By C. M. DeHart
[C. M. DeHart (NFPA Fire Instructor I) worked as a squad boss and fireline EMT with the U.S. Forest Service and currently serves as a Prevention Education Team Member and Public Information Officer.]
Since 1998, the Work Capacity Test (WCT or “Pack Test”), which is required to become a wildland firefighter, has resulted in numerous injuries and 18 documented deaths.
Some people thrive on this test. Others suffer, severely, for days or months afterwards. Some will die on it.
As a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), I have taken the Arduous Duty, Moderate Duty and Light Duty Pack Test, or served as medical standby, during at least 36 tests. During every test, I have witnessed extraordinary levels of pain.
Veteran firefighters, sawyers, incident commanders, division supervisors, crew bosses, squad bosses and safety officers, have shown these medical symptoms during Pack Tests:
- Excruciating shin pain.
- Red, flushed skin, profuse sweating, difficulty breathing.
- Pale, ashen skin.
- Severe chest pain, dizziness, difficulty breathing, blurred vision.
Despite pain that screams for them to stop, firefighters push themselves, beyond what they know is healthy. If they stop, they fail the test. All fireline qualifications requiring the WCT are revoked until the test can be passed.
In addition to heart attacks and heat strokes, one of the most serious injuries which occurs during Pack Tests is rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo). Rhabdo may cause permanent disability or death when overexerted muscle tissue releases its proteins and electrolytes into the blood. No medical exam can predict who will get rhabdomyolysis.
Shown below is a compartment syndrome surgery wound, a potential complication of severe rhabdomyolysis, resulting from a Light Duty capacity test.
This photo is from the Light Duty Work Capacity Test Exertional Compartment Syndrome Incident FLA, available on the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center’s website.
A test should never risk a person’s health, and especially, never take a life. It is time to reassess how we determine a person’s ability to fight wildland fires.
Fatalities
Fatalities are documented in the NWCG’s annual “Fatality, Entrapment and Accident Safety Gram” reports, including training deaths, injuries and rhabdomyolysis casualties:
- 02/07/98. Heart Attack. Coos Bay, Oregon. Federal. NWCG Safety Gram 1998
- 01/11/99. WCT, Heart Attack. Ozark/St. Francis NF. Federal. NWCG Safety Gram 1999
- 09/17/00. Test, Heart Attack. Elkins, WV. State. NWCG Safety Gram 2000
- 02/06/01. WCT, Heart Attack. Homochitto RD, MS. Federal. NWCG Safety Gram 2001
- 03/17/01. WCT, Heart Attack. Larkspur, CO. Volunteer. NWCG Safety Gram 2001
- 03/18/02. WCT, Brain Hemorrhage. Dillon, MT. State. NWCG Safety Gram 2002
- 03/20/02. WCT, Aneurism. Deary, ID. Contractor. NWCG Safety Gram 2002
- 05/31/02. WCT, Heart Attack. Sycuan, CA. Federal. NWCG Safety Gram 2002
- 04/28/03. WCT, Heart Attack. Chapel Hill, NC. State. NWCG Safety Gram 2003
- 06/05/04. WCT, Heart Attack. The Dalles, OR. State. NWCG Safety Gram 2004
- 06/08/04. WCT, Heart Attack. Bridger, MT. Volunteer. NWCG Safety Gram 2004
- 04/28/05. WCT, Heart Attack. Sweet, ID. Volunteer. NWCG Safety Gram 2007
- 07/24/13. WCT, Heart Attack. Ohkay Owingeh, NM. BIA. NWCG Safety Gram 2013
- 03/08/14. WCT, Heart Attack. Star Valley, AZ. State. NWCG Safety Gram 2014
- 05/17/14. WCT, Heart Attack. New Castle, WY. State. NWCG Safety Gram 2014
- 04/06/15. WCT, Heart Attack. Merlin, OR. State. NWCG Safety Gram 2015
- 06/06/15. WCT, Heart Attack. Buenos Aires, AZ. SCA. NWCG Safety Gram 2015
- 01/26/18. WCT, Medical. Puerto Rico. Local Govt. NWCG Safety Gram 2018
Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center 
You bring up some very good points regarding the pack test. Some firefighters, particularly those that are smaller, struggle even more when they are carrying nearly half their body weight. To truly get an idea of what caused these fatalities, one would have to look at the physical condition of the firefighters prior to taking the test. If an agency or organization doesn’t have a pre test physical exam requirement, or the requirement allows people who are obese and out of shape to take the work capacity test, that is what leads to fatalities. The test itself is passed by literally thousands of firefighters every year. In many cases hopeful firefighters are told they have only one or two chances to pass the test and failure means that they will lose employment, not be hired or not be on the AD list for the season. Many will take the test and not be suitably prepared or feel rushed to take the test before they are ready. Rather than try to come up with another test (which would likely take years), perhaps we should better prepare our employees, vendors, volunteers and cooperators to take the test and set a higher standard for physical fitness prior to putting on the pack vest, to include a more stringent physical exam requirement. But be prepared, as doing so will likely reduce the number of firefighters we have available on longer and hotter fire years.
LikeLike
It has always been time to reassess the WCT as a fitness minimum. It was always pretty obvious that asking people to pass a maximal exertion test in order to qualify for employment/assignment would produce more fatality and injury in testing than a submaximal cardiac capacity screening had ever produced on the fireline. It has long been my wish that the wildland fire community could learn that fireline safety involves more than the capacity to outrun or stare down a flame front. Maybe some day.
-Tyler Groo
FOBS/CRWB/FFT1/ENGB/DOZB/FELB/FALB/CLIR/EMTB/ICT4, NFFE Steward (ret.)
LikeLike
Metabolic Demand of Hiking in Wildland Firefighting – ScienceDirect
LikeLike
I’ve heard the WCT was only ever intended to apply to a handful of positions. Does a STEN need to have the same fitness to drive around in a pickup as a hotshot who’s going to dig line for 16+ hours up the side of a mountain? Whey does an ICT3 who in today’s world sits in an ICP at a desk have to pass the same test as a sawyer who’s humping heavy tools all day?
Definitely time to reevaluate what is actually needed for each position.
LikeLike
The WCT has a light, moderate, and arduous scale that aligns with differences in physical requirements in IQCS positions.
LikeLike
Well aware of that – I’ve administered all 3 levels, but my understanding was that arduous was never intended to apply to many of the positions it is now applied to, but only to those who are typically actually directly engaged in line construction.
LikeLike
The wct is valid as is. People need to start assuming more personal liability in their pre season prep and possibly their agencies could come up with a mandatory pre season screen before the test to help folks get a grip on their own condition before the actual WCT. In my experience on the line from day 1 to current FAL1 status if the WCT you are taking is a struggle that is 100% on you and you need to reevaluate your choice of employment for yours and your crews sake.
Lowering the standard will not fix this problem and government sure wont fix it either. Education on preparing oneself and following thru on getting physically ready is the only answer
LikeLike
I am a 6 foot 57 year old man who works in wildland fire as a collateral duty (and ARCH, READ, REAF), and I took the pack-test last week. I found it easy to pass. I recognize that it is easier for taller people. Shorter men and or women who are in decent physical condition may find it a little bit more difficult to finish in the time alotted. Maybe the time requirement ought to be relaxed?
However, the WCT is not that difficult. Those heart attack incidents listed in the article, were probably heart attacks waiting to happen in different circumstances, like the fireline. Doing the physical every 3 years and the yearly health self-assessment (in the NPS anyway) may not be adequate to screen those people before the WCT, but it won’t get any less strenous on the fireline, that is for sure.
People that plan to work in wildland fire need to be exercising and staying fit all year round, and also eating healthier. Put down the donuts, drink less calories (soda or booze) walk at least 10k steps a day, lift some heavy weight etc.. Not just in preparation for fire season.
LikeLike
I to am 57 and 5’10” I struggle with the wct. I think it is more of a mental thing (it’s definitely not a strength issue) but never the less I do struggle. I think and know one person who helped set up the wct in the beginning. He and I both agree that it should be bracketed for age. Similar to what L.E. has for their PT testing.
LikeLike
I’ve been arguing for a move away from the pack test for nearly as long as it’s existed. Injuries and fatalities aside, it’s not an adequate test of firefighter fitness. I’ve seen morbidly obese people pass this test who don’t belong anywhere near a fireline. Conversely I’ve seen people who were in very good shape fail the test simply because they less than a 30″ inseam.
Back when I was in really good condition, I took the test while talking on the phone and the person on the other end of the line had no idea I was doing anything strenuous until I told them. Even for people who have a high level of cardio endurance, the test should be strenuous enough on the cardio side that their respiratory rate increases enough for others to notice, without destroying someone’s shins. People have always said that a running test should not be used because firefighters are not required to run and are even encouraged not to on the fireline, outside of emergency situations. My argument is that firefighters also never walk for 45 minutes straight on a completely level surface unless you work exclusively in parts of the Midwest or Florida. The point being here is that this has never been an adequate test of cardio endurance. Just one persons opinion.
LikeLike
There are departments in California who have looked into the WCT and other options for their folks, considering wildland fire. They still do the WCT, but recognizing it probably isn’t the best predictor of capacity, have started using the Beep Test as part of their assessment.
LikeLike
The WCT (or future variant) should be place based, versus FF position on an incident. I’ve always found it interesting that two folks out on/near the line could be “light” or “arduous” based on their resource order…both are being exposed to the same risk. Over the years you see FMO’s and IC’s making up their own rules as to to access to the fireline, which can expose folks to various levels of liability. Time for a change? Yep…
LikeLike
Yes it is time to reassess the pack test. But not because people have died or been injured doing it. Those people should have been screened out with a pre-employment physical or shown up in shape. USFS is finally going back to physicals for this exact reason. It should be reassessed because it’s not an accurate measure of someone’s fitness for the line. I’ve seen people who passed the pack test with ease and yet were totally gassed after a short uphill hike. If the pack test as is, is difficult for someone, they don’t belong outside of ICP. The test isn’t a secret. It’s not hard to test yourself, on your own, before you show up on Day One. Yes it is “easier” for long-legged folks but again, shorter-legged folks should be showing up on test already knowing the gait and pace they need to pass.
LikeLike
To look at the data of pack test injuries and fatalities and make the simple correlation that the pack test is the cause is to completely ignore a number of other contributing factors. What needs to be evaluated are the participants of wildland firefighting and their physical health. To reduce the number of injuries and fatalities during the pack test, we need to reevaluate the physical health screening process for pack test participants. The NWCG has established the pack test as the physical fitness standard for wildland firefighting, but physical health screening standards are the responsibility of individual agencies and departments. Agencies and departments who do not screen the physical health of their personnel prior to the pack test or firefighting duties are putting these people, and those around them, at risk. Wildland firefighting is inherently dangerous. There are risks associated with every facet of the job, including whatever physical test is used to determine who is qualified to perform the duties. Because of this, there will, unfortunately, always be injuries and fatalities associated with the pack test and wildland firefighting. There obviously has to be some sort of physical fitness test for wildland firefighting duties. The pack test may not be perfect, but if we replace it with another test, we will continue to see injuries and fatalities either during the test or on the fireline if we don’t address the physical health of our firefighters first.
LikeLike
It’s always good to assess and examine the fitness process to consider new physical fitness science data to move forward. When I first started taking the test 20 years or so ago, I found it easy to complete, but some folks I have seen take it in the past didn’t appear aerobically fit and barely passed.
The pack test concept relays what wildland firefighters must do in the field. The tools, water, and other equipment we carry still weigh the same, and we must bring them long distances on fires with sometimes steep and uneven terrain. When the pack test came out, everyone agreed that the standards were reasonable.
Let’s just not dumb back a test like the era of the step test please. When that was the standard, it was very easy to take, and easy to cheat (holding your breath at the end) and get done with flying colors.
At the end of the day, we need to screen out folks that cannot meet the rigors of the duties we perform in the field. Preparation is key to being fit.
By that, I don’t mean to discount fatalities and injuries for testing. Merely replicate a reasonable maximum test that mimics our duties in the field. Oh, and don’t trend on bleeping tests without a good review to make sure we don’t adopt fads in this next generation of fitness testing.
LikeLike
Negative. Stay clear of that suggestion. I’ve found that many of these issues are really supervisory in nature, as well as medical. And I also wholly agree with those comments proposing the reinstatement of the Medical Examinations. The pack test was far afield of being the responsible culprit for the deaths and other mishaps.
LikeLike
I have seen pack test participants that were not obese or out of shape become injured during the test. Anyone risks injury when they pack test if the conditions are right. This can be a for a variety of reasons. When I’m seeing injuries its due to course surface. I’ve also seen people pass pack tests without issue and find life on the actual line to be more challenging (including mentally) and realize firefighting isn’t for them.
LikeLike
I feel like the answer might be a fair and even math calculation?
If the average FF is 175 lbs, and the arduous pack test requires a 45 lb carry, that is 25% of the average test taker’s body weight. Wouldn’t it be fair to allow, for example, a 100 lb person to carry 25% of their body weight (25 lbs instead of 45 lbs)?
And if the average height is 5’10’, and 3 miles need to be completed in 45 minutes, could we give (for example) a 5′ individual with half the stride length the same 45 minutes to complete 1.5 miles (per the % of their stride length)?
And then there is this: When you’re on a fire, you need to be physically able (no matter what size you happen to be) to carry 45+ lbs of gear, 3+ miles, as quickly as possible. Seems not-so-smart to find that you aren’t able to do that on a fire, instead of in advance.
I’d rather have the person next to me (or be the person) who dies taking the test, than the person who dies while on a fire. It’s just not fair to do that to my colleagues.
LikeLike
im 5’6” and an infantry veteran in Afghanistan. im not going to say im in the best shape but i definitely prep and prep hard. it never seems to make a difference. Sure i dont breathe as heavy when im prepped but I take 3 steps to my 6’ friends 1. i literally have to work 3x’s as hard to pass. Dont blanket statement that “if its hard you need to work harder or quit.” Doing the job is a non issue, passing the pack test is hell.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As someone who is only 5’3 it’s pretty painful when it comes to trying to walk that fast I.e sore hip flexors and shin splints. I feel like if you can jog it wouldn’t that qualify as being more fit for the job? The whole one foot on the ground rule seems a bit stupid.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am glad I left wildland fire. It has become filled with the type of people once despised in the industry. Wildfire Lessons Learned is an absolute joke and increasingly posts stuff that is so irrelevant to doing the job. Ya’ll should hotel up 24/7, not cut line, never spike, sure as hell never coyote, and go full CDF (or whatever they call it now) with having to have shave, shower, and hit the hotel before dark.
All my years hotshotting made me a better man. Asking for the hardest assignment, enduring the worst to do the mission was the creed. It meant you’d better be fit. If you cant walk around a 3 mile track with a bit of weight- this job isnt for you. Sorry, but the fire never gave a shit if you were in shape. The people you worked with- expect you to be in peak physical condition. If that isnt your world, then this isnt the job for you.
If anything- if you are on the fireline- this fitness test is the BARE minimum. Better solution would be to have the bare minimum of 45 lbs, then add a jerry can of burn mix, or a dolmar and 046, or piss pack. Make the weight realistic- say 75-80lbs. Add in 100% slope. Make it 110° on the Tonto NF.
Lets cut those who cant produce out of the equation.
i kid. Lets hotel up, sit in the safety zone and film shit for the next Insta post.
LikeLike
Not sure what’s up with the grotesque picture of compartment syndrome surgery after 1 mile and no weight? “Light” test. Irrelevant, that’s a freak case. If that happens to you I’m sorry about that, really, but the truth is you have some serious issues, and certainly don’t belong anywhere near a fire, even in a “light” position. On flat ground, the arduous at 3 miles and just 45 pounds isn’t that hard. It was supposed to mimic carrying a bladder bag. I agree with many comments on here though that it’s not a real test of arduous wildland fire work.
I was a part of Dr. Brian Sharkey’s (MTDC) research in the mid-90’s trying to figure out how to replace the pathetic step test we used to do. Several Great Basin Hotshot Crews–they weighed us, measured us all over, our body fat, 1.5 mile run time, pushups, sit ups, pull ups, questionaires…and then we all did 50 pounds, 55 pounds with 1000 feet of elevation gain over 3 miles, and a few others including 3 miles, flat with 45. The 1000 feet is more realistic but the Nebraska National Forest, and many places, would have to travel a long way to find a testing road or trail, so that was out.
Many of the fatalities are rural fire department volunteers, and many people’s idea of being carded is to drive an engine or something where you probably will never dig line up a hill at 6000 feet in Idaho. Admit it, there are some fat dudes out there we see in fire trucks, and that isn’t just rurals but USFS, BLM, etc. too, and a lot from State agencies. We’re testing them for something they won’t do, though the truth is people who can’t do the WCT as it is now probably are in the wrong business. Engine folks sometimes have to hike 2 miles up a cliff to put out a single tree lightning strke. At least on IHC crews, (for the most part) plus rappellers, jumpers…the rest of the P.T. you do makes the WCT seem like a warm-up, an annoying warm up we have to do. Those fire fighters can hack it on the job as it isn’t a one-time thing in the spring, they train hard a lot. I like the ”hotel up” comment, hate to say it but some truth there. (I do appreciate the LLC though and think you folks and your products are great).
Bottom line, WCT isn’t exactly realistic, but if you can’t hack it, you’re in the wrong business. Maybe some positions should be moderate not arduous?
LikeLike
According to the 2014 National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Safety Gram, rhabdomyolysis is listed as “the non-fatal trend” among wildland firefighters.
A complication of rhabdomyolysis, the compartment syndrome photo is worth a thousand words.
Another rhabdomyolysis case is described in a Wildland Fire Lessons Learned report, VA Rhabdo Case, 10/14/2017:
“Fire Manager was taking a re-cert pack test (participant had completed multiple successful tests in the past). Lap 11 he felt like his “legs quit working” and intense pain in his leg muscles. Observers thought he stumbled and fell and watched as he attempted unsuccessfully to stand.”
Fire Manager wrote: “I have worked full-time as a professional structural firefighter for 20 years, with many years concurrent to wildland firefighting. I had a complete NFPA-compliant physical in June 2017, including a treadmill stress test, which I passed without difficulty. I’m a 41-year-old male, about 6’0”, 250 pounds.
To lose firefighters, through rhabdo or death, during a test, is a preventable tragedy.
LikeLike
Not sure if I’ve been in wildland long enough to really have an opinion on the subject. Last year was my first year as a wild land firefighter. I did train a bit going up and down a short hike to a fall nearby. When my test came last year, I really didn’t struggle with it. This year I did find it much more challenging. I was at a different location and I believe the elevation where I Took the test this year was much higher than last year. I really had to push myself to keep going. Both times I completed the test in 43 minutes. But after the test this year, I could taste blood in my mouth. I kept spitting to see if there was any blood present, but there wasn’t. I believe my Avioli were rupturing. I was really sore for 3 days.
LikeLike
Just 10 cents worth of thoughts and mostly questions:
LikeLike
Metabolic Demand of Hiking in Wildland Firefighting – ScienceDirect
There is discussion on the construct validity of the pack test in this paper. (open access)
LikeLike
why have any standards……..
LikeLike
It’s the easiest PT of the year if you’re on a good crew. I’ve seen a very large number of people pass the test who then can’t physically perform the job. Look at the location and agencies of the fatalities and you might pick up on a pattern.
I think it’s a dumb standard with hokey rules that doesn’t come close to telling whether someone can fight fire out west. I sure don’t think it should be easier.
23 years as a fed out west.
LikeLike
The arduous WCT for wildland firefighters absolutely needs to be changed, but I disagree with the reasoning stated in the article. This test should be easily passed by anyone looking to work in primary fire suppression, period. for others that may not be on the line as their main daily work, sure, alter the requirements. Engines, hotshot crews, helicopters, jumpers etc. should have no issue with the Arduous and if they do they need to take personal responsibility for their fitness and job readiness. Anyone who does this job well understands that the WCT, in reality, doesn’t show any real applicable fitness to fighting fire, if anything it needs to be modified to an actual hike or run… but then we’d actually have to hold people accountable, and we know how much the feds like that.
LikeLike
As much as I hate to say it, and would hate to have to do it, requiring a pre-season physical for fitness, followed by a training period for for several weeks, then another pre-pack test physical would help to screen for medically and physically unfit candidates for the pack test. Putting employees to the pack test the day after they show up with them knowing their job is on the line, and you knowing nothing about their actual fitness, isn’t helpful for reducing issues. We will hold back people on assignments/tasks and select others based on capabilities all of the time. I do think there should be alternatives to prove cardio, strength, and endurance necessary for fireline operations, and to demonstrate capability to GTFO in severe situations.
LikeLike
The “pack” test is necessary to create a baseline standard of fitness to be a wildland firefighter. Unfortunately, most injuries I see as a result of the pack test are people who were unprepared to take it. Being a firefighter is inherently dangerous and is not for everyone. Being physically fit is required not only to do this job but so your teammates can count on you. Knowing that it is part of the job, people need to take responsibility for themselves and prepare for the pack test. There are several pre-fire season physical fitness programs that are a search engine away. If you’re getting rabdo from a pack test, then there are other serious issues that need to be identified prior to taking your test.
LikeLike
Slow it down. The 4 mile per hour walk puts extraordinary stress on the shins, and the heart, with no reprieve for 1 – 3 miles.
LikeLike