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| The following is a description of the seven tasks that must be completed in seven (7) minutes and twenty (20) seconds or less in order to pass the physical ability test. Keep in mind that these tasks are performed while wearing approximately 40 pounds of protective firefighting clothes and gear. Do not take this test lightly as it is more difficult than it appears. | |
| 1. Ladder Extension | |
| Requirement: | Fully raise (extend) the top (fly) section of the 35' extension ladder and safely lower it completely by using the attached rope (halyard). |
| Procedure: | The applicant will fully raise (extend) and lower the top (fly) section of the permanently fixed 35' ladder by using either of the demonstrated hand-over-hand methods. Allowing the rope (halyard) to slip through the hands is an unsafe practice and is unacceptable. A penalty of 10 seconds will be added to the applicant's total time if the halyard slips and the top section falls a distance of three rungs or more to the ground. Losing control of the ladder is a disqualification. Both of the applicant's feet must remain in contact with the ground at all times while raising and lowering the ladder; if not, the ladder must be lowered and the event started over. |
| Job Relatedness: | 35' extension ladders are carried on all ladder companies. A firefighter must have the ability to safely and quickly raise (extend) and lower the top section of the 35' extension ladder at emergency scenes. This ladder extension is performed by one person using the hand-over-hand method. Allowing the halyard to slip through the hands is unsafe and could result in personal injury and/or damage to the ladder. |
| 2. Hydrant Operation | |
| Requirement: | Perform eight complete revolutions of a fire hydrant valve stem using a wrench. |
| Procedure: | While standing on the hydrant prop platform, the applicant must perform eight complete revolutions of the hydrant valve stem with the attached hydrant wrench. The applicant must remain on the prop platform at all times. Failure to do so will result in no credit for that revolution which will have to be repeated. |
| Job Relatedness: | Firefighters are required to operate fire hydrants during emergency firefighting operations and during the ongoing hydrant testing programs. Fire hydrants require an average of 80 lbs. of twisting force. |
| The applicant must remain on the prop platform for safety reasons. When used in firefighting, the hydrant has discharge valves attached to it, which creates an obstacle and would be unsafe to attempt to walk around. | |
| 3. Hose Pull | |
| Requirement: | Extend 200 feet of 2 1/2 inch fire hose. |
| Procedure: | The applicant will approach 200 feet of dry 2 1/2 inch fire hose and nozzle, which is in an extended accordian fold. The hose is placed on the applicant by fire department personnel. The applicant then moves forward until the entire 200 feet of hose is stretched out. The applicant is disqualified if the movement is not continuous. |
| Job Relatedness: | 2 1/2 inch hose is carried on all engine companies. A firefighter occupying the nozzle position on an engine company is responsible for extending the line to the point of attack. |
| 4. Simulated Roof Ventilation | |
| Requirement: | Complete 50 acceptable impacts with a six-pound sledgehammer. |
| Procedure: | While standing on a ground level pitched roof, the applicant must strike a target 50 times in the demonstrated manner as quickly as possible with enough force to simulate the pentration of standard roofing materials. Inadequate strikes will not be counted and must be repeated. The applicant is disqualified if the striking is not continuous. |
| Job Relatedness: | In order to effectively ventilate the roof of a small (40' x 60') building, the firefighter would be required to strike the roof a minimum of 50 times penetrating the roofing materials with each blow. This normally is accomplished using a six pound pickhead axe. However, we are using a sledgehammer for safety to the applicant and to lessen wear on the props and equipment. |
| 5. Ladder Handling | |
| Requirement: | Remove 14-foot ladder from a rack, carry it a short distance and replace it on an identical rack. |
| Procedure: | The applicant will approach a 14-foot ladder, which is handling on a ladder rack mounted 72" above the ground. The ladder must be removed from the rack, carried approximately forty feet, and replaced in its original position on an identical rack as quickly as possible. The applicant is disqualified if the ladder is dropped or touches the ground. |
| Job Relatedness: | Ladders carried on our engine companies are mounted on ladder racks on the side of the engine. An individual must have the ability to reach and maneuver these ladders at the scene of an emergency. |
| 6. Attic Crawl | |
| Requirement: | Applicant will proceed on hands and knees on rafters which are 16 inches apart, through a ground level attic prop. |
| Procedure: | The above requirement must be performed as quickly as possible. Ten seconds will be added to the applicant's overall time each time a part of the body drops between the rafters. |
| Job Relatedness: | Proceeding through attics and confining crawl spaces in full gear is a routine part of a firefighter's duties. In order to reach smoldering attic fires, or to check for extension from an interior fire, the firefighter may enter the attic and crawl to the necessary location. If a part of the body drops between the rafter, unnecessary damage is done to the ceiling. Also, this can result in injury to the firefighter. |
| 7. Victim Drag | |
| Requirement: | Drag a 140 pound "victim" 120 feet. |
| Procedure: | Applicants must, while walking backwards, drag a 140 pound "victim" 120 feet to the finish line as quickly as possible. The applicant is disqualified if movement is not continuous. |
| Job Relatedness: | When performing a rescue in a fire situation, most adults are not carried from the building, but rather the firefighter drags them. To remove the victim to a safe location, it is not unusual to travel a distance of 120 feet or more. This task is commonly completed by one firefighter. |
| Can you rest during the Physical Ability Test? | |
| Yes . . . but only in a "rehabilitation" circle and only under certain circumstances. Located at two places on the course are rehabilitation circles. No circle can be entered until after completion of the third event. Each applicant is allowed a maximum of one minute total rehabilitation time. Either way, after a maximum of one minute of total rehabilitation time has elapsed, the applicant must be able to leave the rest circle and complete the ability test or he/she will be disqualified. Any time spent in a rehabilitation circle increases the overall time of the applicant. Any applicant who stops to rest for even a short time without entering a rehabilitation circle will be disqualified. | |
| If you are unable to complete the test or go over the maximum allowable time, you will be required to sign a withdrawal form before leaving the test site. | |
