparatus, associated equipment and operational procedures

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions and includes knowledge of

• ancillary activities
• basic signs of fire cause and activities for protecting evidence
• behaviour of a building or structure in a fire
• chain of command
• change in conditions at a fire caused by increase or decrease in

• fuel available to fire
• increase or decrease of oxygen available to fire

• different construction types and their behaviour in a fire
• equipment and tools used in fire suppression activities extinguishing media
• fire behaviour
• fire ground signals including audible and visual
• fire tetrahedron
• firefighting foams
• firefighting tasks, tactics and techniques
• hazardous materials identification
• hazards and actions to minimise, mitigate, control or eliminate
• identification of various building types including structural elements and materials, causes and signs of structural failure
• methods of heat transfer
• natural ventilation procedures
• navigation and map reading
• organisational documentation, policies and procedures including procedures for working with ladders, ropes, lines and tying knots
• portable fire extinguishers
• principles and methods of extinguishment
• salvage and overhaul
• signs of structural collapse
• water supplies
• Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) organisational requirements including safety assessments and/or risk mitigation processes, safe work practices and personal protective clothing and equipment

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

As a minimum, assessment must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations. Where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in industry approved simulated workplace operational situation that reflects workplace conditions.

Competency should be assessed on the job and/or in a range of simulated fire environments.

Resources for assessment must include access to

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations
• a relevant appropriate materials, equipment, tools and personal protective clothing and equipment currently used in industry including

• range of controlled or simulated fires, firefighting equipment, extinguishing media and breathing apparatus and associated equipment

• applicable documentation including organisational procedures, industry standards, equipment specifications, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.