any firefighters in here?

[shiftyly]

Just wondering. im 17 and aiming to become a firefighter one day, and i know i need to get stronger but unsure how much stronger. So is there anyone here that knows what i should shoot for?

 

[HawkEyes Mihawk]

Im 20, and I also plan on becomg a firefighter. Im just gonna make sure I have good cardio and am strong.

 

[magicman531]

There's some listless mod running around here who claims to be a firefighter. Though he's pretty testy about it.

 

[cmburns]

My good friend is a fire fighter. He's a big guy but nowhere near as strong as most of the S&P's around here. The focus is actually more on good cardio from what he's told me.

 

[Urban]

nope

 

[Ian Coe]

There's some listless mod running around here who claims to be a firefighter. Though he's pretty testy about it.

Yeah


Some guy who seems to put up the front that he doens't start fires to get work, doesn't like his boss and seems to like popeye.


Can't remember his name....something about jungles in industrialised regions.....

 

[Urban]

Yeah


Some guy who seems to put up the front that he doens't start fires to get work, doesn't like his boss and seems to like popeye.


Can't remember his name....something about jungles in industrialised regions.....

If mike martial is denying his arsonist tendencies and love for Olyve Oyle again, We're gonna have to have a discussion about that...

 

[Ian Coe]

If mike martial is denying his arsonist tendencies and love for Olyve Oyle again, We're gonna have to have a discussion about that...

He's a cheeky little scamp that martial isn't he

 

[Urban]

Things that have been said on the subject in the past:

Firefighting, regardless if it's structural, grassland, or industrial is damn brutal work. I've been a professional firefighter for 7 years, and a critical care paramedic for 13.

I'd have to agree, Ross Enamait's conditioning workouts are superb for cross-over benefits for on-the-job fitness. Firefighting is a combination of maximal strength, muscular endurance, anaerobic AND aerobic capacity---so bascially every facet of fitness can be taxed at one time or another. Essentially, it's not unlike the conditioning needed for MMA.

Crossfit-type workouts are another excellent way to increase muscular endurance and anaerobic capcity at the same time; they are very much in-line with Ross's methods. IMO and experience, this is more important than overall maximal strength. I know this will raise the hackles of some around here, but let me emphasis: I'm speaking from experience. Both types of strength are important, but traditionally in the fire service maximal strength is over-emphasised, and conditoning seems to take a back seat. This is a currently changing philosophy, as many fire services are going to a Crossfit-type training for members.

But at the end of the day, a fire will always kick the shit out of you, regardless of the shape you're in. I'm usually extremely fatigued, hungry as hell, and dehydrated by the end of a good structure fire; I'll also be sore for a few days. The only way around this is take some time off your workouts for recovery.

Even with the lastest protective gear and SCBA equipment, firefighters are still exposed to a lot of toxins from incomplete combustion; I've been able to smell "smoke" during my workouts a few days after a fire, and it's even stained my t-shirts. Any way around this? Other than using the proper gear (make sure that shit is done up right!) and SCBA equipment (even after the fire is out during salvage/overhaul), it wouldn't hurt to hit a local steam room.

I haven't been able to get a copy, but a few years back they did a study on some firefighters involved in 9/11. They had ongoing chronic conditions, ranging from migraines, skin conditions, etc. After going through a daily regime of hydration-steam-towel, hydration-steam-towel, they were staining the towels (purple was one color reported), and had decreased symptoms and complaints. (My point here being you accumulate toxins regardless of protection, but through sweating to can "detox" your body. See below)

So as a preventative measure, I see no problem at all with making sure you are properly re-hydrated and doing a mini-version of the steam room therapy. At the very least, it'll be a nice way to kick back after busting your ass!

If you have any questions, shoot me a PM. Urban will hopefully chime in here also---he has a plethora of knowledge when it comes to fitness and strength training, and is also involved in the fire service.

my input shortly thereafter

Ross's infinite intensity and crossfit oughta get things going on the conditioning end, but it can always be made more specific and with a goal like firefighting in mind I think you can definitely make some good additions here and there. You're still going to be dead at the end of the day no matter what you do, but some specific conditioning drills may help you do the job better (which should be the goal anyways right?)

I like sled drags with an out of service fire hose. I have 125 feet to move and with a 50 foot hose attatched to my sled, that gives me a 75 foot sprint followed by a 50 foot hand over hand pull. shoot for 10 sets done on a repeating 2 minute repeating timer (so work+rest = 2 minutes). Go ahead, load your sled up to 100 lbs and give it a shot. For those who won't buy a sled (like me) I offer this alternative:

Here's how the eye is attatched:

Sandbag work. Make a sandbag, shoulder it 50 times (25 to each shoulder) in 20 minutes. If you can accomplish that, repeat next week with more weight. IRL you almost NEVER have to firefighter carry an unconscious victim (at least I've always been tought extremity carries and drags work better and won't throw out your back) but getting used to moving around dead, unstable weight will only help you. you can also use your sandbag for carries (bear hug style, zercher style, firefighter cary style, etc.) which brings me to...

Farmer's walks! Love these things. By all means, make your own handles (or buy a pair Mr. Fancy Pants) and you can use the same rep scheme as a I do with sled drags (100ft walks every 2 minutes). Its a total body exercise that will kick your ass... as far as specificity is concerned though, maybe not so important. However...

Sledgehamer swings bring a lot to the table. Asside from actually mimicking swinging an axe, beating a tire with a large sledge will hit your grip a lot harder than you expect. I like this as a finisher at the end of my conditioning work, most swings I can do in 5 minutes should do the trick. Or as its own session, sets of 50 swings (overhead or diagonal) alternating hand positions every 5 swings with 1 minute rests wouldn't be a bad way to go. I like a heavy sledge (a 20lb does the trick for me) but lighter sledges do have their purposes too. I may make an adjustable sledge in the near future just so I can have a pic to demonstrate how to do it, but generally you can buy what you need and adjustability isn't normally an issue. While you have that big tire though....

how about doing some tire flips! flipping a 600 lb tire is a great workout and on occasion you may find yourself in a position where you have to move an object in much the same fashion you would flip this beast (pushing into the tire insteat of lifting up). Another good finisher or good as part of a medley (50 sledge swings, 4 tire flips, etc., repeat).

All in all what you've got to look at is what fatigues you the most and train to do that. Bear crawls with a harness attached to the sled (or even without it) to mimic crawling through a smokey house, hill sprints (with a sandbag if you're a stud) or stair running to get used to going up highrise stairs, etc. Figure out what fatigues you and spend some time practing it. That's all there is to it.

As far as a lifting plan, much to my dismay, you need conditioning a lot more than you need heavy weights, so I limit my weightlifting to 2 sessions per week (not including grip training which I do as a hobby up to 4 times a week) with an emphasis mostly on peak strength (an exception made for a 20 rep overhead squat goal of mine). I would like to post glowing results from methods like complex training and whatnot, but I haven't had the discipline to stick with them long enough to yeild results. I lift heavy things, strive for progress every week (change things when I don't get it) and by and large I go home happy. I'll some day return to the allure of complex training, but for now, I'm good with heavy shit.

Hope that helps! I think Mike's right though: Fires will fatigue you no matter how hard you train, but good training will help and improve performance. Good luck!

Lastly, my current routine is based around power (complex training), endurance (repetitious effort) and conditioning (Ross enamait drills, crossfit, intervals, etc). You don't need to deadlift a million pounds to fight fire, but you don't need to run a marathon either.

a lot of firehouses are turning to crossfit, but I think there are better more specific ways of training for what you need to do, just be creative. Crossfit WOD is for the lazy and uncreative IMO.

 

[Lusst]

tl/dr

 

[Ian Coe]

tl/dr

Summary

edit-


and

EAT YOUR GREENS

 

[Urban]

Summary

edit-


and

EAT YOUR GREENS

and a little bit of this

 

[Ian Coe]

and a little bit of this

 

[christiancore]

good thread. thanks for the info Urban and Mike. I've got applications in at two depts. now and should begin testing next month. Last year the test i took kicked my ass. ( i did finish) the hose roll and the dummy drag were the worst.

any tips on controlling your breath while on air? the first part of the test, (confined space, double hose carry, sledgehammer) was all on air. after i lost my breath it seemed like i never got it back.

 

[Ian Coe]

On a serious note I considered joining last year but my eyes were too bad (their intake was last nov and I got my eyes checked out last january)

 

[christiancore]

On a serious note I considered joining last year but my eyes were too bad (their intake was last nov and I got my eyes checked out last january)

that sucks, i didn't know that was a requirement. i have a couple of friends on the department and they say it's the best job ever.

 

[Iosephus]

talking about the cpat? its a weiner course

and what state? seems like everyone i know describes the application process as whackamole. theyre applying somewhere new, and around 200+ miles every other week. kinda brutal in this area

that sucks, i didn't know that was a requirement. i have a couple of friends on the department and they say it's the best job ever.

if its correctable you can get away with it, i believe

 

[Bubble Boy]

I was a fire fighter / emt for three years.
Now I'm a forest ranger who chases bunnies and occasionally fights a wild land fire.

It's a kick ass career. Lot's of fun and camaraderie...
it only sucks if your boss is an ass.

 

[magicman531]

Summary

edit-


and

EAT YOUR GREENS

Popeye doesn't have any tri's at all. He's a freakin beat off and curl monkey!

 

[WildCard]

I've done two years of college and may change my degree over to Firefighting. so posting to read later.