Fire Techonology

The Biddle test is designed to test the physical ability of the individual in performing the functions or tasks of a firefighter. The test is composed of 11 different events in which candidates must pass in a maximum time of 9 minutes and 34 seconds.

Description of the Agility

PASSING TIME:  9 minutes and 34 seconds or less

• EVENT 1: DRY HOSE DEPLOYMENT

  • Candidate advances 150-feet of 1.75-inch dry hose with nozzle, around two obstacles.

• EVENT 2: CHARGED HOSE DEPLOYMENT

  • Candidate advances charged 1.75-inch hose with nozzle, 70-feet, 32-feet of the hose deployment involves stooping or crawling while advancing the hose into a narrowing hallway.

• EVENT 3: HALYARD RAISE

  • Candidate raises and lowers the fly section of a 35-foot aluminum extension ladder one time.

• EVENT 4: ROOF WALK

  • Candidate ascends and descends a 14-foot ladder attached to a simulated-pitched roof with a chain saw in his or her hand.

• EVENT 5: ATTIC CRAWL

  • Candidate crawls a distance of 20-feet across a simulated attic-joist floor, while carrying a simulated flashlight in his or her hand.

• EVENT 6: ROOF VENTILATION

  • Candidate stands on a simulated-pitched roof and strikes a padded area 30 times with an 8-pound sledgehammer.

• EVENT 7: VICTIM REMOVAL

  • Candidate carries or drags a 155-pound dummy around two obstacles 13 feet apart.

• EVENT 8: LADDER REMOVAL / CARRY

  • Candidate removes a 24 foot aluminum extension ladder from mounting bracket, carries the ladder around a diamond shaped course 54 feet long and replaces the ladder back on the mounting brackets.

• EVENT 9: STAIR CLIMB WITH HOSE PACK

  • Candidate ascends to the 4th floor of the tower, using the stairs, carrying a 49- pound hose pack. Drops the hose pack and performs event 10. Candidate then descends the tower, using the same stairs, to the first floor carrying the hose pack.

• EVENT 10: ATTIC CRAWL

  • Candidate crawls on hands and knees on the 4th floor of the tower for a distance of 60 feet. This will be done when candidate is performing event 9.

• EVENT 11: HOSE HOIST

  • Candidate will ascend to the 3rd floor of the tower, using the stairs, carrying 2 air bottles weighing 29 pounds (connected with a 2 foot strap). After dropping off the air bottles the candidate will then hoist up a 100 foot section of extended 1.75-inch hose line with nozzle, up and through the window, picking up the air bottles and descending the tower to the finish line, ending the test.

Location:

Roy Wilson Training Center
72564 Ramon Road
Thousand Palms
CA 92276

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More Information:

For Information on the Biddle Physical Agility Test:
Contact Fire Academy Coordinator Pete Tierney

Currently, no additional BIDDLE dates are scheduled, and we do not anticipate additional dates until the Fall semester.