Billy Wolt
07-19-2006, 09:41 AM
I'll be taking the fire department test at the end of the year...here is the physical test. Looks like fun actually, except in my present state of conditioning, i would fail at the stair climb.
The Physical Test
The physical test will consist of a series of events designed to simulate such fire-related activities as carrying fire equipment up flights of stairs, hoisting a hose, navigating through a dark tunnel area on hands and knees, and dragging an injured victim. Performance on the test events will depend on ability in four categories of fitness that have been found to be important to the performance of the firefighter's job. These categories are cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance and flexibility. The Physical Test will be physically demanding, so it is in your best interest to prepare at least 16 weeks before the actual test.
Physical Test Events
This description of the Physical Test for Firefighter is intended to give you a general orientation to the test. The events will be performed on e right after the other. Each event will be individually timed and scored with a maximum time for completion. It is also expected that you will see a videotaped demonstration of the test on the day you take the Physical Test.
Throughout the test, you will be required to wear a weighted vest, a firefighter's air tank, and gloves. This equipment, weighing about forty pounds, is approximately the weight of the gear normally worn by New York City Firefighters. The only exception is the ceiling hook event in which only the weighted vest and gloves will be worn. You should wear sneakers and comfortable clothing, including long pants. Candidates will not be permitted to wear kneepads. Small lockers will be available for you to store your belongings while you are taking the test. You must bring your own combination lock to put on your locker. Do not bring any valuable to the test.
Stepmill Event: This event is designed to measure your aerobic capacity. Candidates will walk on a stepmill at a predetermined stepping rate of 59 steps per minute.
Ladder Raise: This event simulates the actions necessary to raise a straight ladder and to raise an extension ladder. Candidates will lift a 20 foot straight aluminum ladder that is hinged to the floor at the but end, and lying flat on the ground. This straight ladder will be lifted by starting at the top end and "Walking" the ladder up, until it is positioned against a wall, Candidates will then raise the extension on a 24 foot aluminum extension ladder that is mounted to the wall.
Hose Feed: This event simulates the actions necessary to feed a water-filled (Charged) hose to an advancing firefighter. Candidates will feed 50 feet of "charged" 1-3/4 inch diameter hose line. Candidates will stay in a marked area, and pull or push the hose across a circular roller bed.
Hose Advance: This event simulates the actions necessary to pull a "charged" hose to a fire. Candidates will take one end of 50 foot charged 1-3/4 inch hose and pull it a distance of 50 feet through a U-shaped tunnel with a 4 foot high "ceiling" which prevents them from standing upright. Once out of the tunnel, candidates will continue to advance the hose for 50 feet.
Forcible Entry: This event simulates the actions necessary to force open a locked door. Candidates will swing a 12 pound sledgehammer against a rubber pad mounted a device which measures force. The candidate will repeatedly hit the rubber pad until enough of the total force required to force open the door is applied or when the allotted time expires, whichever comes first.
Search: This event simulates the actions necessary to crawl through a smoke filled structure. Candidates will crawl through an 80-foot dark wooden tunnel with obstructions and turns. This tunnel will be approximately 3 feet high and 5 feet wide. At two locations in the tunnel, there will be an obstacle on the floor. In addition, at two locations, the tunnel will be reduced from 5 feet wide to 3 feet wide.
Rescue: This event simulates the actions necessary to drag a victim to safety. Candidates will drag a 130 pound dummy through a tunnel to the finish line.
Ceiling Hook: This event simulates the activities involved in using a ceiling hook to tear down a ceiling after a fire during overhaul activities. Using a ceiling hook device, candidates will be required to apply the total force required to pull down the ceiling. Candidates will use a pole to push on a hinged door with a force of 60 pounds and pull on a pole with a force of 80 pounds. Candidates will be given four 1-minute sets to complete 20 repetitions. One repetition consists of one pole push and five pole pulls.
The required time/repetitions for each event is as follows:
Event No.
Task
Time/Repetitions
1.
Stepmill
5 minutes and 12.00 seconds
2.
Ladder Raise
15.81 seconds
3.
Hose Feed
18.19 seconds
4.
Hose Advance
46.33 seconds
5.
Forcible Entry
10.95 seconds
6.
Search
95.66 seconds
7.
Rescue
23.80 seconds
8.
Ceiling Hook
20 repetitions in 4 one-minute sets
The Physical Test
The physical test will consist of a series of events designed to simulate such fire-related activities as carrying fire equipment up flights of stairs, hoisting a hose, navigating through a dark tunnel area on hands and knees, and dragging an injured victim. Performance on the test events will depend on ability in four categories of fitness that have been found to be important to the performance of the firefighter's job. These categories are cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance and flexibility. The Physical Test will be physically demanding, so it is in your best interest to prepare at least 16 weeks before the actual test.
Physical Test Events
This description of the Physical Test for Firefighter is intended to give you a general orientation to the test. The events will be performed on e right after the other. Each event will be individually timed and scored with a maximum time for completion. It is also expected that you will see a videotaped demonstration of the test on the day you take the Physical Test.
Throughout the test, you will be required to wear a weighted vest, a firefighter's air tank, and gloves. This equipment, weighing about forty pounds, is approximately the weight of the gear normally worn by New York City Firefighters. The only exception is the ceiling hook event in which only the weighted vest and gloves will be worn. You should wear sneakers and comfortable clothing, including long pants. Candidates will not be permitted to wear kneepads. Small lockers will be available for you to store your belongings while you are taking the test. You must bring your own combination lock to put on your locker. Do not bring any valuable to the test.
Stepmill Event: This event is designed to measure your aerobic capacity. Candidates will walk on a stepmill at a predetermined stepping rate of 59 steps per minute.
Ladder Raise: This event simulates the actions necessary to raise a straight ladder and to raise an extension ladder. Candidates will lift a 20 foot straight aluminum ladder that is hinged to the floor at the but end, and lying flat on the ground. This straight ladder will be lifted by starting at the top end and "Walking" the ladder up, until it is positioned against a wall, Candidates will then raise the extension on a 24 foot aluminum extension ladder that is mounted to the wall.
Hose Feed: This event simulates the actions necessary to feed a water-filled (Charged) hose to an advancing firefighter. Candidates will feed 50 feet of "charged" 1-3/4 inch diameter hose line. Candidates will stay in a marked area, and pull or push the hose across a circular roller bed.
Hose Advance: This event simulates the actions necessary to pull a "charged" hose to a fire. Candidates will take one end of 50 foot charged 1-3/4 inch hose and pull it a distance of 50 feet through a U-shaped tunnel with a 4 foot high "ceiling" which prevents them from standing upright. Once out of the tunnel, candidates will continue to advance the hose for 50 feet.
Forcible Entry: This event simulates the actions necessary to force open a locked door. Candidates will swing a 12 pound sledgehammer against a rubber pad mounted a device which measures force. The candidate will repeatedly hit the rubber pad until enough of the total force required to force open the door is applied or when the allotted time expires, whichever comes first.
Search: This event simulates the actions necessary to crawl through a smoke filled structure. Candidates will crawl through an 80-foot dark wooden tunnel with obstructions and turns. This tunnel will be approximately 3 feet high and 5 feet wide. At two locations in the tunnel, there will be an obstacle on the floor. In addition, at two locations, the tunnel will be reduced from 5 feet wide to 3 feet wide.
Rescue: This event simulates the actions necessary to drag a victim to safety. Candidates will drag a 130 pound dummy through a tunnel to the finish line.
Ceiling Hook: This event simulates the activities involved in using a ceiling hook to tear down a ceiling after a fire during overhaul activities. Using a ceiling hook device, candidates will be required to apply the total force required to pull down the ceiling. Candidates will use a pole to push on a hinged door with a force of 60 pounds and pull on a pole with a force of 80 pounds. Candidates will be given four 1-minute sets to complete 20 repetitions. One repetition consists of one pole push and five pole pulls.
The required time/repetitions for each event is as follows:
Event No.
Task
Time/Repetitions
1.
Stepmill
5 minutes and 12.00 seconds
2.
Ladder Raise
15.81 seconds
3.
Hose Feed
18.19 seconds
4.
Hose Advance
46.33 seconds
5.
Forcible Entry
10.95 seconds
6.
Search
95.66 seconds
7.
Rescue
23.80 seconds
8.
Ceiling Hook
20 repetitions in 4 one-minute sets