Obstacle Course
The Colorado Smoke Diver obstacle course is designed to reinforce certain fireground behaviors and to stress all the muscle groups, work the cardiovascular system and improve air consumption while wearing the self-contained breathing apparatus. The obstacle course includes many common fire ground activities including hoisting equipment, climbing ladders, maneuvering on ceiling rafters, chopping, dragging hose, searching, nozzle and hose management and more. The combination of the calisthenics and obstacle course are the equivalent of working hard at 2-3 incidents.
We have found that job related obstacle courses are one of the best uses of physical training time. These courses can be used to instill desired behaviors through repetition. Working out in full protective clothing and breathing apparatus conditions the cardiovascular system and muscular system to perform in the environment firefighters actually work in.
Obstacle courses can be created at just about any fire station with existing equipment. See below for some suggested obstacle course stations (please note that the actual Colorado Smoke Diver obstacle course is not published in order to maintain the uncertainty that adds to the mental stress of the candidate).
| Pike Pole Pull | The student will pull the handle of a pike pole downward until it touches the ground 25 times. The pike pole will be attached to a rope/cable that is attached to 50 lbs of hose. The student will be required to complete this task using primarily the upper body to complete the pull. The pike pole handle & hose must touch the ground successively in order to complete the cycle. This exercises the upper body and grip strength. |
| Ladder Setup | The students will work as a team to remove a 24 foot extension ladder from a climbing position on the building; carry the ladder 50 feet down and around a cone and return the ladder to its original position. This exercise requires flexibility, upper body, and leg strength. |
| Hose Evolution (Flashover) | The student will enter the room, locate the hoseline and follow it toward the nozzle, identifying the team's direction of travel. Upon reaching the nozzle the team will flow water into the ceiling area to demonstrate actions to stop or prevent flashover conditions. This evolution works the arms, shoulders, legs and cardiovascular system. |
| Team Search & Rescue | The student will perform a search pattern of the interior floor with a partner, locate a victim, and remove the victim to the nearest exit. This evolution requires flexibility of the upper and lower extremities, back and shoulders, strength in the upper and lower body, and works the cardiovascular system. |
| Low Profile Maneuver | The student will enter the room, locate and negotiate the restricted opening. This evolution works the upper extremities, back, legs and cardiovascular system. |
| Vertical Chop | The student will use the Keiser Force Machine for this exercise. Using a dead blow hammer, the student shall drive the sled the full distance of the track. An alternate method of using a tire and sledgehammer ma also be used. This exercise requires flexibility of the upper body, strength in the arms, and works the cardiovascular system. |
| Accordion Hose Carry | The student will lift and carry 50 lbs of hose folded into an accordion load a distance of 100 feet. This exercises the lower back, shoulders, legs, and cardiovascular system. |
| Forcible Entry | The students, working as a team, will use the tools provided to properly force open an inward or outward swinging door. |
| Attic Crawl | The student will crawl up through an attic scuttle, cross a set of floor joist a distance of approximately 12 feet, and exit out a second attic scuttle. This exercise requires full flexibility of all major muscle groups and works the cardiovascular system. |
| Ladder Bailout | The student will enter the prop and perform a head first ladder bailout by exiting through the window onto a straight ladder. This requires flexibility of all major muscle groups, strength in the upper and lower body and works the cardiovascular system. |
| Rolled Hose Carry | The student will carry two (2) 50 lb sections of rolled hose with handles a distance of 100 feet. This exercise tests back flexibility and requires upper and lower body strength. |
| Hose Advance | The student will advance a hose line to a designated area and flow water from the nozzle. This evolution requires flexibility of the upper & lower extremities, back & shoulders, strength in the upper & lower body, and works the cardiovascular system. |
| Equipment Hoist | The student will pull a ½ inch diameter rope with 50 lbs of hose attached up to the roof of the burn building hand over hand; a distance of 26 feet. The equipment is then lowered to the start position, hand over hand. This exercises the upper body strength and the cardiovascular system. |
| Fan Carry | The student will lift a smoke ejector fan from the ground and carry it at total distance of 100 feet. This exercise requires upper and lower body strength. |
| Tire Flip | The student will flip the tire a total of six (6) times. This requires flexibility of the back, upper and lower body strength. |
| Hose Drag | The student will drag the hose drag prop a distance of 50 feet. This requires flexibility of the back, upper and lower body strength. |
