entry #6 CPAT

Have you ever thought of how a fire fighter are able to fight fire in all of their gear and still have enough energy to go about all the task that is needed. Yes, exercise and healthy life style....ect. But in the beginning,  intro-Fire fighters need to pass a Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT). The CPAT  is usually Broken down in to eight Steps that has to be done in a total of ten minutes and twenty seconds. 


The first step is the stair climb. The participant has to climb a stair master at a rate of sixty steps a minute while fully clothed in fire retardant clothing, helmet, gloves and a seventy five pound weighted vest to simulate the breathing apparatus. the start and end time of the activity is a total of three minutes and twenty seconds. 







With seven minutes left, the next step is a hose drag. where the candidate  run seventy five feet with hose in hand, make a right turn around a barrel and go an additional twenty five. They will have a line marked off for you to follow.Once you reach the red outlined box you’ll drop to a knee and start pulling the hose to you, in a hand over hand fashion, until the fifty foot marker crosses into the box with you.

Once the hose is pulled in you will have to the equipment carry portion.  Pick up each chainsaw from the shelf one at a time and walk them both, one in each hand, the seventy five feet around the barrel and back again. Once you get back place them on the ground and put the equipment back onto the shelf one at a time.

 Next step is the ladder raise and extension. this is an easy task but with all the extra weight and gear it proves to be difficult. the dropping of the ladders will result in a failed test. 

The fifth step is the forcible entry station. This station is where you would take a ten pound sludge hammer and hit a machine where it will read the amount of force the participant gives with one swing. It could take multiple swings until the buzzer rings and the amount of force is necessary to open a door.If the sludge hammer is dropped the participant will receive a failed test. 

The sixth test will be search station. This station will simulate the participant to crawl in a smoked filled room. The simulation starts with a box tunnel where the participant will crawl blind in a tunnel with different obstacles to over come.

The seventh station to over come is the rescue simulation where the participant will drag a dummy with dead weight across the floor seventy feet. 

The last and final stretch of the test the ceiling breach and pull. with a ceiling pike, the rookie will have to use the tool to force their way up and pull down on a weighted machine. 

Though all the skills are difficult, being able to be physical fit could be the the ending result of your life or the lives you were trusted.