Annual Agility Testing

Purpose

This Agility Testing guideline is created to provide a consistent and fair method of providing agility testing for all District emergency responders.

Scope

The Agility Testing guideline is intended to provide all District personnel with a consistent method of evaluating the ability of emergency responders to safely and effectively perform the tasks expected of them in the course of their duties with the Fire District.

Responsibility

It is the responsibility of all Fire District personnel to ensure that the intent of this order be followed.

Procedure

All responders with the Fire District will be tested annually, provided they have documentation of Medical Determination and Respirator Certification. Interior firefighters, exterior firefighters, medical personnel, water rescue personnel, and search and rescue personnel may be tested on different courses or with modified tasks on the course, but everyone will be tested.

Dressed in full protective equipment the firefighter will proceed through the steps outlined below until the low pressure alarm sounds on the SCBA. The firefighter will be evaluated on his/her ability to work safely and efficiently through the duration of one low pressure air bottle (until the alarm sounds). This evaluation will be timed for reference only and will in no way reflect in a pass or fail result, except for the 90 second time standards for donning an SCBA. If the firefighter is unable to complete the exercise, the District must be notified for follow-up. The following evaluation course shall be used for interior firefighters:

  1. The firefighter shall don SCBA within 90 seconds with 100% efficiency. The firefighter shall repeat this step until the time standard is achieved.
  2. The firefighter shall carry a 14' hook ladder to a designated position. Once there they will raise the ladder, climb it, lock in, unlock, and descend.
  3. With a tool or house bundle, climb to the top of the ladder again, touch the wall and descend.
  4. Carry a ventilation fan 60 feet to a given point, put the fan down and pick up a hose roll and carry it to a given point.
  5. Pick up a charged hose line, place it over the shoulder and advance until the line is extended. Use the charged line to knock over a cone and fill a 5 gallon bucket.
  6. Proceed to a chopping block and use a maul to strike the block twenty times.
  7. Start a power saw and a generator (or generator light) and run each for one minute.
  8. Repeat steps 3 through 7 until low pressure alarm sounds.

Personnel who act in the capacity of Medical, Water Rescue, or Search & Rescue only must perform modified versions of the evaluation course (unless they choose to participate in the firefighter course) as follows:

  1. Each responder will walk around a reasonably timed 1 mile course.
  2. Responders will form 4 person teams and carry a backboard or stokes with 100 lbs.
  3. After walking 200 yards with the backboard or stokes and weight, the team will change positions and carry it back to the starting point.

All personnel will be evaluated by documentation of their vitals before the task, immediately after the task, and again after 10 minutes of rest. These forms will become part of the persons training file and will be retained for 30 years according to State statutes.

Violation of this policy is subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination covered in the disciplinary action SOG.