Volunteer Firefighter Tryouts

An obstacle course, starting with a simulated attic crawl and ending with the dragging of a fire hose from one end of the fire department to the other, challenged both seasoned firefighters as well as those hoping to become the newest volunteers. The Charles City Fire Department’s physical agility testing was held Monday night as applicants gave it their all to complete the various testing stations.

According to Eric Whipple, the department’s public information officer, the fire department is looking for additional volunteers to fill in vacancies due to recent retirements. There are approximately 30 volunteers who along with a staff of full time firefighters serve the city of Charles City and St. Charles Township.

Existing members of the fire department completed the course as well and offered advice to the newcomers. In addition to the attic crawl and the hose drag, participants needed to swing a sledge hammer 50 times, open a fire hydrant, drag a 140 pound “body”, and lift and carry a ladder. Participants completed the obstacles wearing a bunker coat and air pack.

More photos of this event can be found here.