Youngstown Vindicator 09.27.2000

The number of applicants has decreased, possibly because of a more rigorous physical exam.

YOUNGSTOWN- Four firefighters were promoted and six more sworn in during a ceremony today.

Fire Chief John J. O'Neill, Jr. administered the oaths to newly promoted officers Capt. Kevin O'Neill, Capt. Gary Ditullio, Lt. Kevin Johnson and Lt. Wilbert Mullins.

Mayor George McKelvey swore in new firefighters Justin Jurovcik, 22, of Kent; Kenneth Horn, 27, of Bristolville; Joseph Lantz, 32, of Youngstown; Justin Durkin, 23, of Youngstown; Timothy Frease, 22, of Hubbard; and Stephen Murphy, 28, of Poland.

O'Neill said the openings resulted from retirements earlier this year and he expects to hire four to six more firefighters after the first of the year. The department now has 147 employees and is considered at full strength, he said.

Test: O'Neill said the number of applicants has decreased since he took the test in 1985 and suggested that a rigorous physical exam could be the reason. In 1985, about 700 applied; 200 applied for the most recent test and 45 passed.

After a study of other fire departments by Capt. Terry Stephens, a physical was designed that included concurrent timed events such as a half-mile run, hose drag, raising a hose up a pulley and using a sledge hammer, O'Neill said. The tests, he said, involve activities that firefighters actually do have to do.

In the past, the prospective firefighters' exam included the basics, such as sit- ups, a step machine and body fat analysis, the chief said.

The new test is fair to male and female applicants and was pre-tested by current firefighters whose average age is 32. All passed, O'Neill said.