Oakdale Firefighters Try to Pass the Test

Oakdale firefighters have a lot to do in less than 10 minutes. 

Earlier this week the Oakdale Fire Department underwent its annual ability test at Station 2 near City Hall. Firefighters have 10 minutes to complete 10 different scenarios that mimic real-life firefighting situations. 

The firefighters' vitals are checked before and after the test to help determine how the firefighters are doing during the physical challenges.

Challenges include donning fire gear, crawling, carrying a fan, draging a hose line, raising a ladder, climbing stairs with a hose bundle, a rope hoist and chopping, among other exercises.

The fire department's Health and Safety Committee — made up of Oakdale firefighters — issues the test each year. If a firefighter fails the test then he or she has six weeks to retake the test. 

"We spend a year getting prepared for this test," said Tom Studiner, an Oakdale firefighter and member of the Health and Safety Committee. "We're simulating what we actually do." 

The exercises are not easy tasks. 

For instance, firefighters need to chop a kieser block, which is meant to simulate a firefighter hitting through a roof or doorway. The kieser block — which weights 100 pounds — absorbs the blow.

"It looks simple, but it absorbs your blow," said Ken Mauston, an engineer with the fire department. Mauston drives the fire trucks and gets the hoses hooked up and ready to go. He has been with the Oakdale Fire Department since 1997.

Firefighters also have to drag a dummy several feet that weighs about 150 pounds.

"It doesn't seem like you're dragging it very far, but once you're dragging it it feels like you're going to City Hall," Mauston said.

Firefighters are not supposed to rush through the test to prevent injury. The best test time came to 4 minutes and 33 seconds, Studiner said. 

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