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.”

[@James-Shrimpton]

Passed my oncall physical assessment day today! Never give up keep going until you achieve it! Thank you to all the fitness team and instructors Liam, Matt and Claire and all the team to help me achieve and get to where I am now 👨‍🚒🚒

[@TalvinRai]

Very informative, thank you!

[@olipessino6294]

Good informative video I shall use for training 👍

[@Ragnarok5622]

Have my selection test today on Thursday and been training well so this has been a great insight thankyou

[@johngoldie9568]

Good luck mate👍🏼

[@ecfrs]

Good luck Conner! If you have any questions, please get in touch with us!

[@Charlie-wp9nn]

Hey mate how did it go? Applied myself just concerned about bleep test. Currently getting level 8 have a few weeks to prepare any pointers?

[@johngoldie9568]

@@Charlie-wp9nn Charlie how long ago did you apply mate?

[@Charlie-wp9nn]

@@johngoldie9568 Applied a few weeks ago. Currently just finished 1st application phase the situational judgement test. 2nd phase starts next week. The fitness tests etc are 2nd week in January thats the only thing I'm concerned about right now!

[@James-Shrimpton]

I’ve got my assessment day next week at Canvey fire station. I can’t wait really excited I hope I pass 🤞On the equipment carry what’s the current weight of the equipment hoses, basket and suction hose with the 30kg barbell? 💪👩‍🚒🚒

[@erikarudash]

Hi, is the required weight lift (30kg) the same for female candidates? Thank you

[@ecfrs]

Hi, yes the fitness standards are the same for all candidates. Our fitness team has created a guide to help candidates with the assessment day: www.essex-fire.gov.uk/_img/pics/pdf_1599559117.pdf

[@stopwritingthatreplyjohnat6638]

Is this a standardised test or does it vary from county to county?

[@josh35639]

varies

[@benbrad0433]

Do you have to do both the bleep test and the treadmill test or is it one or the other?

[@TurnerN4tor500]

I got to choose. If you’re a good runner, pick the beep test. If you have strong endurance particularly in your upper legs, I’d opt for the treadmill test. Treadmill test is by no means easy though, I finished it but felt sick afterwards, 15 minutes to recover and continue with the day 😅

[@johngoldie9568]

Still waiting to hear back from my application, that’s been over 2 months but I’m really hoping I get to this stage🤞🏼🤞🏼

[@ecfrs]

Good luck John! If you have any questions, please get in touch with us!

[@Charlie-wp9nn]

Hey John did you hear back? Applied myself just concerned about the bleep test. Currently getting level 8 have a few weeks to prepare. Any tips?

[@johngoldie9568]

@@Charlie-wp9nn hey mate still not heard anything

[@Charlie-wp9nn]

@@johngoldie9568 Aww man have you chased them yet? Any advice for myself on the beep test? Do you get to chose beep test vs elevated run or is it mandatory? Thanks!

[@Toby-Askem]

Hi, like it looked like in the video will you get told what order to put the equipment together?

[@ecfrs]

Hi Toby, for the manual dexterity test, candidates won’t be told how to put the equipment together. However, there are both written and pictorial instructions on a board in front of them which will give them all the information they need to assemble and disassemble the equipment.

[@CamJeffs1767]

Is the assessment day the same for all stations or is it dependent on where you are thanks for the info :)

[@ecfrs]

All the same :-)

[@raturalawa992]

Is the bleep test tested according to age groups and what level one must achieve to pass?

[@ecfrs]

Hi, the level you need to get to on the Bleep Test is level 8.8. All applicants must reach this level to pass. You can find advice on how to train for the assessment day on our website: join.essex-fire.gov.uk/wholetime/firefighter-fitness/

[@CamJeffs1767]

What do you have to do in the dexterity test?

[@ecfrs]

Hi, the dexterity test is likely to involve assembling a piece of equipment.

[@rhysjohnson7476]

Got mine on Monday nerves are kicking in 😩

[@Charlie-wp9nn]

Hey Rhys how did it go? I've applied I have a few weeks to prepare but concerned about beep test currently getting level 8. Have 4 weeks to prepare. Any tips?

[@BurritoSenor]

Can you choose either bleep test or treadmill?

[@ecfrs]

Yes you can.

[@Ethan-xb8nn]

@@ecfrs wait really? whats the alternative for the time and length on a treadmill?

[@ecfrs]

@@Ethan-xb8nn Hi Ethan, you can find out more about the Aerobic fitness test options of the bleep test of the Chester treadmill test at: join.essex-fire.gov.uk/wholetime/firefighter-fitness/

[@Charlie-wp9nn]

@@ecfrs Hey Essex Fire Service! Currently applying for Northamptonshire fire service. Was wondering would I be able to choose between chester test and beep test or is beep test mandatory? Looked on website haven't found an answer just yet. Kind regards :)

[@Kubacie]

Got mine in 5 days! Hope I pass it!

[@muzzer4715]

How did it go mate

[@Kubacie]

@@muzzer4715 mate I am physically and mentally exhausted, I’m pretty sure I’ve passed but it was really hard! The hardest were the equipment carry and the Elevated run! I regret not doing more cardio! If you got any questions then go ahead!

[@megancooper5997]

Hello I'm 15 and my dream job is to he a firefighter and ik I'm young but I'm already keeping fit. Not many women are firefighters and most of my family are saying: "I'm too much of a girly girl to do that sort of thing and I dont have the strength for it" They keep pushing me down saying it will never happen to me. Do u have any advise for me to get over what they think? Ty :)

[@Kubacie]

@@megancooper5997 hey Megan! Don’t let your family get to you! If you got a dream then don’t let anything or anyone stop you! This has also been a dream for me since a young age! You should definitely read everything about your local fire service and even go and talk to them if you ever get a chance! At the training facility I saw many girls and half of my exercises a woman was my instructor! You can definitely do this job if you work hard enough!

[@megancooper5997]

@@Kubacie thank you and good luck with your course :)

[@AnkitSingh-zg2ho]

Hi

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