Thank you for applying to the 43rd Wilmington Fire Academy.

The application process is officially closed. These documents will help applicants with the next steps in the recruitment process.

• 43rd Fire Academy Recruitment Information Booklet

• FPSI Written Exam Study Guide

• City of Wilmington Compensation Package

• 8014001 Probationary Firefighter Job Announcement

Physical Agility Test

The Physical Agility Test consists of six evolutions that must be completed within a time that will be determined before testing. The test is continuous and will be conducted in the order and fashion described below. The stations are designed to test fire applicants' physical strength, endurance, and disposition. All evaluations will be conducted wearing a 50lb weighted vest, gloves, and head protection.

Stair Climb – The stair climb is intended to test the candidate's stamina and aerobic ability. Firefighters must be able to ascend/descend stairs in a timely manner and be capable of performing necessary tasks when they arrive at their destination. Candidates will be required to ascend/descend four floors while wearing a 50lb weighted vest. Candidates will then walk to where the remaining five evolutions are staged.

Mannequin Drag – Firefighters must be able to remove an unconscious or injured victim from a hazardous environment. This could also include an injured firefighter. The Mannequin Drag tests the candidate's strength, coordination, and aerobic ability. Candidates will drag a mannequin 100 feet.

High Rise Pack – A high-rise pack is used to carry firefighting hose and fittings to a floor or location that is remote from the fire apparatus. The hose carried in the high-rise pack is connected to hose connections in the building, allowing firefighters to apply water to locations that are impractical or impossible to reach using a fire hose alone. The candidate will carry a high-rise pack through the obstacle course around a traffic cone, back through the obstacles, and return to the starting point.

Hose Platform – The candidate’s upper body strength is tested by placing rolled sections of fire hose onto a platform and then returning the hose to the starting point. This evolution simulates the weight and bulk of fire hoses and other equipment that firefighters handle daily. Candidates will pick up four (4) sections of rolled fire hose, one section at a time, and place them on a shelf four (4) feet high. The candidate will then return each section to the floor of the designated location.

Sandbag Carry – The sandbag carry is intended to test the candidate's stamina and aerobic ability. Firefighters must be able to ascend/descend stairs in a timely manner, carry equipment, and be capable of performing necessary tasks when they arrive at their destination.

Sledgehammer – The sledgehammer evolution tests the candidate's stamina and coordination. Firefighters use many tools that require them to swing to strike an object. An axe or striking tool is used for forcible entry or to ventilate smoke from buildings. The candidate utilizing a 9-pound sledgehammer will repeatedly strike a steel I-beam, moving it completely down the sled tray.

Compensation

The Probationary Firefighter starting salary as of the Fiscal Budget Year 2024/2025 is $49,650.88, and receives step increases as follows: