Future firefighters from across the state were tested Tuesday to be considered for hiring at the Brownwood Fire Department.
Out of 18 applicants, 14 took the written test Tuesday morning; all but one advanced to the physical agility testing in the afternoon. The possible recruits came from cities such as Temple, Rowlett, Midland, Early, Comanche, Snyder and Abilene.
The physical tests consisted of the following:
- Climbing a three story tower’s steps carrying a 50’ fire hose, once at the top, lowering it down on a rope by hand-over-hand method, then coming down the tower hitting every step of the stairway on the way down
- Drag a fully charged (water filled) 150’ hose 75 feet
- Climb up and back down the fully extended and upright 75’ platform ladder of a fire truck without freezing on a step for more than 30 seconds.
- Climb up and over the roof
- The Keizer Sled – A simulation of chopping a hole in a rooftop, using a sledge hammer and hitting a large weighted block
- Hose stacking – placing, one at a time, six 50’ sections of 2.5 inch hose from the ground onto a table and then stacking them one at a time back onto the ground
- Dummy drag – simulates a rescue of a person with a lifelike weighted mannequin
According to Fire Marshal Buddy Preston, Cpt. Robert Myers and Assistant Fire Chief Grady Shuey, these tests measure cardiovascular and physical strength as well as endurance and are very important to the job of a fireman. All three men stated that a fireman’s job requires the physical strength as well as the skills of these tasks.
“We have to be ready for all kinds of emergencies, be able to fight the fire, carry people in rescue situations, and more to do our jobs and do it in unnatural and extreme conditions,” said Myers. “Being ready to do whatever comes up, to handle whatever happens is a fireman’s job.”
Meyers stated that it was exciting to see so many testing and to know that most will be on a potential list for hiring in the future. Brownwood Fire Chief Del Albright stated that possibly two firemen will retire by next month and that he is happy to see the group of potential recruits doing so well.
“Overall this is a better group than we have had in quite a while since I came here in 2006,” said Albright. “It’s a good pool for hiring. We hope to start interviewing before Christmas and start the background/reference checks. We don’t want to be short any men for too long.”
At the end of the 1.5 hour physical testing, all 13 men had passed and will soon advance to oral interviews with the civil service commission after reference checks are completed said Shuey.
Albright stated that being a firefighter is an exciting job and that it’s not always the same thing day to day.
“We have been lucky this year, 2012 has been more medical calls and motor vehicle accidents,” said Albright. “2011 was a lot different; we were going all the time.” Albright was referring to the wildfires faced in 2011 and the many trips Brownwood firefighters made to help with the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System.
Pictured above and below are the future firefighters participating in the physical agility testing.
