Assessment of Performance between Different Wildland Firefighter Crews for a Modified Pack Hike Test

Fitness levels for wildland firefighters are assessed based on the Pack Hike Test (PHT), a submaximal work capacity test. There are three different levels of hand crew members who are exposed to different working conditions, and previous literature has suggested that the current test may not accurately reflect the occupational abilities of the different crew levels.

The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of an altered PHT in order to maximize the effort level as a means of illustrating differences between crew tiers. This was performed with the goal of creating an improved assessment to determine which individuals had the fitness capacity to perform the job tasks for a given crew type.

According to professional standards, the wildland firefighters into two hand crew categories: Type 1 (T1C; n=12) and Type 2 (T2C; n=7, Type 2 and Type 2IA were grouped together). All participants performed one pack hike test simulated to elicit maximal effort in realistic working conditions. The test covered 1.3 miles of hiking at a 16.5% grade while carrying a 20 kg load carriage system, designed to simulate the potential weight load that would be carried during normal working conditions. Participants performed a 1-minute lying-supine recovery period following immediately following completion of the test. All participants were fitted with Polar H10 monitors in order to collect the performance variables: Pace (min/mile), HR recovery (bpm), HR average (bpm) and HR max (bpm).

No statistically significant differences were shown for any performance variables (p>.05). There were mean differences that approached significance. Increased Pace (-2.07 min/mile, Cohen’s d = -0.633) and HR recovery (+3.00 bpm, Cohen’s d = 0.043) were evident for T1C. Additionally, T1C showed increased HR average (+8.18%, Cohen’s d = 0.718) and HR maximum (+8.51%, Cohen’s d = 0.861) compared to those of T2C.

While not statistically significant, T1C tended to display an increased duration of mean maximal work rates as evidenced by HRmax and HRave levels coupled with improved pace, potentially suggesting the ability to operate at higher fitness levels compared to T2C. While the differences are not statistically significant, the small differences could prove beneficial in the rugged working conditions where every second counts.

No statistically significant differences were present between the two crew types. However, there is evidence to support minor increases in fitness levels among more elite levels.