Physical Ability Test

To become a firefighter , one must pass several different test including a physical fitness test  and .This saturday on 9/25/10 I am going to take the california candidate physical ability test also known as the CPAT test.  The purpose of the CPAT test is to see if a firefighter has the physical abilities to perform all necessary tasked needed for the job. The CPAT test is composed of eight job- specific job areas . The eight exercises including these following : Stair Climb  (climbing stairs while carrying an additional 25 lb. simulated hose pack)  , Hose Drag ( placing a ground ladder at the fire scene and extending the ladder to the roof or a window ) , Equipment Carry (removing and carrying equipment from fire apparatus to fire-ground) , Ladder Raise ( placing a ground ladder at the fire scene and extending the ladder to the roof or a window) , Forcible Entry  ( penetrating a locked door, breaching a wall), Search ( crawling through dark unpredictable areas to search for victims), Rescue Drag ( removing victim or partner from a fire building), Ceiling Breach and Pull (locating fire and checking for fire extension). During these test you either have to were full firefighting gear  or you wear a 50-pound vest to simulate the weight of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and fire fighter protective clothing. Every single event is timed and graded by senior firefighters . To pass the CPAT test , a firefighter must finish all the events in under 10 minutes and 20 seconds . Once a person pass the CPAT test , they will receive a back-round and drug test . After those test they will have to take a written test and will go though several oral interviews. If a candidate passes all of the following test , then they can be hired as a firefighter .