On Oct. 9, Camden firefighters spent the evening moving through a rigerous series of elements at the fire station to assess their fitness level.

The test was designed to gauge their physical abilities necessary for effective job performance as a firefighter.

"Camden Fire encourages our firefighters to participate in an annual physical agility course to help maintain our awareness of the physical stresses placed on our body in the performance of our jobs," said Camden Fire Chief Chris Farley. "The sudden, intense energy demand that is needed to fight a fire puts a firefighter who is not in good physical condition in danger."

The course Oct. 9 at the Camden Fire Station included seven elements, ranging from a hose hoist to hauling a 180-pound dummy across the fire department bay.

Fifteen Camden firefighters, themselves ranging in age from 16 to 59, put on their helmets and turn-out gear, strapped a 20-pound air pack to their backs and were timed in their movement through the elements. That included a stair climb with 38 pounds of hose carried over the shoulder, the hose hoist of 43 pounds,hauling two foam buckes each weighing 45 pounds, pushing and pulling 90 pounds of gear, moving a steel box along a friction base with a 10-pound hammer, and carrying the dummy back and forth along a 100-foot course.

The course ended wtih two minutes of CPR on a manikin.

Those stations were to be finished in a total of six to seven minutes.

The test had no cutoff time, but failure to complete the course resulted in disqualification.

"We encourage our firefighters to maintain a good physical condition throughout the year and the annual physical agility course is an annual calibration of this," said Farley. "We offer a fitness room in the public safety building for all police and fire personnel to regularly use. For me, an important aspect of the annual event is the cheering on, support and encouragement the firefighters offer to each other while completing the agility course."