City of Charlottesville Charlottesville Fire Department Physical Ability Test Orientation Guide The Charlottesville Fire Department s fire service physical ability test consists of eight (8) separate events. The test is a sequence of events requiring you to progress along a predetermined path from event to event in a continuous manner. This test was developed to obtain candidates who are physically able to perform essential job tasks. This is a pass/fail test based on a maximum total time of nine (9) minutes and forty (40) seconds (9:40) for the eight (8) events. In the eight (8) events, you will wear a 40-pound vest to simulate the weight of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and fire fighter protective clothing. An additional 40 pounds, to simulate a high-rise pack (hose bundle), is added to the stair climb event only. Throughout all events, you must wear long pants, a protective helmet with chin strap, firefighting gloves, and footwear with no open heel or toe. The helmet and gloves will be provided on site. Watches and loose or restrictive jewelry are not permitted. You will not be permitted to participate in the ability test if not wearing the proper attire. This course was designed to obtain candidates who are physically able to be perform essential firefighting job tasks. The tools and equipment were chosen to provide the highest level of consistency, safety and validity in measuring your physical abilities. A schematic drawing of the test is included in this orientation material; however, the course layout may vary in order to conform to the test area. The events and distances between events are always the same. The events are placed in a sequence that best simulates fire scene events while allowing a 70-foot walk between events. To ensure the highest level of safety and to prevent exhaustion, no running is allowed between events. This walk allows you approximately 20 seconds to recover from one event, before beginning another event. To ensure scoring accuracy by eliminating timer failure, two stopwatches are used to time the test. One stopwatch is designated as the official test time stopwatch, the second is the backup stopwatch. The stopwatches are set to the pass/fail time of 9:40 and count down from (the approved time). If time elapses prior to the completion of the test, the test is concluded and you fail the test. After completion of the eight (8) events you must report to the rehabilitation station for evaluation.
EVENT 1: STAIR CLIMB The stair climb consists of climbing a section of stairs up and down while carrying a section of fire hose on the shoulder. The candidate will lift a hose pack of 2 ½ inch hose onto their shoulder and begin climbing the section of stairs as instructed. This event is designed to simulate the critical tasks of climbing stairs in full protective clothing while carrying a high-rise pack (hose bundle of 1 section of 2 ½ hose). This event challenges your aerobic capacity, lower body muscular endurance and ability to balance. For this event, you must carry a 32 pound, bundled single section of 2 ½ hose on your shoulders to simulate the weight of a high-rise pack. (Note: This is in addition to the 40-pound vest which is worn throughout the entire physical ability test). The candidate will lift the hose pack of 2 ½ inch hose onto their shoulder and begin climbing the section of stairs and return to the bottom as instructed by the proctor. Once you have reached the end point you will place the hose load on the ground. This concludes the event. Walk 70 feet within the established walkway to the next event. During the stair climb the candidate may only use the hand rails for balance not for assistance. The candidate may not run up or down the stairs at any point and no skipping of steps will be allowed. For any of these violations, the candidate will be warned once, a second warning will result in an automatic failure and conclusion of the test. EVENT 2: HOSE DRAG This event uses an uncharged fire hose with a hose line nozzle. The hose line is marked 8 feet past the coupling at the nozzle to indicate the maximum amount of hose you are permitted to drape across your shoulder or chest. The hose line is also marked 50 feet past the coupling at the nozzle to indicate the amount of hose line that you must pull into a marked boundary box before completing the test. This event is designed to simulate the critical tasks of dragging an uncharged hose line from the fire apparatus to the fire occupancy and pulling an uncharged hose line around obstacles while remaining in a stationary position. This event challenges your aerobic capacity, lower body muscular strength and endurance, upper back muscular strength and endurance, grip strength, and anaerobic endurance.
For this event, you must grasp a hose line nozzle attached to 200 feet of 1 ¾-inch hose. Place the hose line over your shoulder or across your chest, not exceeding the 8-foot mark. Drag the hose 75 feet to a pre-positioned drum, make a 90 turn around the drum, and continue an additional 25 feet. Stop within the marked 5 foot x 7 foot box, and pull the hose line until the hose line s 50- foot mark crosses into the box. During the hose pull, you must must remain within the marked boundary lines. This concludes the event. Walk 70 feet within the established walkway to the next event. During the hose drag, if you fail to go around the drum or if you go outside of the marked path, the test is concluded and you fail the test. During the hose pull, you will be warned if you step outside of the box. A second warning constitutes a failure, the test is concluded and you fail the test. During hose pull, you will be warned if your body goes outside the marked boundary line. A second warning constitutes a failure, the test is concluded and you fail the test. EVENT 3: EQUIPMENT CARRY This event uses a K-12 power saw and a 37.5 pound container of foam, to simulate equipment being carried around an emergency scene. This event is designed to simulate the critical tasks of removing equipment from fire apparatus, carrying them to the emergency scene and returning the equipment to the fire apparatus. This event challenges your aerobic capacity, upper body muscular strength and endurance, lower body muscular endurance, grip endurance, and balance. For this event, you must pick up the saw and weighted container from the designated area on the ground. They may be picked up one at a time or both simultaneously. Pick up both pieces of equipment and carry them for a distance of 35 feet to a pre-positioned cone, make a 180 degree turn around the cone, and continue an additional 35 feet to the finish line. You are permitted to place the equipment on the ground and adjust your grip if necessary. Upon return to the starting point, place the equipment on the ground in the designated area. This concludes the event. Walk 70 feet within the established walkway to the next event. If you drop either piece of equipment on the ground during the carry, the test time is concluded and you fail the test. You will receive one warning for running. A second warning constitutes a failure, the test time is concluded and you fail the test. EVENT 4: LADDER CARRY
This event uses one 14-foot fire department aluminum straight ladder to simulate carrying a ladder around an emergency scene. This event is designed to simulate the critical tasks of carrying a ground ladder from the fire apparatus to the fire occupancy, utilizing the shoulder carry method. This event challenges your aerobic capacity, upper body muscular strength, lower body muscular strength, balance, grip strength, and anaerobic endurance. For this event, the 14-foot aluminum roof ladder will be lying on the ground. Pick the ladder up by the beam, placing your arm through the rungs of the ladder, allowing the top beam to rest on your shoulder, and carry the ladder for a distance of 35 feet to a pre-positioned cone, make a 180 degree turn around the cone, and continue an additional 35 feet to the finish line. The ladder may not touch the ground at any-time after being picked up. The ladder shall be returned to the marked area after crossing the event finish line. This concludes the event. Walk 70 feet within the established walkway to the next event. If you allow the ladder to touch the ground you will be If you allow the ladder to fall to the ground, the test time is concluded and you fail the test. EVENT 5: LADDER RAISE This event uses one 24-foot fire department extension ladder. This event is designed to simulate the critical task of raising an extension-style ground ladder from the ground to a simulated window. This event challenges your aerobic capacity, upper body muscular strength, lower body muscular strength, balance, grip strength, and anaerobic endurance. For this event, the 24-foot aluminum extension ladder will be lying on the ground attached to a grounding base prop. Pick the ladder up by the top rung and then using a hand over hand method, walk the ladder up the wall until it makes contact with the wall. Once contact has been made, lower the ladder using the same hand over hand technique and place the ladder on the ground in the starting position. This concludes the event. Walk 70 feet within the established walkway to the next event. If you do not touch the wall with the top of the ladder before you begin to lower it, this will constitute a failure and you will need to repeat the raise.
EVENT 6: CHOPPING This evolution uses a chopping/striking simulator (Keiser Force Sled machine). Using the 9-lb. sledgehammer provided, you must drive the 160-lb. steel beam a horizontal distance of 5-ft. This event is designed to simulate the critical tasks of using force to ventilate a roof with an axe or striking an object for forcible entry purposes. This event challenges your aerobic capacity, upper body muscular strength and endurance, lower body muscular strength and endurance, balance, grip strength, and anaerobic endurance. For the event, you must use the 9-lb. sledgehammer provided and move the 160-lb. steel beam a horizontal distance of 5-feet by repeatedly striking it. Continue striking the beam until the designated stopping line is visible in the tray; place the sledgehammer in the designated spot on the ground. This concludes the event. Walk 70 feet within the established walkway to the next event. If you do not maintain control of the sledgehammer and release it from both hands while swinging, it constitutes a failure, the test is concluded and you fail the test. During this event, you must keep both feet on the walkways of the machine at all times. If you step off of the walkways, one warning is given. A second warning constitutes a failure, the test is concluded and you fail the test. The handle must not come in contact with the beam at any time, one warning is given. A second warning constitutes a failure, the test is concluded and you fail the test. Both hands must be above the taped mark on the handle (12 inches from the head end) at all times; one warning is given if the hands are below the mark. A second warning constitutes a failure, the test is concluded and you fail the test. EVENT 7: HYDRANT CAP This event uses a fire hydrant. Working left to right, remove all of the hydrant caps, and then place all of the hydrant caps back on hand tight working from left to right again. This event is designed to simulate the fine motor skills used when operating on the fireground to connect fire hose to a hydrant and opening the hydrant for water. This event challenges your manual dexterity and grip strength after having completed the other events. For this event you will start on the left side of the hydrant and remove the hydrant caps by hand working from left to right until all 3 have been removed and placed on the ground. Once all caps are removed you will return to the first cap removed and put the caps back on in the same order
as they were removed from left to right. This concludes the event. Walk 70 feet within the established walkway to the next event. Not placing the hydrant caps back on completely (hand tight) or failing to follow the left to right process will result in a failure and completion of the test. First violation will result in a warning with the second resulting in failure. EVENT 8: RESCUE This event uses a weighted mannequin equipped with a harness that has shoulder handles. This event is designed to simulate the critical task of removing a victim or injured partner from a fire scene. This event challenges your aerobic capacity, upper and lower body muscular strength and endurance, grip strength and endurance, and anaerobic endurance. For this event, you must grasp a 190-pound mannequin by the handles on the shoulders of the harness, drag it 35 feet to a pre-positioned cone, make a 180 degree turn around the cone, and continue to drag it an additional 35 feet to the finish line. You are permitted to drop and release the mannequin and adjust your grip if necessary. The entire mannequin must be dragged until its entire body and both feet cross the marked finish line. This concludes the event. Inability to complete the full distance will result in a failure of the test. Test Forms: You must present valid identification and complete all required forms before taking the test. Once you complete the test you will report directly to the rehabilitation area and remain there until you are released by the personnel working that area. Additionally, prior to leaving the rehabilitation area, you must complete and sign the Rehabilitation Form. If you fail to complete and sign any of the above mentioned forms it will constitute failure of the test. It is your responsibility to ask questions if you do not understand any parts of the test events or procedures.