Interagency Hotshot Crew - Physical Fitness

Physical Fitness


Wildland
Firefighting
Main articles

Firestorm · Peat fire · Wildfire · Wildfire suppression

Tactics & Equipment

Aerial firefighting · Controlled burn · Driptorch · Fire fighting foam · Fire lookout tower · Fire retardant · Fire trail · Fire-retardant gel · Firebreak · Helicopter bucket · Pulaski

Personnel

Engine crew · Handcrew · Helitack · Hotshots · Smokejumper · Rappeller

By country

Australia

Lists

List of wildfires
Glossary of wildfire terms

In order to effectively perform their duties, Hotshots must maintain a high level of physical fitness. Whenever they are not on a fire assignment, crews devote at least one hour a day to physical training (PT). This training can include steep hikes, weight lifting, and long-distance runs. Traditionally, 5- to 10-mile runs were the favored PT for hotshot crews. Recently, there has been a shift towards more hiking. On these hikes, Hotshots may climb without stopping for over an hour while carrying upwards of 60 lbs. in gear and tools.

At a bare minimum, each Hotshot must complete a 3-mile hike carrying a 45 pound pack in under 45 minutes. Other minimum PT standards commonly adhered to are, 1½-mile run in 10:35 or less, 30+ push-ups in 60 seconds, 45+ sit-ups in 60 seconds, and 7 pull-ups all completed consecutively. These standards are an absolute minimum, and most hotshots' capabilities far exceed those numbers.

Read more about this topic:  Interagency Hotshot Crew

Famous quotes containing the words physical and/or fitness:

    The term preschooler signals another change in our expectations of children. While toddler refers to physical development, preschooler refers to a social and intellectual activity: going to school. That shift in emphasis is tremendously important, for it is at this age that we think of children as social creatures who can begin to solve problems.
    Lawrence Kutner (20th century)

    Parentage is a very important profession; but no test of fitness for it is ever imposed in the interest of children.
    George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)