Thread: ttp Fire ifghters

So this January the civil servants exam and physical for the fire department are being held for my city.

I been studying for months and working out for it since last quake con. I know we have some fire fighters here at TTP and would like any advice they can give.

Ranging from last minute ( 6 weeks or so) work out routines , to areas to really focus on for civil exam ( i been pounding my math hard) as well as any tips and tricks; For example I talked to some local fire fighters the other day and they all cautioned me not to run through the course just walkfast and never stop moving my feet.

also anytips for when it comes down to poly time and panel interview. I have buds who are fire fighters they have been helping me out but I'm looking for a wider base of knowledge. Any help would be great.

pay me 46k a year and I'm down laggy 8)


you would add that last part before i got finished typing the above

Some civil service exams will have a study guide sent out before the exam. If this one does, then memorize it. If it shows you a picture of a cat, and says it's a dog, then the city wants you to say it's a dog. Most fire department written exams are pretty basic reading comprehension (can you follow instructions), basic math, and sometimes a mini-psych profile.
Depending on if the city uses the CPAT or not, the physical exams are normally pretty similar. Climbing stairs (wearing a weighted vest), dummy drag (100+ pounds), equipment carry, and activities simulating firefighting actions (hooking ceiling and chopping a roof with an axe).
Polygraph- I hate these. Two very important things to remember on a polygraph. Tell the truth, and stick to your guns. I had a polygraph go horribly wrong when the tester started accusing me of lying with accusations of using drugs and being a drunk (I have never done drugs, and don't like drinking, apparently something she couldn't believe). There are web sites out there that talk about the polygraph in detail.
The board interview is pretty typical "tell me about yourself", "why do you want to be a firefighter", etc. If you stick in the "brotherhood" aspect in your answer, they typically eat that stuff up.
Good luck.

The test is basic comprehension, memorizing details(from a picture), spacial awareness, and other random questions. The CPAT is pretty standard, corpus christi had a video of it on their fire website at one time. The entire test you are wearing a 50lb weight vest, the stair master portion is done with an extra 25lbs. Stair master, stair master, stair master, it's first and 3 minutes long, when I was training for it I grabbed two 35lb dumbells put the stair stepper at the gym on level 12 and did it for 15 minutes a day(I worked up to that) I did other cardio exercises that simulated the other tests. I had over an hour workout and the test is ~11minutes.

I never made it to the poly or interviews, San Antonio has so many applicants and so many of them score the same on the written test that they use a lotto system for those with the same scores. I got a 93 one year and made it to the physical, which didnt matter because my lotto number put me at number 400 something and they got their 30-40 for the academy in the first 200.

I am gonna start my advance level training next year and get my TCFP cert and try to get on with a non civil service dept. Civil service is of course better, so alot of people try and get on. If you really want to go for it try other towns, I know guys that live here in San Antonio and comute to Houston.

You can get practice tests if thats your thing. San Antonio had some sample questions online and thats all I used.

Check back I'm looking for video of physical and sample written test.

Written test prep

CPAT instruction video(link to video on right)

Addtl info

That first part of the written test is a picture and you look at it for a short time period then they pick it up you open the test and answer questions about the picture. Look for written names and numbers and events they tie to. How many people, how many cars, thats where I missed the most. The rest is geometry floor plan match to facade etc.
Drink a beer before you test, really, emt tests, bio tests, spanish test. I had a buzz on most all my major exams and have always done well. But you dont have to drink just be relaxed and dont stress, but move quick it is a timed test.
The physical you should have no problems with. I havent trained for it in over a year and could probably pass.

I really do need to start traveling around and test at some of the smaller cities.

Written test for police and fire are pretty simple, dont sweat it.


When you get to the PAT, remember this...PUSH yourself. Dont give up. And if they make you do it on air...remember to breath calmy. The calmer you breath, the longer your bottle will last...dont suck your bottle dry in 5 mins.


I will tell you this. It is a physically tough job to be a firefighter, but not to mentally tough. Alot of it is common sense.


Put the wet stuff on the red stuff.