PUAFIR013 — Supervise incendiary operations during aerial ignition

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What an assessment for PUAFIR013 must cover

83 assessable components: 7 elements (38 performance criteria), 21 performance evidence and 24 knowledge evidence requirements. An audit-defensible tool maps every question and task back to these — that mapping is the coverage matrix Auditori generates alongside the assessment.

Elements & performance criteria

1 Plan aerial ignition operation

1.1Approved burn plan or incident action plan is used to identify burn location, objectives, control lines and burn prescription or defined burn conditions
1.2Hazards and risks are identified during planning to ensure safety of flight, firefighting resources, neighbours and environmental values
1.3Factors affecting burn prescription or defined burn are determined including terrain, fuel loads, types and distribution in the burn area and forecast weather conditions
1.4Factors affecting aerial ignition are determined including operating height and incendiary drift
1.5Ignition pattern, lighting sequence and aerial ignition lines for planned burn are confirmed with burn manager or incident operations officer
1.6Time of day and weather conditions for aerial ignition are determined in conjunction with burn manager or incident operations officer
1.7Time required to complete aerial ignition is estimated and departure time and flight duration is calculated
1.8Alternative aircraft landing locations are identified
1.9Aerial ignition operation arrangements are reviewed against burn plan or incident action plan and variations are checked with burn manager or incident operations officer

2 Supervise preparation of personnel, equipment and consumables

2.1Safe work practices are implemented around aircraft
2.2Organisational procedures for aerial ignition operations are identified and implemented
2.3Resource requirements for personnel, equipment, aircraft and fuel for aerial ignition are identified and organised
2.4Consumable requirements are calculated and obtained
2.5Confirmation is obtained that ignition equipment has been checked and tested prior to flight in accordance with the manufacturers’ and organisational operating manual
2.6Satellite navigation equipment used to locate burn area and implement lighting pattern is checked for correct programming and operability prior to flight
2.7Personal protection clothing and safety equipment is checked and worn prior to flight

3 Prepare for flight

3.1Principles of Team Resource Management (TRM) are established and maintained
3.2Briefings on aircraft safety including aircraft emergency procedures is received from pilot
3.3Briefings on burn or incident operations management including chain of command, communication arrangements, burn objectives, planned ignition sequence and forecast weather is received from burn manager or incident operations officer
3.4Briefings on aerial ignition operations including response procedures for emergency situations involving ignition equipment is delivered to pilot and air crew
3.5Aircraft communications equipment is tested pre-flight for correct frequencies and functionality
3.6Flight following protocols are established and maintained

4 Conduct aerial ignition operation

4.1Pilot is directed to burn site, flight route is followed on map, burn site is identified and reconnaissance is carried out to establish key ground features and hazards
4.2Contact is made with fire ground supervisor to confirm communication arrangements and intended strategy and tactics
4.3Preliminary fly over is conducted to identify hazards and confirm area is clear of personnel and equipment
4.4Weather conditions, smoke and fire behaviour are monitored
4.5Approval to commence operations is obtained from burn manager or incident operations officer
4.6Communication with pilot and ignition equipment operator is maintained to ensure ignition commences and concludes in accordance with lighting plan

5 Collect information relating to operation

5.1Observations of fire behaviour resulting from aerial ignition are recorded
5.2Data on aerial ignition mission is collected, recorded and communicated to appropriate personnel

6 React to changed conditions and emergencies

6.1Observed changes in operational conditions are communicated to fire ground supervisor and burn manager or incident operations officer
6.2Adjustments to ignition rate and sequence including altering aerial ignition lines, airspeed, rate of ignition and ceasing ignition are made to achieve burn objectives
6.3Observed hazards that pose a risk to people, property, assets or the environment are reported to fire ground supervisor and burn manager or incident operations officer
6.4Response to emergencies involving aircraft or ignition operations is undertaken in accordance with aircraft and organisational procedures

7 Conclude aerial ignition operation

7.1Isolation or shutdown of ignition equipment is confirmed in accordance with manufacturers’ guidelines prior to departure of aircraft from burn site
7.2Fire ground supervisor and burn manager or incident operations officer are provided with situation reports prior to departure of aircraft from burn site
7.3After action review is conducted with aerial ignition operation personnel
7.4Details of aerial ignition operation are recorded

Performance evidence

adhering to burn plan or incident action plan
communicating clearly with pilot, aerial ignition equipment operator and ground operational personnel
confirming correct pre-flight testing and operating procedures have been completed
ensuring safety of firefighting resources, public, neighbours and environmental values
establishing, implementing and monitoring flight following procedures
estimating time required to complete aerial ignition operations including departure times and flight duration
following flight route on map and/or using satellite navigation technology and confirming location through identification of ground features
following organisational operating procedures
identifying ignition patterns, lighting sequences and flight lines to achieve burn objectives
interpreting fire behaviour observed from the air
maintaining an appropriate airspeed and commencing and ceasing ignition to ensure rate of ignition (drop rate) will achieve burn objectives
modifying ignition rates and sequence, and making operational adjustments including
altering aerial ignition lines
altering rate of ignition i.e. drop rate
altering the airspeed
ceasing ignition
observing changes in operational conditions
providing clear directions to pilot and aerial ignition equipment operator
receiving briefing on aerial ignition operations including response procedures recording activities in a written log of activities
undertaking actions in response to an aircraft emergency or equipment malfunction
using organisationally approved safe work practices around aircraft and incendiary equipment

Knowledge evidence

aircraft and fire ground communications
communication requirements within the aircraft and with ground supervisor relating to ignition lines, maintenance of an appropriate airspeed, when to commence and cease ignition and appropriate rates of ignition
consumables including aerial incendiaries, ethylene glycol, gelling agent or unleaded petrol
content of burn plan or incident action plan and of burn prescriptions or conditions
fire behaviour for burns including fire intensity, flame height and rate of spread and spotting
ground features including flight hazards, control lines, helipads or landing strips, escape routes and refuges for ground crews, staging areas and designated locations for managing burn or fire
hazards and risks to flight and firefighting operations
how to brief pilots and other personnel involved in aerial ignition operations including burn prescription and Team Resource Management (TRM) principles
ignition equipment such as manually operated ignition equipment or automated ignition equipment
ignition patterns including contour lighting, grid, line, ridge and spot lighting
lighting sequence taking into account fuel structure, slope, time of day, wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity and sun angle
observed changes in operational conditions including changes in weather and smoke direction, increase in flame height and fire intensity and the effects of smoke and shading on fire ground
organisational and aircraft operator procedures, where appropriate, for handling storage and transport of ignition equipment and operating ignition equipment including
stop and/or start procedures
response procedures for emergency situations involving the operation of ignition equipment including actions to take for ignited ignition equipment on aircraft electrical system fault and ignition placement outside of the control line
potential contingency arrangements for changes in weather and smoke direction, increase in flame height and fire intensity and changes in fire behaviour from effects of smoke and shading on fire ground
property and assets in or near burn area including urban interface areas, commercial land, cultural sites or historical buildings, utilities, camps or recreational areas, plantations, research plots or reference areas identified in a burn plan and/or on an operational map
protocols for briefings and debriefings
risks to firefighters, public, neighbours and environmental values
role and responsibility of incendiary operations supervisor including organisational requirements for the role in evolving fire situations
safety of personnel and public including those involved with burn implementation in the burn area or in adjacent areas and vulnerable communities that may be impacted by smoke
selection of aircraft for aerial ignition taking take into account aircraft performance
weather and contingency planning for changes in the weather
when and how to make adjustments to planned ignition patterns including consideration of line and spot spacing, line orientation and burning time remaining

Unit content sourced from training.gov.au — © Commonwealth of Australia, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Auditori is not affiliated with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

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Questions about assessing PUAFIR013

What does an assessment tool for PUAFIR013 need to cover?

To satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence, an assessment for PUAFIR013 needs to address all 83 unit components: 7 elements with 38 performance criteria, 21 performance evidence requirements, 24 knowledge evidence requirements, and the foundation skills. A coverage matrix mapping each question and task to these components is what an auditor looks for.

How does Auditori generate an assessment tool for PUAFIR013?

Auditori pulls the current release of PUAFIR013 from training.gov.au and generates a complete package: candidate assessment, assessor guide with model answers and observation criteria, and a coverage matrix mapping every component. A suitably qualified person then reviews and approves the draft in a built-in workflow — consistent with ASQA's guidance on AI use in VET — before export as branded PDF and editable Word.

Is the first assessment tool really free?

Yes. Every new account includes one free credit — enough to generate the complete assessment tool for PUAFIR013 — with no card and no subscription required. After that it's pay-as-you-go per unit.

Can I check my existing PUAFIR013 assessment instead of generating a new one?

Yes — upload your existing assessment or learner guide and Auditori maps it against every element, performance criterion, PE and KE of PUAFIR013, showing exactly what's covered and what's missing. Mapping costs a quarter of a credit.

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