To fight forest fires safely and effectively, avoid injuries and recover rapidly, initial attack forest fire fighters must be physically fit. In particular, they must have suitable levels of aerobic fitness, muscular strength and muscular endurance.
The Physical Readiness Evaluation for Initial Attack Forest Fire Fighters (PRE-FIT) is a valid job-related physical performance standard used to determine whether applicants for positions as initial attack forest fire fighters in Ontario possess the physical capabilities necessary to meet the rigorous demands that are encountered while fighting forest fires.
The PRE-FIT includes one screening and three performance components. Applicants wear running shoes and exercise clothing while completing the three performance components. There is a fifteen-minute rest period between each performance component.

Following is an outline of what you can expect during your PRE-FIT testing at Fleming College. We have also included a page of training guidelines to help you prepare for this rigorous examination and some instructions on how you can determine if you are ready to take the test. You may also download the entire document (plain Windows text file - right-click and 'save as') for future reference.

Before an applicant can take part in the PRE-FIT test, he/she must complete the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q).
This questionnaire identifies the presence of medical conditions that could pose a risk during exercise and require follow-up evaluation by a physician. Next, pre-exercise blood pressure is measured. If the applicant answers 'no' to all seven PAR-Q questions listed below and his/her blood pressure is equal to or less than 144/94 mmHg, he/she can participate in the PRE-FIT. If the applicant answers 'yes' to any of the seven PAR-Q questions or his/her blood pressure is above 144/94, he/she must receive clearance from a physician using the PARmed-X form before taking part in the PRE-FIT.

• Has you doctor ever said that you have a heart condition and that you should only do physical activity recommended by a doctor?
• Do you feel pain in your chest when you do physical activity?
• In the past month, have you had chest pain when you were not doing any physical activity?
• Do you lose your balance because of dizziness or do you ever lose consciousness?
• Do you have a bone or joint problem that could be made worse by a change in your physical activity?
• Is your doctor currently prescribing drugs (for example, water pills) for your blood pressure or heart condition?
• Do you know of any other reason why you should not do physical activity?

The 20-metre shuttle run provides an evaluation of aerobic fitness. In this test, the participant runs back and forth over a 20-metre course in time with taped audio signals. The time permitted to cover the 20 metres initially requires a very slow run, then is made progressively faster until the participant is no longer able to maintain the required pace. In each leg of the shuttle run, warning lines situated two metres from each of the 20-metre end lines must be reached before the permitted time elapses. The participant is cautioned when he/she misses the first warning line.
This test is terminated after two consecutive warning line misses. Completion of stage 6.0 in the 20 metre shuttle run is a 'pass', completion of stages 4.5 to 5.5 receive 'borderline' scores and completion of stage 4.0 or less receives a 'fail'.

This test simulates the arm and shoulder work involved in a number of important forest fire fighting tasks. The applicant stands with the back against a wall or a post, knees slightly bent, hands shoulder width apart and palms down gripping a 51 lb bar. The bar is raised to shoulder height and lowered repeatedly in time with a metronome rate of 20 lifts per minute.
Failure to keep up with the metronome rate constitutes termination of the test. A 'pass' in the upright row test is 12 lifts; 9 to 11 lifts receive 'borderline' scores, and 8 or fewer lifts receive a 'fail'.

This test simulates three of the more physically demanding forest fire fighting tasks. During the performance of this test, the participant wears a 9 lb soft weight belt. The three pump/hose test components are performed sequentially. The first component is not timed; only the overall time to complete the remaining two components is recorded. In the fist component, a 63 lb Mark 3 water pump is carried in any safe manner selected by the participant over a distance of 100 metres without setting it on the ground. The time portion of the test begins when the pump is placed on the ground at the end of the pump carry. In the second component, the participant carries a 60 lb hose pack in a standard, safe manner of a distance of 300 metres. Time continues to run. The final component of this test involves extending 50 metres of charged hose which has been folded back onto itself at the 25 metre point. The participant picks up the capped end of the hose and, holding the hose in any desired, safe manner, drags the 25 metre folded back portion out until the entire 50 metres is fully extended. He/she then drags and folds the same 25 metre portion back onto itself. This is done twice to cover a total distance of 200 metres.
Timing concludes when the 200 metre hose extension is complete. A 'pass' in the pump/hose test is 340 seconds; completion times of 341 to 380 seconds receive 'borderline' scores, and times of 381 seconds or longer receive a 'fail'.

A 'fail' in any one of the three PRE-FIT performance tests or 'borderline' scores in all three of the PRE-FIT performance test constitute an overall failure of the PRE-FIT. It is also important to be aware that scores beyond the minimum 'pass' score will be taken into account when making hiring decisions. Therefore, you are encouraged to arrive physically fit, well-rested and able to do your best on the PRE-FIT tests.