EUROFIRE-PROJECT HISTORY AND ENGLISH BASE VERSION

eurofire

EuroFire A 2-years project from October 2006 to December 2008 funded by the EU Leonardo da Vinci programme. The project brought together partners with international expertise and experience in wildfire and prescribed fire research, management and training to develop, evaluate, produce and distribute new European-wide, multi-lingual on-line training resources.

The EuroFire project researched and reviewed competency based wildfire and prescribed fire training systems, including best practice examples from Europe and around the world. This research informed the production of competency based basic training resources, for use in European countries.

The EuroFire training resources have been specifically developed to support firefighting personnel, the land-based sector, sectoral organisations and education and training institutions.

The EuroFire outputs include: competency standards, training modules, illustrations and general guidance on a competency based training system. Training resources that can be used by industry practitioners to update their knowledge, learn new skills or increase their understanding of basic wildfire and prescribed fire management techniques.

For details of the EuroFire concept see:

EuroFire Project History (PDF, 0.2 MB)
EuroFire Competency-based Training: An Introduction (PDF, 0.2. MB)

The base version of the EuroFire Competency Standards and Training Materials in English language include 6 Standards and

Unit EF1: Ensure that your actions in the vegetation fire workplace reduce the risks to yourself and others

Element 1.1 Identify the hazards and evaluate the risks that are likely to be found in the workplace
Element 1.2 Reduce the risks likely to be found in the workplace
Element 1.3 Respond to health emergencies in the workplace

To achieve this Unit you must show that you are able to:

Assess hazards and risks in a vegetation fire workplace
Follow organisational fire procedures
Operate safely on the fireground
Support others operating on the fireground
React appropriately and in accordance with organisational, legislative and environmental requirements, to a fire incident.

Competency Standard EF1 (PDF, 0.1MB)

Unit EF2: Apply techniques and tactics to control vegetation fire

Element 1.1 Prepare for vegetation fire control activities
Element 1.2 Control vegetation fires

To achieve it you must show that you are able to:

Interpret fire behaviour and apply appropriate techniques and tactics in a local area
Follow organisational fire procedures
Operate safely on the fireground
Support others operating on the fireground
React appropriately, within organisational procedures, to a fire incident.

Competency Standard EF2 (PDF, 0.1 MB)

Unit EF3: Communicate within a team and with supervisors at vegetation fires

Element 1.1 Use hand held radios and mobile telephones to communicate effectively at vegetation fires
Element 1.2 Operate within an organisational structure at vegetation fires
To achieve it you must show that you are able to:

Communicate effectively
Understand and follow instructions
Follow organisational fire procedures, and
Operate safely on the fireground
Support others operating on the fireground
React appropriately, within organisational and command procedures, to a fire incident.

Competency Standard EF3 (PDF, 0.1 MB)

Unit EF4: Apply hand tools to control vegetation fires

Element 1.1 Prepare hand tools for vegetation fire control activities
Element 1.2 Use hand tools to control vegetation fires
To achieve it you must show that you are able to:

Use hand tools in a safe and competent manner
Follow organisational fire procedures
Operate safely on the fireground
Support others operating on the fireground
React appropriately, within organisational procedures, to a fire incident.

Competency Standard EF4 (PDF, 0.1 MB)

Unit EF5: Control vegetation fires using pumped water

Element 1.1 Prepare pumps, hoses and other ancillary equipment for use at vegetation fires
Element 1.2 Set up and operate a pump in a vegetation fire situation
Element 1.3 Deliver water through hoses and nozzles to control vegetation fire
To achieve it you must show that you are able to:

Prepare and use a pump competently
Select, prepare and reconstitute a pump site
Lay out and relocate hoses
Use water delivered through nozzles to extinguish the fire in both initial attack and mop-up situations
Operate safely on the fireground

Competency Standard EF5 (PDF, 0.1 MB)

Unit EF6: Apply vegetation ignition techniques

Element 1.1 Prepare ignition devices and ancillary equipment for use at vegetation fires
Element 1.2 Apply ignition devices following specified firing plans

To achieve it you must show that you are able to:

Prepare and use ignition devices to light up vegetation at burning operations
Follow organisational fire procedures
Operate safely on the fireground
Support others operating on the fireground
React appropriately, within organisational procedures, to a fire incident.

Competency Standard EF6 (PDF, 0.1 MB)

TRAINING MODULES

EF1: Ensure that your actions in the vegetation fire workplace reduce the risks to yourself and others

This document is for people who assist in the management of vegetation fires. It is for situations where: the fire management operation is simple, the level of risk, complexity and fire behaviour is low and the operator is under direct supervision.
Learning objectives:

Assess hazards and risks in a vegetation fire workplace
Follow organisational fire procedures
Operate safely on the fireground
Support others operating on the fireground
React appropriately and in accordance with organisational, legislative and environmental requirements, to a fire incident.

The nominal/notional/guided learning hours for this module is 20-30 hours.

Training Module EF1 (PDF, 1.5 MB)

EF2: Apply Techniques and Tactics to Control Vegetation Fire

This document is an introduction to wildfire behaviour and the techniques and tactics that may be applied to suppress a wildfire or perform a prescribed burn, for people who assist in the management of vegetation fires.
Learning objectives:

On completion of learning you should be able to:

Understand wildfire behaviour
Apply suppression techniques to control vegetation fires

The nominal/notional/guided learning hours for this unit is 40-50 hours.

Training Module EF2 (PDF, 2.2 MB)

EF4: Apply hand tools to control vegetation fires

This document is for people who are required to use hand tools to manage vegetation fires. It is for situations where: the fire management operation is simple, the level of risk, complexity and fire behaviour is low and the operator is under direct supervision.
Learning objectives:

Prepare hand tools for vegetation fire control activities
Carry out vegetation fire control operations using hand tools

The nominal/notional/guided learning hours for this unit is 10-20 hours.

Training Module EF4 (PDF, 1.2 MB)

EF6: Apply vegetation ignition techniques

This document is for people who are required to use hand operated ignition equipment for burning vegetation fuels. It is for situations where: the ignition operation is simple, the level of risk, complexity and fire behaviour is low and the operator is under direct supervision.
Learning objectives:

On completion of learning you should be able to: