Fire School

How Do You Get Into Fire School?

Anyone considering a career in fire services needs to know exactly what it takes to become one of those firefighting super heroes. Is there a special fire school? Do you need a college education? How does it all work?

Firefighter training takes place in a fire academy which is run either by the fire department, the government or a university. There are many people interested in becoming firefighters. Far more than there are positions available, so most people who apply are rejected.

Some of the basic requirements to be accepted into the program are that you need to be at least 18 (or 21 in some cases), a high school diploma (or in some cases a college education), have no criminal record, be in good shape physically, and have 20/20 vision (corrected).

Of course there is a lot more required to make a good firefighter! Before entering a training program, the applicant must take three tests. One is a written test consisting of one hundred multiple choice questions on subjects such as reading comprehension, spacial awareness, memory, reasoning and logic.

Next comes the Candidate Physical Ability Test (shortened to CPAT). In this round of tests, the applicant must perform some physically strenuous tasks typical in firefighting such as carrying and climbing ladders, dragging hoses and going through search and rescue drills in full gear. These tests are essential in determining whether an applicant will be able to handle the intense training and on the job skills needed.

Besides these tests there is an aptitude test. Applicants who perform well enough on these three tests will go through to train in fire school. But what happens in fire school?

It's necessary to undergo six hundred hours of firefighter training before becoming a firefighter. These hours are usually completed in twelve to fourteen weeks, meaning that firemen in training work 40-48 hour weeks. Really it's a full time job.

In the fire academy trainees learn much of their training in the classroom. Such subjects as English, Physics, Math, Chemistry and, of course fire science are studied to be used and applied in actual situations they may encounter. This academic training is necessary so the firefighters can communicate and solve problems well.

Of course the most critical part of the fire safety course comes in the form of live fire training. In this way future fire fighters have the chance to experience the danger and the difficulty of thinking clearly and making good decisions while under extreme pressure. Without this aspect of training, they would not be ready to go out and work in real fires.

Becoming a firefighter is no easy task. It requires plenty of hard physical work, bravery, and fast thinking and problem solving. No wonder this is one of the most respected occupations to have!

 

 

 

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