just got back from my firefighter physical ability test
it went well. these are the events:
1) Stair Climb: This event simulates continuous stair climbing, an activity that firefighters may perform when getting to a fire at an incident scene. For this event, you will be required to step on a rotating stair case (also known as a stepmill) at a pre-determined stepping pace for a specific period of time. You will get a 5 minute rest period after this event. The required time to remain on the stepmill is 200 seconds.
2) Ladder Event: This event simulates various activities related to using ladders. You will be required to remove a ladder from a rack, carry it some distance, raise a weight of approximately 45 lbs. attached to a rope that simulates the raising of an extension ladder, lower that weight and return the ladder to the rack from which it was taken. The event ends when the ladder is back in the rack. The time limit is 35.56 seconds.
3) Hose Advance: This event simulates the actions necessary to manipulate a fully charged fire hose. You will be required to pull 50 feet of hose through a U-shaped course with several turns. There will be a ceiling on the U-shaped course to prevent you from standing upright. The time limit is 20.00 seconds
4) Forcible Entry: This event simulates breaking down a door to gain entry to a burning structure or an incident scene. For this event you will be required to strike a rubber pad mounted on a moveable post. You will use a 12 lb. sledge hammer to move the post a set distance. The post and structure are weighted to simulate the force you would need to exert on a door in order to gain entrance. The time limit is 13.91 seconds
5) Search: This event simulates the actions necessary to enter and search a smoke-filled structure. You will be required to crawl through a dark wooden tunnel with obstructions and turns. The tunnel is approximately 65 feet long. The tunnel is 4 feet high and 4 feet wide. At one location in the tunnel there is an obstacle on the floor and at one location there is an obstacle from the ceiling. In addition, at two locations, the tunnel is reduced from 4 to 3 feet in width. The time limit is 39.00 seconds.
6) Rescue Through a Doorway: This event simulates the actions necessary to drag an unconscious victim out through a doorway to get the victim to safety. You will be required to drag a 125 pound dummy approximately 50 feet, along a zigzag course to a designated area at the end of the course. In this event, there is a low ceiling over the course to prevent you from standing upright. The time limit is 36.00 seconds.
7) Ceiling Hook (Pike Pole): This event simulates the use of a pike pole or ceiling hook. A pike pole or ceiling hook is a firefighting tool used to tear down ceilings or open walls while looking for hidden fires. This event will require you to take a pike pole, tipped with an industrial hammer head, and thrust it upward at a metal plate in an 8 foot ceiling. The metal plate weighs approximately 60 lbs. and must be lifted six inches in order for the strike to count. You will then step over to the next part of the event, where a pike pole handle is suspended from a ceiling height. The pole is attached to a counter balance that weighs approximately 80 lbs. You must pull the pole down six inches in order for the pull to count. You will be required to perform one push and five pulls in a sequence. The event will require you to perform four one-minute periods of work, in which you will try to do as many push-pull sequences as possible. Each work period will be followed by a 30 second rest period. You must complete 25 full repetitions.
i don't remember any of my times i received. i do know that i got 31 on the ceiling hook/pike pole event
minimal rest between each event, like 20-30 seconds...enough to walk over to the next event and get instructions
scraped my knee up on event 6...nice wood burn.
the hose advance wasn't bad...but the hose gets stuck when you turn - i tried doing a wide turn (well, as wide as i could) but it stick got stuck a little bit, but from what i saw from other people who went before me, i did much better on that event...some people really struggled.
so now its back to waiting again. will find out my score when all applicants have taken this test. scored pretty well on the written exam too.
i just did the math to put the last event put it into perspective of how much weight I moved each minute - like my first post said i got a total of 31 reps.
broke down to round:
1 = 8 reps, rounds 2 = 8reps, round 3 = 8 reps, round 4 = 7 reps
Sounds like a good time. I like the idea that they test you on skills that actually carry over to the job........as opposed to push-ups, sit-ups and a flexibility test. Good luck.
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Sounds like a good time. I like the idea that they test you on skills that actually carry over to the job........as opposed to push-ups, sit-ups and a flexibility test. Good luck.
yea, i like that we were tested on skills.
i've done many PT tests for Army ROTC while i was at school. no longer though haha
thanks
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it was funny on event 5, the search: i was leading with my left hand. and on the turn, there was a wall in front of me...even with my hand in front of me, i still went helmet first into it haha. nice little dinger
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its going to be a couple months before I find out the scores
its good and bad:
bad because i just don't like waiting
good because i get to use the challenge to get in better shape, get stronger and faster, so I'll be prepared to go onto train if i am accepted...plus, i get to accomplish goals i've set
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