Firefighter Sims

Unlike buying a Dodge off the lot, purchasing a Fire Engine requires a committee designated to the design process because each truck is hand built to specifications. The committee designs the truck around what equipment will be placed on the truck.

The Fire Truck Committee needs to know what the truck is utilized for, ie: a rescue truck, engine pumper, ladder truck, wildland truck, where the tools should be placed to be effective and efficient, the right size pumps, what types of gauges are needed and where the gauges need to be placed. It requires working with the manufacturers throughout the entire process to see it through. The design of the fire truck needs to be made to meet the specific needs of that fire department.

Ken Carpenter, Fire Engineer, in Boulder Colorado, works with the folks at Sutphen Fire Trucks, Pierce and other fire truck manufacturers to design the trucks for Rocky Mountain Fire. Through years of experience working on the engines as a mechanic with the City of Boulder, Ken knows what it takes to design a good fire engine. "By engine, I don't just mean the motor itself" says Ken. The Fire Engine consists of pumps to spray water, gauges to run the pumps, different nozzles and adapters to attach hoses, tools for breaking apart cars to save people who've been in accidents and breaking into burning houses to put out the fire. All of these are organized in such a manner so that they are quickly accessible because to a firefighter, time is not money, it is someone's life.

"The most satisfying aspect of my job is helping people, says Ken. I like to take what is out of control and help get it back into control." Ken began his fire career as a volunteer in January of 1995. At the time, he was employed as a mechanic for the City of Boulder . He enjoyed his volunteer work so much that in August of 1999, he was hired on as a full-time firefighter. He quickly was promoted to Engineer and is currently in charge of maintaining the fire trucks. With 15 engines, that is no small job.

Ken has always been mechanically inclined. He took apart his bicycles as a kid. He then moved on to taking apart cars and motorcycles. His process now originates in his head, with mechanical ideas. He then moves onto paper and working with the manufacturer, implements the designs to work on the Fire Engines. This process is what he likes most about his job.

The most challenging part of Ken's job is keeping up with all the younger guys. At 45 years young, he is considered one of the older firefighters. It requires high physical stamina to fight a fire. While in a fire, firefighters work at their peak Level of performance, under high stress for many hours. Good physical and mental health is essential to deal with the stress because you often get a call in the middle of the night, taking you from sleeping to emergency mode in 60 seconds. This makes firefighting one of the top five most stressful jobs. In addition to being one of the top ten most dangerous jobs, it puts firefighters at a high risk for heart attack.

The most frustrating part of Ken's job is dealing with the public who are not involved in the accident and who don't move out of the way for the fire truck to get through. Personal vehicles are now manufactured with improved sound sealing which, in addition to people talking on cell phones, listening to loud stereos and/or their kids, they don't notice that you are running "emergent" and they simply keep driving.

Fire tools are basically used to rescue people who have been in an accident. Just ask Tools of the Trade Editor, Rick Schwolsky what that is like.

Ken's favorite tool is the Fire Truck itself but here is a list to show you just what's on it:

1. Jaws of Life - Hydraulic Spreader by Hurst - this is used to pry doors off of a vehicle that has been crushed in an accident - to extricate victims.

2. Hydraulic Ram - used to take off the steering wheel or floor of a vehicle

3. Hydraulic Cutters - used to cut the frame of a car or remove the roof.

4. Stihl Utility Chain Saw

5. Stihl Gas-powered Circular saw

6. Stihl Gas-powered Rescue Saw for cutting through roofs.

7. Various Axes, Pike poles and prying and Cutting Tools - Ken's idea was to put it on a swing out rack

8. SCBA's - Self contained breathing apparatus

9. Nozzles, adaptors - tools to spray large amounts of water

10. Pump - 1500 gpm 'Waterous' from St. Paul, Minnesota

11. Intake pump to get water from ponds

12. Ice and Water rescue equipment including climbing helmets and a boogie board for water rescue.

13. Station tools include battery operated Makita drills, Craftsman air compressor and various hand tools.

and of course: Ladders

If you are serious about becoming a firefighter, it's important you understand the requirements for this job. Naturally, firefighter requirements vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction but, as you will see, there are some commonalities.

First, here are the requirements to become a firefighter in the New York City Fire Department (NYFD).

To apply to take the next New York City Firefighter Exam, you must be between the ages of 17 and a half and 29.

To be hired as a New York City Firefighter

You must:

• Pass both the written and physical exams
• Pass a medical exam and background investigation
• Be at least 21 years of age
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Have at least 15 college semester credits earned as a result of satisfactory completion of course work at a college or university accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education or full time military service with an honorable discharge; or 6 months of full time, satisfactory paid work experience
• Hold a motor vehicle driver's license valid in New York State
• Be a resident of one of the five boroughs of New York City, or live in Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk or Westchester County
• Be a Certified First Responder with Defibrillation (CFR-D)

The city of Piqua, Ohio firefighter requirements

In comparison, here are the firefighter requirements for a small city

• Take out an application
• Return application along with a copy of your birth certificate, copy of your diploma or equivalent, and a copy of your high school records
• Take a civil service test. (This test will cover general knowledge of all types of subjects and current events.)
• If you place in the top of the group according to how many openings there are, then you move on to the next steps
• Pass a physical fitness - agility test
• Pass a physical exam
• Pass a polygraph and psychological test
• Be interviewed by a board of Fire Officers
• Be interviewed by the City Manager, the Human Resource Director, and the Fire Chief

What do these requirements have in common?

• You must take and pass a physical exam
• You must take some form of written examination
• You must pass a physical agility test
• You must have at least a high school diploma
• You will most certainly have to undergo an oral interview

Which is most important?

Of these requirements, the most important is the written exam because if you do not score highly on it, you will be eliminated as a candidate for a firefighter position.

The written exam

Piqua, OH seems to have the easier exam as it requires only that the applicant pass a civil service. New York City's requires the candidate to pass a written exam. In this case, the exam is designed specifically to test firefighter applicants. The biggest majority of municipalities also use a similar test designed specifically for firefighter candidates. These firefighter exams are tough. They typically take three hours or more to complete and consist of 100 of more questions. If you would like to see a sample of this test, I recommend the book Barron's Firefighter Exams by James J. Murtagh, which includes samples of the NYC Fire Department Exam.

In summary

The short answer to the question of what is required of a firefighter applicant is that you must be in good health, you must pass a tough written exam, you need to have a clean driver's license, you need to be able to pass an agility test or a test that simulates the skills required to be a firefighter and you will need to do well in an oral interview.

Standing out from the crowd

Getting a job as a firefighter is very, very competitive these days. If you want to stand out as a candidate - and win that coveted badge - you should have some college, especially courses related to firefighting. And it will most likely help if you have EMT or paramedic experience.