Potential firefighters up to the challenge

By Meghan McCormick The Norman Transcript

Norman — Richard Mellinger is one step closer to becoming a Norman firefighter.

Mellinger, of Edmond, was one of 67 potential firefighters who passed the Norman Fire Department’s physical agility test Saturday. He has spent the past year in training to earn a spot in the department’s academy.

“I enjoy helping people,” Mellinger said as he talked about his reason for applying to NFD. “It’s been a lifelong passion.”

Mellinger said he was prepared Saturday. Nothing surprised him about the exercises.

“It really pushed people to their limits,” he said.

In January, a little more than 720 people applied to the Norman Fire Department. About 600 applicants took a written examination.

Norman Fire Chief James Fullingim said 150 candidates who passed the written examination were invited to take the physical agility test at the Optimist Gym. The group consisted of 148 men and two women.

“They have to run 1 1/2 miles in 13 minutes,” he said. “They will then come inside and do a minimum of seven pull-ups, 25 push-ups and 35 sit-ups,” he said.

Fullingim said the test doesn’t stop there. Applicants must carry a 165-pound mannequin 100 feet.

Potential firefighters also were required to hold a 50-foot section of hose as they walked across a balance beam, Fullingim said. Another exercise measures a person’s hip flexibility.

Norman firefighters facilitated Saturday’s test.

Twenty-six people did not show up Saturday morning, according to the fire department. One woman participated in the 1 1/2 mile run, but she did not finish within the 13-minute time limit.

Jeremy Henley, Tim Miller and Adam Ergenbright passed the physical agility test. All three men agreed the exam tested their strength.

“It’s very tough,” Henley said. “It was everything I expected it to be.”

Henley said carrying the 165-pound mannequin proved to be a challenge.

“Carrying dead weight is the hardest part,” he said.

Miller said he and Henley graduated from Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center’s fire academy. Both men were accustomed to the agility test.

“We have both taken this type of test before,” Miller said.

Still, Miller found the exam challenging.

“Getting the dummy all the way off the ground was tough,” Miller said.

Ergenbright said even though he’s taken past physical agility tests, he found walking across a balance beam while holding a 50-foot section of hose to be no simple task.

“Turning around on the balance beam was pretty tough,” Ergenbright said.

Henley, Miller and Ergenbright already have an idea of what the job as a firefighter requires from a person. Henley and Miller are firefighters with the Forest Park Volunteer Fire Department, east of Oklahoma City. Ergenbright is a full-time firefighter for the Spencer Fire Department.

Miller said he and his friends applied to the Norman Fire Department because they were told not to pass up any opportunities given the current economic status.

“Norman is a great town and place to work,” Miller said.

Norman Fire Department Assistant Chief Bob Bledsoe showed up Saturday morning to watch several of the exercises. Bledsoe joined NFD in 1982.

Bledsoe said he understood the stress each applicant was feeling. The physical agility test was similar to the one Bledsoe took 28 years ago.

“We had to do push-ups, pull-ups and sit-ups,” he said. “The difference is they know what they have to do. When I took the test, they didn’t tell us we had to do seven push-ups.”

Bledsoe said in fire service, every cadet begins his or her career in the same spot.

“You start as a fire recruit,” he said.

Blesdoe compared the recruit status to a member of a sports team.

“You have to earn your way into the team,” he said.

He said that means being the first to volunteer for chores around the station.

“There is still a lot of learning even when you get to the station,” Bledsoe said.

Those who passed the physical agility test will undergo an interview. According to the Norman Fire Department, 16 candidates will be accepted into the Norman Fire Academy.

Of the 16 selected, 15 firefighters will be hired thanks to a 1/2 cent public safety sales tax that Norman voters passed in 2008. The program begins June 1 and lasts 24 weeks.

Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com

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