Firefighter Task-based Fitness Trainer
FireFit is a firefighter task-based fitness apparatus designed to mimic fire-ground activities and help firefighters stay physically ready for the job. It is a product built by me, a Fire Fighter, who after researching and seeing the necessity of physically being a ‘combat ready’ firefighter, found a way to do this by simulating fire-ground tasks such as dragging a tire to simulate a hose drag and a sand bag carry for a victim.
FireFit has evolved from merely a piece of equipment into a full fledged, validated fitness program now used by fire departments and fire academies across the U.S.
Inspiration Born
All the necessary “tools” needed-sandbags or hose dummies, a large tire for breach training, rolls of hose for drag simulations- were going to require a lot of space just to store the necessary equipment much less drag it out for a workout. That is when I started doodling on a piece of scratch paper all the most strenuous tasks a firefighter may encounter on the fireground. I researched, found videos and articles and made slight modifications to my original design based on the information I was being overwhelmed with.
Vision Achieved
Originally, I was going to build a firefighter training prototype out of lumber, but during a conversation with a good friend who is in metal fabrication, we decided to build a prototype from steel. In fact, that prototype is still an in-service demo unit today-10 years after the 1st unit was built! The vision of helping firefighters get in better shape through tactical training is still the same…train like you work.
Comparatively Low Cost Of Ownership
With much research, we have discovered that on average, you can only equip a station gym with minimal workout equipment for the same cost as a Firefit Unit. For example: A mid-level bench, bar and weight set will set you back $2,000.00 or more; a mid-level 30 lb. dumbbell set plus rack another $500.00+ and a power cage another $500.00+ and you have to have a room in the station dedicated to that equipment, plus it is stationary. A FireFit trainer can be used as a quantifiable candidate test, something traditional equipment cannot do.
In addition, the FireFit apparatus, used in conjunction with the prescribed circuit and proprietary evaluation forms, can track fitness progress like nothing else on the market.
A word from Randy…
Thought I would take a few minutes to introduce myself and what I believe to be a missing link in the fire service. I’m Randy Johnson, firefighter and creator of FireFit Firefighter Fitness Trainer. I’ve been in the fire service since 2002, starting as a volunteer with Randall County VFD, then in 2004 I started with the Amarillo, Texas Fire Department as a career firefighter.
Most firefighters become complacent when it comes to fitness. Whether it’s because we don’t like to work out or we are busy and don’t seem to have time, we still have to be physically fit to do our jobs and go home to our families.
Firefit was created and developed to help combat the biggest killer of firefighters: overexertion. According to the NFPA in 2016, 46% of firefighter deaths were due to overexertion, stress, and medical issues.
While we cannot change the amount of work we have to do, we can condition our physical fitness to be ready for whatever obstacles may arise. We must be in excellent mental and physical shape so we can serve the citizens WHO rely on us to do our jobs.
As firefighters, being physically fit for the job is something we owe not only to the citizens we serve and the crew we work with, but to our families.
Be safe, brothers and sisters.
Randy