YFD candidates prepare for physical ability test

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Yuma Fire Department (YFD) candidates are training every Saturday for eight weeks to prepare for the candidate physical ability test.

The test has eight tasks, including a stair climb, hose drag and forcible entry.

The test must be completed in ten minutes and 20 seconds or less and has a pass-fail rate of about 50%.

Currently, there are 89 candidates aspiring to become firefighters in Yuma.

Francisco Leon, the Public Information Officer for YFD, talked about why the test is an necessary step to becoming a firefighter.

"It's important to ensure that we're hiring the right people, the right candidates that are physically capable of doing the job. Firefighting's a lot, it's very physical strenuous work, especially here in Yuma in the heat," Leon explained.

The candidates will complete the test at the end of this month.