How to pass OFAI

You must be dressed in full PPE and SCBA (not on air).

You will be required to wear a safety harness for this skill.

You must correctly identify ten components of a roof and extension ladder. These components will be indicated to you by the evaluator. You will have two attempts to correctly identify all ten components. Once you have identified all components correctly, the evaluator will allow you to proceed with the remainder of the assessment. If you do not correctly identify all components after two attempts, you will fail the assessment.

When advised to proceed by the evaluator, climb the 10m ladder until you encounter a green taped rung. You will perform the appropriate leg lock and retrieve an axe from the ground. Once you have retrieved the axe you will continue to climb the ladder until you reach the red taped rung.

Once you have reached the red taped rung, perform a leg lock - left or right is acceptable for this rung. Remove the leg lock and continue climbing up the ladder until you reach the balcony. Place the axe on balcony, safely step off the ladder and onto the balcony, and ring the bell.

Safely climb back onto the ladder, retrieve the axe, and descend until you reach the ground.

You have 10 minutes to complete this assessment. 

Don full Personal Protective Equipment including SCBA and a blacked-out face mask.

Approach structure, on air, and enter the structure when advised by evaluator. Navigate your way through the entire maze, passing each obstacle as they are encountered.

You must exit at the point of entry - once you have navigated the entire maze.

Remain in a crawl position. Any attempt to stand up, squat, crawl outside of, or remove obstacles while inside maze will constitute a failure. 

Partial or full removal of your SCBA is not permitted and will also result in failure.

If you feel uncomfortable inside the maze, please advise your evaluator. The evaluation will end, and it will be considered a failure.

You have 10 minutes to complete this assessment.

You must be dressed in full PPE and SCBA (not on air).

You must demonstrate the proper forming of five knots and explain the fundamental purpose (as described in IFSTA 7) of each knot to the evaluator.

The knots are as follows:

1. Overhand Safety

2. Clove Hitch

3. Figure-Eight

4. Figure-Eight on a Bight

5. Figure-Eight follow through

The evaluator will prompt you with the knot you must tie, you are not required to memorize this list.  You will be advised if you are correct or incorrect after the tying of each knot. If you are incorrect, you must re-attempt creating that knot until you are successful. You must correctly tie and explain all five knots to proceed to the next part of this evaluation.

You will then be required to demonstrate the practical application of two knots in preparation for hoisting equipment. You are not required to hoist the equipment.  

The knot applications are as follows:

· Hoisting a Ladder using a Figure-Eight on a Bight, Clove Hitch, and Overhand Safety.

· Hoisting a Power Saw using two Figure-Eight Follow throughs.

You have 10 minutes to complete this assessment. 

You must be dressed in full PPE and SCBA (on air).

You must take the required equipment up the roof ladder to create an inspection hole on the roof. You must correctly deploy the roof ladder and demonstrate the actions required to determine the roof is safe to work on.

Once positioned on the roof, cut a square inspection hole at the spot indicated by the evaluator following the correct order of cuts. You must cut between the two painted lines and safely remove the entire inner square only. You will advise the evaluator when you have completed cutting your hole and ask the evaluator if you can proceed. If the hole exceeds the outer square, you will automatically fail. If the hole size is too small, the evaluator will allow you to correct the size.

Once the evaluator advises you can proceed, safely climb down the ladder, and return to the ground.

You have 10 minutes to complete this assessment. 

You must be dressed in full PPE and SCBA (not on air).

You will be required to wear a safety harness for this skill.

Using proper lifting techniques, pick up the 7m ladder and perform a one firefighter flat raise, fully extending the ladder.

Once the 7m ladder is correctly in place, the evaluator will inform you if it’s safe to proceed. If the evaluator says “NO” you must make the appropriate corrections to proceed. When advised it is safe to proceed, climb the 7m ladder and deploy the roof ladder safely and correctly. 

For safety reasons, you must request the assistance of the evaluation staff to butt and steady the 7m ladder before raising the fly and prior to climbing. These are the only times you can request assistance.

Time will start when the 7m ladder is picked up. Time stops when you and the roof ladder return to the ground.

You have 10 minutes to complete this assessment.

You must be dressed in full PPE and SCBA (not on air).

Make all connections with the appropriate hoses and appliances provided. You must assemble hoses and appliances safely and properly, as you would on the fire ground.

Install the hydrant gate valve in the correct location.

Establish a water supply from the hydrant with a 100mm hose to the pump panel.

From the pump panel discharge, deploy two lengths of 65mm hose. Attach gated wye and connect two 45mm attack lines.

Connect a nozzle to each 45mm attack line.                                                                                                                      

You will advise the evaluator when you establish these connections and ask the evaluator if you can proceed. When the connections are successfully established, the evaluator will allow you to proceed to a separate charged hose. You will fully advance this charged hose three (3) metres (following the technique used in the FPAT) and direct water through the hole in the target.

You have 10 minutes to complete this evolution.