Higher Certificate in Veldfire Management

Purpose

The qualification is aimed at educating and equipping learners with the skills that will enable them to contribute towards the natural resource management discipline by managing veldfires strategically and tactically under guidance of a senior manager. This qualification will:

• Provide the learner with relevant and appropriate knowledge and the necessary theoretical and practical skills, experience and expertise demanded of the natural resource practitioner, specifically in the discipline of Veldfire Management.
• Equip learners for a sustainable and profitable career in the veldfire management sector.
• Promote the economy of the country by creating employment, minimising risks in terms of wildfire occurrence, and contributing to environmental quality and health.

The curriculum and modules of this qualification are designed to focus on technical as well as strategic and tactical aspects of Veldfire Management which are critical success issues to prevent, protect assets against veldfires and to suppress veldfires. The qualifying learner will be competent to work as a Veldfire Manager in government, municipalities, non-governmental organisations such as fire protection associations, as well as the organised forestry and conservation sector.

Rationale

The discipline of Veldfire Management deals with aspects of the prevention, protection and suppression of fires in natural environments, as well as the role of fires in the ecology of vegetation communities. Fire forms an integral part of the ecology of a number of Southern Africa vegetation biomes, and is therefore a common phenomenon in local landscapes. The disturbance of natural fire regimes not only leads to adverse impacts on the biodiversity of ecosystems, but also results in veldfire events of cataclysmic proportions, often with negative consequences for the socio-economic environment. The ability of land users to do prevention, suppression and protection against veldfires, as well as the appropriate use of fire as a management tool in ecosystem management, are central to sustainable natural resource management. With anticipated changes in global climatic patterns, veldfire occurrence is likely to increase in frequency and magnitude, and the need for an adequately trained workforce has been highlighted by various stakeholders in industry.

Indications are that the initial demand for this qualification will be high, as people functioning as fire managers in South Africa currently have no formal training to empower them for their jobs. Organisations employing fire managers have to rely on the quality of a limited number of Short Learning Programmes (SLPs), of which few are accredited, to prepare these people for their responsibilities. The latter qualification will be offered on a block-release basis, and the qualification will be completed over a two year period, instead of the normal one year period.

Learners who qualify for enrolment into this qualification will have to demonstrate competency in Communication skills at NQF Level 4, as well as competency in Mathematics at NQF Level 4.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Applicants who do not meet the admission criteria as stipulated, but who can demonstrate experiential or work-based learning at an equivalent level may be considered for RPL. The process will be implemented in strict adherence to the relevant university and national RPL policies and approval by relevant faculty structures.

Access to the Qualification

A learner entering this qualification must have achieved a National Senior Certificate granting access to Higher Certificate study or a Further Education and Training Certificate at NQF Level 4 or equivalent.

The qualification consists of 13 compulsory modules at NQF Level 5 totalling 124 Credits.

Modules

• Principles of Veldfire Management, 15 Credits.
• Veldfire Legislation, 6 Credits.
• Urban Interface Management, 7 Credits.
• Financial Management Principles, 8 Credits.
• Veldfire Technology Management, 7 Credits.
• Veldfire Suppression, 11 Credits.
• Human Resource Management I, 8 Credits.
• Human Resource Management II, 8 Credits.
• Fire Ecology and Conservation, 12 Credits.
• Fire Management Planning, 13 Credits.
• Integrated Fire Management, 13 Credits.
• Fuel Management Techniques, 7 Credits.
• Incident Command, 9 Credits.

1. Strategically and effectively access and manage the fire environment in order to protect infrastructure, human lives and the biophysical environment.
2. Demonstrate knowledge, skills and values to strategically and tactically suppress veldfires.
3. Demonstrate knowledge, skills and values to implement fire as a management tool for maintaining the ecological integrity of vegetation types.
4. Effectively manage all human and financial resources required for veldfire management.
5. Use technology, engineering concepts and infrastructure effectively for veldfire management.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of applicable legislation relevant to veldfire management.
7. Integrate relevant activities with existing fire management systems in a region.

Critical Cross-Field Outcomes

All the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are embedded in this qualification.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Fire behaviour is explained in terms of the influence of fuel, weather and topography.
• Risks in the fire environment are identified through assessment of the vulnerability and the proximity and extent of hazards in relation to assets.

> Range: Human lives, value and environmental resilience.

• Defensive strategies and tactics are developed and implemented to eliminate hazards and protect prioritised risks.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Resources are maintained and applied effectively to suppress fires and minimise damage and losses to assets.
• Fires are detected early and accurately to ensure timeous fire suppression.
• Fire fighting crews and resources are mobilised and deployed to commence initial and extended fire suppression actions.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Fire regimes in different vegetation types are identified in terms of season and frequency of fire as well as type and intensity of fire.
• Prescribed burns are planned and executed effectively to facilitate natural succession of vegetation and optimise water yield in catchment areas.
• Fire breaks and buffer zones are planned and maintained to prevent wild fires to damage vegetation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Human resources are managed in accordance with the relevant labour legislation.
• Health and safety of the human resource is ensured by providing appropriate training.
• Finances are managed to ensure compliance with budgeting norms.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Infrastructure planning and maintenance is used to ensure sound fire management.
• Appropriate tools and equipment are selected to suppress fires effectively.
• Modern technology and software are used to manage the veldfire environment and to suppress veldfires effectively.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Applicable legislation is interpreted to identify the duties and responsibilities of land owners.

> Range: The National Veld and Forest Fire Act (NVFFA) (Act no. 101 of 1998), Forest Act, 1984 (Act No. 122 of 1984); Mountain Catchment Areas Act (Act No. 63 of 1970; Occupational Health Act and Safety Act (Act No. 85 of 1993); Criminal Procedure Act (Act, 1977); Fire Brigade Services Act, (Act No. 99 of 1987); Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, (Act No. 43 of 1983); The Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act and the Disaster Management Act, (Act no 57 of 2002).

• Constituted rules set by the Fire Protection Associations (FPAs) are used to provide integrated regional fire management.
• Fire management activities are planned and executed within the boundaries of the applicable legislation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Fire management activities of different organisations and land owners are integrated within a region to ensure effective fire management.
• Fire management activities of different organisations and land owners are coordinated in a region.
• Fire management plans are drawn up to provide guidelines for fire management within a region.

Integrated Assessment

Formative Assessment

Learners will take part in group activities which involve tutorials and assignments and will be assessed as group and as individuals within groups. The results of a group will be assessed and a mark is allocated to a group. Peer assessment rubrics will be used to allocate marks for individual of a group.

Summative assessment

Completion of class tests, examinations (moderated) as well as assignments.