Parts of a ladder among the need-to-knows in 1940s Island firefighter recruit exam

Saanich firefighting hopefuls in the 1940s had to pass a probationary exam featuring a long list of questions focused on naming equipment, explaining the department’s practices and citing bylaws.

Deputy Fire Chief Dan Wood of the Saanich Fire Department shared a copy of a 71-year-old firefighting entrance exam.

Saanich’s Deputy Fire Chief Dan Wood shared an image of a 1940s firefighting recruit exam that he said wasn’t nearly as complex as the assessments in 2021. (Dan Wood/Twitter)

The test, circa 1949, included 40 questions that asked the recruit to name three parts of a ladder, list three types of extinguishers, note how far a stove should be placed from a wall, explain why it’s necessary to ventilate a building on fire and describe the use of a sill hook.

“In 2021, these exams are complex and include all the fire and rescue work our firefighters train for,” Wood said.

Now, Saanich firefighters respond to more than just fires – as they’re trained in CPR, it’s common for paramedics to call on local fire departments for back-up on severe medical calls involving traumatic injuries, heart attacks and breathing difficulties. Saanich firefighters are also dispatched to rescues and spend time in the community working to prevent fires and teach residents about fire safety.

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Happy #Friday and itâs been a week since applications for our 2021 #SaanichFire Firefighter recruitment closed!

Thanks to all that applied ð

We are very busy reviewing all the candidate applications!

What an exciting group of FF recruit applicants.
DW @saanich #firefighter pic.twitter.com/eQyHJ5XjMN

— Saanich Fire Department (@SaanichFire) March 26, 2021