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Fire Fighting Physical
The USA/Canadian Fire Fighting Physical is a series of tests that
fireman/firewomen have to undertake in order to join the fire fighting
service.
The Tests
You have to wear the full fire fighting clothing (approx. 20 lbs
in weight) throughout the series of tests that comprise of:
- climb five stories carrying a 40 pound coil of fire hose
- at the top pull up a 40 pound coil of fire hose hand over hand
with a rope
- return to ground level
- hit a 165 pound steel beam 5 feet with an 8lb sledge
hammer
- pick up a pressurised hose, carry it 30 feet and hit a target
with the water jet
- carry a 175 pound dummy 100 feet
You are allowed five minutes to complete all the tests. Three
minutes is considered an excellent time.
Training
See the 40yrd dash page for an idea of a
training program.
In phase 2 of the 40yrd dash training you will need to substitute
some of the sessions with:
- stair or hill work - equivalent to 5/6 stories
- pulling up a 45 pound coil of fire hose hand over hand with a
rope - equivalent to 5/6 stories
- stair work with a 45 pound fire hose - equivalent to 5/6
stories
- running on the flat with a dummy of 200 pound - 110 feet
- hitting a 180 pound steel beam 5 feet with an 8 pound sledge
hammer
Distances and weights are approx. 10% more than the actual test
conditions.
These sessions also need to be completed wearing your full fire
fighting kit - perhaps push it up to 22 pounds.
Alternative Tests
The Fire Fighting physical does vary form state to state. In New
Hampshire (USA), the test is as follows:
- Ladder raise - raise a 24 foot extension ladder weighing
at least 70 pounds but not more than 100 pounds
- Ladder extension - extend the top section of a 35 foot
extension ladder and safely lower it using the attached rope
- Dummy Drag - drag a 140/160 pound dummy for a distance
of 120 feet
- Simulated roof venting - complete 50 impacts with an 8
pound sledge hammer
- Hose hoist - hoist a 2.5" hose 50 feet long off the
ground, using a pulley system
- Ladder handling - remove a 24 foot ladder weighing at
least 70 pounds and not more than 100 pounds from a rack on the truck, carry it
for 40 feet and replace it on rack
- Hose line advance - extend 150 feet of 2.5" hose on a
grass or dirt surface
- Attic Crawl - crawl across a simulated attic floor made
of wood joists spaced 24 inches apart and 10 feet in length
- Equipment carry - carry a rolled 50 foot length of 2.5"
hose that weighs approx. 42 pounds for a distance of 1500 feet
The test is conducted wearing a fire coat, helmet, gloves, air
tank and ankle weights and to "pass" all the elements have to be completed non
stop in 11.5 minutes.
The FireFit Challenge
The Firefighter Combat Challenge is a competition based on fire
fighting tasks commonly performed in emergencies. The Challenge is very
demanding and many participants perform at the level of elite athletes.
The tasks are:
- Task 1: Stair Climb with High Rise Pack - Carry a
high-rise standpipe pack (2-50 foot sections of 1¾ inch hose weighing
approx. 42 pounds) to the fifth floor. The hose load must be deposited into the
designated area on the fifth floor.
- Task 2: Hose Hoist - From the top of the tower, using a
hand over hand motion, pull a 5/8 inch rope to hoist a donut roll of LDH hose
(45 pounds). This task is complete when the donut roll has cleared the rail and
is in the designated area on the floor.
- Task 3: Forcible Entry - Using the 9 pound shot mallet
and Force Machine; drive a 165 pound beam five feet. This event is complete
when the end of the beam crosses the five foot line.
- Task 4: Hose Advance - After moving a distance of 140
feet around 6 hydrants, pick up a nozzle and move a 1¾ inch charged hose
straight forward for 75 feet, crack the nozzle, hit a designated target, and
place the nozzle on the pavement. Then move 30 feet to the next event.
- Task 5: Victim Rescue - Drag a 175 pound victim
(SIMULAIDS's, Rescue Randy) a distance of 100 feet. This event (and the course)
is complete when the beam is broken across the finish line. The competitor must
be in possession of the victim or a 2 second penalty will be issued.
An excellent time is 3 minutes or less. For more details of the
FireFit challenge, see the FireFit web site at www.firefit.com
Associated Pages
The following Sports Coach pages should be read in conjunction with this page:
Associated Books
The following books provide more information related to this topic:
- Advanced Studies in Physical Education and Sport, P Beashel et al., ISBN 0 17 4482345
- Physical Education and the Study of Sport, B. Davis et al., ISBN 0 7234 31752
- Essentials of Exercise Physiology, W.D. McArdle et al., ISBN 0 683 30507 7
- Physical Education and Sport Studies, D. Roscoe et al., ISBN 1 901424 20 0
- The World of Sport Examined, P. Beashel et al., ISBN 0 17 438719 9
- Advanced PE for Edexcel, F. Galligan et al., ISBN 0 435 50643 9
- Examining Physical Education, K. Bizley, ISBN 0 435 50660 9
- Sport and PE, K Wesson et al., ISBN 0 340 683821
- PE for you, J. Honeybourne, ISBN 0 7487 3277 2
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