Description of Events This candidate physical ability test (CPAT) consists of eight separate events. The CPAT 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 allow fire departments to obtain trainable candidates who are physically able to perform essential job tasks at fire scenes.
This is a pass/fail test based on a validated maximum total time of 10 minutes and 20 seconds.
In these events, you wear a 50-pound vest to simulate the weight of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and fire fighter protective clothing. An additional 25 pounds that simulate a high-rise pack (hose bundle), is added to your shoulders for the stair climb event. All props were designed to obtain the necessary information regarding your physical ability. The tools and equipment were chosen to provide the highest level of consistency, safety and validity in measuring your physical abilities.
Event 1: Stair Climb
This event uses a stair-climbing machine and is designed to simulate the critical tasks of climbing stairs in full protective clothing while carrying a high-rise pack (hose bundle). You must walk on the stair-climbing machine at a set stepping rate of 60 steps per minute for 3 minutes.
Event 2: Hose Drag
This event uses an uncharged fire hose with a nozzle that you must pull into a marked boundary box
and 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 stationary. You must grasp a hose line nozzle attached to 200 feet of 1 3/4-inch hose. Place the hose line over your shoulder or across your chest. You are permitted to run during the hose drag. Drag the hose 75 feet to a pre-positioned drum, make a 90 degree turn around the drum, and continue an additional 25 feet. Stop within the marked 5 ft. by 7 ft. box, drop to at least one knee and pull the hose line until the hose line's 50 ft. mark crosses the finish line.
Event 3: Equipment Carry
This event uses two saws and a tool cabinet replicating a storage cabinet on a fire truck. This event is designed to simulate the critical tasks of removing power tools from a fire apparatus, carrying them to the emergency scene and returning the equipment to the fire apparatus. You must remove two chain saws from the tool cabinet, one at a time, and place them on the ground. Pick up both saws, one in each hand, and carry them while walking 75 feet around the drum, then back to the starting point. Upon return to the tool cabinet, place the saws on the ground, pick up each saw one at a time, and replace the saw in the designated space in the cabinet.
Event 4: Ladder Raise and Extension
This event is designed to simulate the critical tasks of placing a ground ladder at a fire structure and extending the ladder to the roof or window. You must walk to the end of a 24-foot extension ladder that is laying on the ground, lift the unhinged end from the ground, and walk it up until it is vertical against the wall. This must be done in a hand over hand fashion, using each rung until the ladder is stationary against the wall. Immediately proceed to a second 24-foot extension ladder that is attached to the wall, stand with both feet within the marked box of 36 inches x 36 inches and extend the fly section hand over hand until it hits the stop. Then, lower the fly section hand over hand in a controlled fashion back to the starting position.
Event 5: Forcible Entry
This event uses a mechanized device located 39 inches off the ground that measures cumulative force.
You must use a 10-pound sledgehammer to strike the measuring device in the target area until the buzzer is activated. This event is designed to simulate the critical tasks of using force to open a locked door or to breach a wall.
Event 6: Search
This event is designed to simulate the critical task of searching for a fire victim with limited visibility in an unpredictable area. This event uses an enclosed search maze that has obstacles and narrowed spaces.
You must crawl through a tunnel maze that is approximately 3 feet high, 4 feet wide and 64 feet in length with two 90-degree turns. At a number of locations in the tunnel, you must navigate around, over and under obstacles. In addition, at two locations, you must crawl through a narrowed space where the dimensions of the tunnel are reduced.
Event 7: Rescue
This event uses a weighted mannequin equipped with a harness and shoulder handles and is designed to simulate the critical task of removing a victim or injured partner from a fire scene. You must grasp a 165-pound mannequin by the handles on the shoulders of the harness (either one or both handles are permitted), drag it 35 feet to a pre-positioned drum, make a 180 degree turn around the drum, and continue an additional 35 feet to the finish line.
Event 8: Ceiling Breach and Pull
This event uses a mechanized device that measures overhead push and pull forces and a pike pole. The pike pole is a commonly used piece of equipment that consists of a 6-foot long pole with a hook and point attached to one end. This event is designed to simulate the critical task of breaching and pulling down a ceiling to check for fire extension. You must remove the pike pole from the bracket, stand within the boundary established by the equipment frame, and place the tip of the pole on the painted area of the hinged door in the ceiling. Fully push up the 60-pound hinged door in the ceiling with the pike pole three times. Then, hook the pike pole to the 80-pound ceiling device and pull the pole down five times. Each set consists of three pushes and five pulls. Repeat the set four times.