Things to know before applying to become a fireman?

I applied 3 times but never got through due to the amount of people who applied. It was something like 2000 people for 10 jobs :(
However i did pass all the tests etc.
It goes something like this but it might have changed now becase it was a few years ago.

psychometric tests - look these up online

shuttle run to level 10.3 iirc
grip test - you pull on this piece of apparatus that measures your grip.
Hose run - run a hose out and roll it back up again a couple of times(not as easy as it sounds but isnt too taxing)

ladder lock - climb up a ladder then lock your leg in place and do hands free.
strength test - pull down on a parallell bar fixed to weights.
fear of confined spaces test - wearing full uniform and breathing apparatus, you then go down a man hole and through a tunnell in pitch black, also the tunnell was quite cramped wih little space to manouver.
final test was like a crawly obstacle course thing whch you had to negotiate through with a covered face mask.

Then the interview.

Then the medical.

If you pass all those then your in !

All done on 5 different days.
 
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Ben M said:
yes, but people don't want to read stories of kids dying of smoke inhalation whilst hiding in wardrobes, do they?
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If you want to join the fire service that will be something that will happen. So yes, if people want to join that is one of the things they will need to understand that it will happen, so for people who want to join its better they know what they will have to do before they apply etc.

re: The bleep test someone on here posted an mp3 file of the bleep test a while ago which, would give you an idea of the bleep test. Im not sure who it was but if they see this im sure they will post the link to it again.

But as others have said make sure you can as they say "stomach" it (remember its nothing like what you see on the TV, you will deal with REAL dead, mangled, burnt etc bodies of all ages).

The service you are planning on applying for will have their website, and they will possible also have a section with requirements for when you apply.
 
eddiemcgarrigle said:
I never bothered with anything and took it all in my stride, including hunting for a young boys scalp in the wake of an explosion. Now I have a son of my own, I'm not looking forward to the next dead youngster I have to deal with. I never thought it possible but there you go.
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I worked in the mortuary, so I had to go out to calls where a body was required to be picked up and transported back for autopsy. It never bothered me in the slightest, but I've seen seasoned Police officers throw their guts up before.

Dead babies never bothered me at all. In fact the only thing that really got my juices close to throwing up was a farmer whose wife had let loose with his 12 gauge in her mouth, and that was only because of the smell in the house. That was my second body in the job, and man did it hit me in a big way.
 
If its not already been said get used to the smell of burning and rotting flesh.

My housemate left i piece of turkey in the fridge in the wrapper for about half a year. It was green and when he opened it to ask me if it was "ok to eat" I smelt it and instantly threw up. The smell sort of clung in my nose for about 4 days.

One of my housemates dads was a firefighter for many years in nottingham and he said rotting poultry smells the same as rotting human. Something i never want to smell again.

Good luck with that (and the burning flesh too!)
 
I tried and failed to get in to the Northern Ireland fire service about 3 months ago :(

I got to the very last fitness test but failed when I had to go through the tunnel system blindfolded. You have to follow a rope that is tied off to various parts of the tunnel, I droped the rope and lifted the wrong part again, turns out I was still on the right track but I had missed about a 1ft section of the course :(

The examiner seen this and had to fail me, I was totally gutted. Getting that far I had allowed myself to start believing I might actual get in. Was a real kick in the balls tbh.

Dont get too hung up on the fitness, at the end of the day I was fit but just had bad luck, as where a lot of the people there. Get to your local station and ask someone to show you the hose test, on the day I was there this was what put most people out.

If there is a gap of 3 years every time your local area recruits I would forget about it and at least get used to the idea that you are going to have to consider relocating.

Oh and 1 more thing, do some voluntry work before you applay, this will increase your chances of getting past the written application.
 
22B said:
Hose run - run a hose out and roll it back up again a couple of times(not as easy as it sounds but isnt too taxing)
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When I applied some years back we had the misfortune to have the Chief overseeing this part of our testing, we were doing hose runs all over the place including through a pond and over walls for the better part of two hours, I don't think I've ever been so knackered in my life.
 
Robert1986 said:
I do have a fear of heights, I'm going to get rid of that. What are the best ways to beat this fear?
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Take up fell walking, my mate had a fear of heights, I took him up Striding Edge on Hellvellen and then up Sharp Edge on Blencathra, he no longer has any fear of heights now.

Otherwise go a do a rock climbing course, that should sort you out.
 
Duke said:
Learn how to strike
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Read that as fighting back against a Government that is shafting you BIG TIME. No 12% rise for us as was stated in their own report into our wages but a bumper 40% rise for them instead. How I would love to be able to set my own yearly pay rise AND get expenses that dwarf my wage earnings.
 
I think one of the most important things you have to take into account is, at any time, there is a possibility that you could be killed and you will never be able to see all of your family and friends again.
 
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Robert1986 said:
I won't be able to apply to become a fireman for atleast 3-4 years as my local fire brigade aren't recruiting right now. What should I do to pre-pare myself? Its been my life long dream to do this and its the only thing I'd enjoy doing in my life.

Thanks for any help.
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i applied about 3 years ago,first you had to sit a small writen test which is very easy,then you move onto the fitness which included a bleep test of 9.6 (equivelent of 2 miles in 15mins)lifting a 50kg weight (wheel barrow sort of thing)raising a ladder and lowering it again in a certain time then finnally the eye test,you need perfect 20/20 vision with no surgical correction.If you pass the fitness stage your on to the control stage,this consisted of 3 tests,all 3 tests involved wearing full fire fighting gear,first test you are wearing full breathing apperatus with a blacked out mask,you are then lead into a room with what feels like a rubbish shoot and you have to enter and make your way through in a certain time,its very tight and can go in all directions,i really enjoyed that test:)2nd test involves climbing up a 35ft ladder locking your self in with a foot lock which is very tricky with a size 10 boot on then following instructions which include leaning back and looking over your shoulders.3rd test was a hose run,you run out the hose then roll it back up again think you do this 4-5 times in a certain amount of time,sounds easy but i found that more difficult than the bleep test.if you pass all of the following your through to the final interview which,this is nerve racking,i was very nervouswhich is why in the end i failed the interview,to be honest at the time the service went through a stage where they were looking for particular candidates (without going into to much detail)and found the interview process very difficult,lots of very tricky catch 22 questions,also you are asked to talk about something for 2 mins,i was lead to believe this would be smoke alarms but instead it was a glass of water which sounds easy but when your nervous and put on the spot it seems the hardest thing in the world:).If you get through the interview your in:)before you get stationed though theres a 6week residential course,im friends with the chief at one of my local stations,he has informed me recently that the service regrets there recruitment techniques they used a few years ago and has changed considerably,apparently its easyer now interview wise any way:)im reapplying my self this month so im off the beer for a while:eek:hope that helps anyway m8;)
 
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busman said:
Get to your local station and ask someone to show you the hose test, on the day I was there this was what put most people out.
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Definately a great bit of advice. Not only running out hose but anything else regarding the selection process and the latest buzz words etc.

When I joined after speaking to others who have passed I realised most successful applicants had some form of help from someone allready in the job.
From helping them fill in the application form, hose running, BA Chamber practice and also things like discussing Community Fire Safety and Minority Groups.

It's a fantastic job and regarding fitness levels, it's more about cardio fitness than strength.
 
Fire Wizard said:
I think one of the most important things you have to take into account is, at any time, there is a possibility that you could be killed and you will never be able to see all of your family and friends again.
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TBH if you go around thinking that something is wrong with you. Fireman dont have the most dangerous job, largely due to the equipment and high level of training they have. If you don't trust your team or yourself to be able to handle the job without dying, should you be doing it?
 
PikeyPriest said:
TBH if you go around thinking that something is wrong with you.
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Hello PikeyPriest, could you elaborate please?

PikeyPriest said:
Fireman dont have the most dangerous job, largely due to the equipment and high level of training they have. If you don't trust your team or yourself to be able to handle the job without dying, should you be doing it?
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I agree, you have to trust yourself and your team-mates otherwise you certainly shouldn't be doing that particular job. However, you and your team could be the most experienced Fire Fighters and have the best equipment in the world but there is still a chance of something going seriously wrong and I think you have to take that into account before joining the Fire service. :)
 
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I would practice your posing for calendars. This is an important part of the job. Blue Steal and La Tigre should see you well.
 
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