HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8281 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8281
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council October 24, 2000
'�� Subject: FIRE RECRUITMEINT
Page 1 of 2
At the Pre-Council meeting on August 1, 2000, Councilmember Moss requested information
concerning the number of Fire applicants who had passed or failed the civil service exam.
Councilmember Davis also indicated an interest in determining why the City has difficulty in
hiring minorities in the Fire Department.
In response to Councilmember Moss' request, statistical information is presented in the
attachment.
The statistical information indicates:
• fewer minorities apply
• fewer minorities take the civil service exam
• fewer minorities pass the civil service exam
• fewer women apply and fewer pass the physical ability test
The Civil Service exam appears to be a major hurdle for minority candidates. Chapter 143.025
(b) of the Local Government Code states, in part:
"The examination must be based on the person's knowledge of and qualifications for fire
fighting and work in the fire department...and must inquire into the applicant's general
education and mental ability."
The Human Resources Department has developed a content valid entry-level examination that
meets the requirements of Chapter 143.025. All of the exam questions are based on information
provided to each applicant in a Fire Trainee Study Guide. The Study Guide contains material
that is similar in content to the material encountered in the fire academy training program.
Furthermore, the exam is designed to measure abilities that are related to successful performance
as a Fire Trainee: the ability to learn and retain technical and safety information; the ability to
apply logic and reasoning to solve basic mathematical problems; and the ability to comprehend
written material and technical charts/graphs. Applicants have four to six (4-6) weeks to study the
Guide prior to the test. Three to five study sessions to help candidates understand and prepare
for the exam are conducted by Firefighters prior to the test. These study sessions are open to all
applicants and are scheduled at various times to accommodate a variety of applicant schedules.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No, 8281
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council October 24, 2000
Subject: FIRE RECRUITMENT
Page 2 of 2
The physical ability test appears to be a major hurdle for female candidates. In 1997, ARA, a
nationally recognized consulting firm in the area of firefighter physiological requirements,
developed the physical ability exam currently used. This exam measures the minimum physical
requirements necessary to successfully perform the duties of a firefighter.
During the past several years, a variety of recruitment activities have been implemented with the
goal of increasing the number of minorities and females in the Fire Department:
• Public Safety Cadet Program
• Women in the Fire Service Conference
• Contacting applicants prior to the exam to encourage them to take the test
• Conducting study sessions to help applicants go through the study guide
• Conducting practice sessions of the physical ability test
• Establishing a physical ability course at Tarrant County College and informing all
applicants throughout the year that the course was available
+ Recruitment throughout the State of Texas
+ Testing in four cities plus Fort Worth
• Placing posters featuring women and minorities in local high schools (example provided)
Staff will continue to develop and implement programs which appear to have the potential to
improve the number of minorities and females in the Fire Department.
Bob Terrell
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS
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