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Saturday, January 17, 2015

FDNY drops physical test requirement amid low female hiring rate

The Fire Department has stopped requiring probationary firefighters to pass a job-related physical-skills test before getting hired — a move that critics derided as a lowering of standards.

The move by first-year Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro, which allows probies to fail components of the Functional Skills Training test but still graduate from the Fire Academy, comes amid criticism of the department’s low hiring rate of women.

“It’s a lowering of the standards across the board,” said one former FDNY official familiar with training protocol.

“What needs to matter is how well you perform the tasks of firefighting,” he added. “The question is when you’re 270 pounds and you’re on the fourth floor and someone comes through that window — can they pick you up and drag you out or not?”

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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lowering of standards?
We had to lower our standards when we recognized minorities
as equals.
The female is a different thing , they are a weaker sex , not as strong as males . Too forgiving and very emotional .
Boy did we screw up when we allowed them to vote , take a look at what has happened with : Pelosi , Boxer , Feinstein Mukulski and many more screw ups.

Anonymous said...

They lowered the standards for Blacks. Might as well for women.

Anonymous said...

People will learn when someone dies.

Anonymous said...

Sad ain't it.

Anonymous said...

There are firefighters and there are paramedics. One does one job, and one does the other. Some can do both. Those who cannot are regulated to their trade only, and do not drive or ride in fire trucks.

It's just that simple, people!

Anonymous said...

MFRI is the same way. I'll bet 10% of ff's have no business fighting fire. I've seen a 300lb chick go through that never once touched rescue randy.

Anonymous said...

Why not, America is going to hell in a hand basket anyway. Lets just let anyone do any job they want, not standards, not tests, no discrimination at all.