IAFF/IAFC Firefighter
Candidate Physical Ability Test- CPAT
The test was set-up on the
roof of the parking garage of the Hilton. Not a bad view.
Candidate Euerle fresh from a night on the town with the
Aussies gets ready to set a blistering pace.
 Proctors fit each candidate with a 50 pound
vest, two 12 pound SCBA simulator weights, gloves, and a helmet in preparation for the
eight event CPAT.
 Three minutes and 20 seconds doesn't seem that
long but candidate Niblock thought it was a lot harder than it looked. Maybe it's
because this "entry level" candidate is 52 years old.
 The hose pull simulates placing an inch and
three-quarter attack line into service.
 The hose pull finishes by requiring the
candidate to use upper body strength as well as lower body strength.
There is no static rest period built into this
test. Rather mobile "rest" is built into the time intervals in between
each event like the tool removal and carry event shown below.
The ladder raise and extension event uses a 24 foot
extension ladder with the foot bolted to the deck. A second ladder is used to extend
the fly.
 This event simulates the action of forcible entry. The
candidate uses a ten pound sledge to move the plunger enough distance to sound the buzzer.
 The tunnel crawl is one of the best simulated events in the
test. The candidate crawls through a U-shaped tunnel that is pitch black. If
you are claustrophobic you are not going to make it through this event.
 The dummy drag is the seventh event. By
the time Nib was finished dragging this dummy around he was starting to drag.
 The final event utilizes a real pike pole and a machine
manufactured specifically for the test. The candidate completes four cycles of pulls
and pushes with pike pole to simulate searching for fire extension.
Brothers Euerle and Niblock both finished the test well
under the time required for passing. Euerle's comments? "Shaka bro,
where's the Aussies?"
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12/29/2002
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