What to expect on a firefighter assessment day

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is recruiting wholetime and on -call firefighters. To become a firefighter, you’ll need to pass an assessment day.

Fitness Advisors Matt Norris and Liam Noll talk through the tests on an assessment day.

To find out more about becoming a firefighter, search Essex Fire Wholetime.

Video transcript:

Fitness Advisor Matt Norris:

“Hi, I’m Matt. I’m one of the Fitness Advisors at Essex Fire and Rescue Service.

“I’ll just be talking through some of the tests that you’ll be doing on an assessment day.

“Liam, one of the other fitness advisors here will be giving a quick demonstration of some of these tests as well.

“The first test you’ll do on an assessment day is the Bleep Test.

“The level you need to get to on the Bleep Test is level 8.8.

“It’s around about nine and a half minutes of running so possibly sounds more daunting than it is.

“The Bleep Test is run on a 20 metre course.

“You’ve got to keep in line with the bleep. You can’t set off before the bleep.

“We wouldn’t recommend just training to do the Bleep Test by running the Bleep Test.

“Just use it as an assessment tool every now and then just to see how your progress is going.”

Fitness Advisor Liam Noll:

“Alternatively, you can do the Chester Treadmill Test.

“This is a 12 minute test at a set speed of 6.2 kilometres per hour or 3.9 miles per hour.

“The gradient increases by 3% every two minutes until you reach a maximum gradient of 15%.”

Fitness Advisor Matt Norris:

“The next assessment you’ll do is the ladder lift.

“This simulates your course of a 135 ladder which is the heaviest ladder you’ll lift on when you’re on station.

“The total weight that’ll be required to lift is 30 kilograms.

“You’ll do a warm up lift first of all with 20 kilograms just to make sure your technique’s right and that you’re doing it safely.

“So if we break the ladder lift down essentially all it is is a bicep curl and then straight up into a shoulder press so it’s quite an easy one to train for you just need some dumbbells or a barbell and you can practice building up to the 30 kilograms.

“One of the other tests that you’ll be doing on the assessment day is the equipment carry.

“This is done over a 25 metre course rather than a 20 metre course like the Bleep Test is done.

“The first piece of equipment you run out is the hose out of the back of the appliance. You then place that down and run back.

“You then pick up the to hoses by the handles and carry those for four lengths.

“You then place those back down and you carry the single hose at chest height for one length.

“You then run for three lengths with no equipment.

“You’re then going to pick up the hose and the basket and then you’re going to carry those for four lengths.

“Then you’ve got four lengths with no equipment and then your final piece of equipment is the barbell which again it’s four lengths.”

Fitness Advisor Liam Noll:

“You will also be required to complete the casualty evacuation.

“This is where you drag a 55 kilogram dummy across 30 metres.

“Another part of the assessment day is the ladder climb.

“This is where you will climb a ladder and complete a leg lock. This tests your ability to work at height.

“Next, you’ll be required to do the Manual Dexterity Test.

“This tests your ability to put together a piece of equipment under pressure.

“Next, you’ll be required to do the Confined Space Test.

“This tests your ability to work in a confined space.”

Fitness Advisor Matt Norris:

“If you need any further training tips or help with your training, feel free to follow us on Instagram which is @ECFRS_fitness and we can answer any questions you have on there.”

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