Mesa Fire Department Candidate Physical Ability Test ©

Event 5:  Forcible Entry

This event uses a mechanized device that measures cumulative force and a 10 pound sledgehammer.  It simulates the critical tasks of using force to open a locked door or to breach a wall.  This event challenges aerobic capacity, upper body muscular strength and endurance, lower body muscular strength and endurance, balance grip strength and endurance, and anaerobic endurance.

For this event, the candidate uses the sledgehammer to strike a measuring device in a target area until the buzzer activates.  Feet must be kept outside the toe box at all times.

Failure results if the participant does not maintain control of the sledge hammer and releases it from both hands while swinging.  A warning is given for stepping inside the toe box; a second warning constitutes a failure.