What to Wear When Taking the Ability Test

SkillsUSA CALIFORNIA Firefighting Competition Guideline

PURPOSE To evaluate each contestant’s preparation for employment and to recognize outstanding students for excellence and professionalism in the field of firefighting.

CLOTHING REQUIREMENT The Official SkillsUSA light blue work shirt, navy pants and black leather work shoes are preferred, however, if the contestant has a class uniform, they may wear it in lieu of the SkillsUSA clothing. To purchase the official SkillsUSA work clothes, contact Midwest Trophy Manufacturing Co. Inc. by calling 800-324-5996 or order online at: www.mtmrecognition.com/skillsusa

Note: Contestants must wear their official contest clothing to the contest orientation meeting.

ELIGIBILITY Open to active SkillsUSA members enrolled in technical and career technology programs with protective services/firefighting as part of the curriculum and occupational objective.

EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS 1. Provided by the technical committee: All ladders, hose, hand tools, ropes. 2. Supplied by the contestant: a. Full personal protective equipment, including: 1. Helmet with face-shield and chin strap 2. Bunker coat and pant with liners 3. Standard fire boots (with steel toe/shank/shin guard) 4. Nomex hood and fire gloves 5. Sneakers b. Pen and/or pencil for written test (included in orientation) c. One-page, typewritten résumé for oral board interview d. SkillsUSA Portfolio

SCOPE OF THE CONTEST This contest evaluates the contestants’ ability to perform firefighting skills. Contestants will demonstrate their ability to perform skills simulating the IAFF/ICHIEFS Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) Menu and National Fire Protection Association.

Knowledge Performance The contest will include a written knowledge exam assessing general knowledge of Firefighting IFSTA Essentials, fifth edition. The contest will also include an oral board interview. Skill Performance The contest will include 10 stations assessing skills needed for firefighting. Contest Guidelines 1. For the first two stations — Station 1: Donning Structural PPE and Station 2: Ropes and Knots. Competitors will be required to tie off a fire axe and a pike pole to send aloft. (To tie off the pike pole; tie a clove hitch near the butt end of the handle, followed by a half-hitch in the middle of the handle and another half-hitch around the head and raise the pike pole with the head up. To tie off the axe; tie a figure eight on a bight, slip the loop over the axe handle down to the axe head. Take the running end around the axe head and tie a half-hitch around the handle near the axe head and a second clove-hitch near the but end of the axe head.) Competitors are required to wear full NFPA-approved turnout gear including coat, pants, helmet (with skull cap), firefighting gloves, leather or rubber (steel toe/shank/shin guard) boots and Nomex hood. 2. For the remaining stations, contestants will be allowed to change from the official SkillsUSA competition uniform or class uniform to the required uniform for the Ability Test. The dress code for the Ability Test is: Long pants(no shorts), T-shirt or sweatshirt, footwear with no open heel or toe and no loose or restrictive jewelry. Contestants’ must be in proper attire before being allowed to participate in the ability test.

Contestants’ will wear a SCBA back-pack during the ability test. This portion of the test will be timed. The candidate will have 5 minutes, thirty seconds (5:30) to complete the remaining testing activities: 3) Hose Carry Event, 4) Hose Drag Event, 5) Equipment Carry Event, 6) Ladder Raise, 7) Fly Raise, 8) Search Event, 9) Rescue Event, 10) Ventilation Event. The travel distance between each station will be approximately 85 feet.