Three times in Lyndsey Bamlett’s life she has declared her dream. Turning the dream into reality began two years ago when she started taking courses and working toward the required qualifications—truck driving, CPR, acrophobia, medical, clinical, swift-water rescue, to name a few. “I took the courses and got the certificates to demonstrate my commitment,” says Lyndsey. “I also attended information sessions—at least 15 to 20 over the course of a year—given by recruiters for the Toronto Fire Services (TFS). Eventually, the recruiters were asking, “Who is this keener?”

Getting to know the recruiters became important when Lyndsey wrote “a novel of an email” to TFS Recruitment and Community Outreach Officer Adina Kaufman inquiring how she could improve her CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test) performance. “Adina connected me with Dan Haden who was in the process of spearheading a project that would focus on the challenges women face with CPAT. He needed a dedicated volunteer. The recruiters had no problem attesting to my tenacity!”

According to Dan, who is also a Recruitment and Community Outreach Officer at Toronto Fire, “While we knew intuitively that many women found the CPAT difficult, we were better able to address it when we discovered ‘A National Report Card on Women in Firefighting’. After reading the Report Card, we began developing a CPAT recruit mentoring package that would help our prospective candidates succeed. With scores from a previous CPAT test experience and a willingness to assist as a civilian volunteer, Lyndsey presented us with a remarkable opportunity for beginning.”

Hero and role model …

“My uncle Bruce Bamlett was a firefighter for the City of Vaughan [Ontario, Canada],” Lyndsey says, “He died of brain cancer at 47, leaving behind a wife and two little girls. I was 12 at the time. I looked up to him in so many ways. My first declaration of wanting to be a firefighter was inspired by my uncle.

“My second declaration came when I was in tenth grade [Canadian equivalent to a sophomore]. That’s when there was a lot of pressure to choose a career so you could take courses which moved you into the right college. Most of my peers didn’t know what they wanted to do ‘for the rest of their lives.’ However, I did. I wanted to be a firefighter. With no encouragement and lacking enough confidence to ignore the naysayers, I shelved my dream.”

College and work …

“At Mohawk College [in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada], I majored in television broadcast and communications. The technical side dominated my course work but when I graduated, I ended up doing sales.

“Two years ago, while I was working for a wonderful company, I knew that it wasn’t what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. So I made my declaration a third time—now determined to go for it!”

Reprioritizing life …

“I now work part-time as a security guard. This job, and my savings, gave me the financial cushion to take courses at Brock University, get my certificates, and be a Canadian Red Cross volunteer.”

The difference that training/mentoring makes …

“When I emailed Adina for advice, I had just completed my first CPAT practice. My time was 12 minutes and 40 seconds. She introduced me to Dan, who then hooked me up with Terry Buckley, the Toronto Fire Services’ Health and Wellness Coordinator. Terry gave me a program to follow.”

“After six weeks of going to the Toronto Fire and EMS Academy every day, concentrating on cardio, weight lifting and core strengthening, my CPAT time went down to 10 minutes, 40 seconds. I’ve had a ten-fold increase in my fitness. Now my training includes task specific exercises.”

Dan elaborates, “We asked Lyndsey to participate in a 12-week fitness regimen based on the CPAT Candidate Preparation Guide and jointly designed and approved by Terry Buckley, who is second-to-none when it comes to understanding firefighter fitness. We gave Lyndsey liberal access to our fitness facilities, and both Terry and I are acting as recruit mentors—another recommendation from the CPAT Manual.” He continues, “The first six weeks of the program were dedicated primarily to cardiovascular and strength training.”

To measure the incremental success, “Lyndsey agreed to participate in two further CPAT tests, one half-way at six weeks, and the other at the end, coming up in mid-December,” Dan states. “We’re very pleased that the first interim test showed significantly improved clinical fitness scores and a reduced overall test time.”

So what’s next? According to Dan, “We have been working with Randy Piercey, a videographer/photographer from the Toronto Fire Services’ Public Information and Media Communications Section to compile a photograph and video diary of the project, including interviews with female recruits from the most recent recruit class and several female fire services leaders. We are hoping to use these to develop a video that will accompany a detailed description of Lyndsey’s fitness routine, complete with samples of her daily journals, into a Toronto Fire Services CPAT Recruit Mentoring Package to be made available both digitally online and in hard copy to people, especially women, considering a career with Toronto Fire Services.” Toronto Fire hopes to have that video available some time in January 2010.

In terms of advice that other fire services could use, Dan believes it’s about the leadership, “A project of this nature in the fire service requires great vision and support. For me, that comes from David Sheen, Division Chief, Staff Services at Toronto Fire. David not only advocates the benefits of the project to senior officers, but also provides guidance that comes from the experience of his position and, most importantly, he converts genuine expressions of interest and support into action.”

In the meanwhile, Lyndsey is maintaining a strict routine, “My main challenge with CPAT is the sledge hammer event. I didn’t know the proper technique to throw the sledge hammer. I was holding it too tightly. I had to learn how to step into the throw. They stacked four huge fire truck tires and put them in a corner for me. I spray-painted a target to hit and now every day I practice. I hear the difference—how much more force I’m using.”

And she’s excited to see the difference, “I’ll be taking CPAT again mid-December. I’m really confident that I will shed those extra 20 seconds.”

Applying and taking the tests …

While she works hard to pass the CPAT, Lyndsey also continues to realize the dream, “When Toronto Fire Services accepted applications in the early fall, I applied and took the aptitude test. I didn’t get called for an interview. I recently applied to the Mississauga Fire Department. I should soon know the results of my tests.”

Service is a family value …

“My Uncle Bruce was my dad’s brother. My dad was a police officer and then a detective. When he retired, he joined the army. In June, he returned home from a nine-month tour in Afghanistan. My bother Dan just graduated from his military training. I also have an uncle who was a police officer for the City of Mississauga [Ontario, Canada].”

“I love helping others. Words can’t adequately express how much I want to be a firefighter!”
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Lyndsey is full of gratitude for the support she’s received from both Dan Haden and Terry Buckley. They, in turn, commend Lyndsey for her hard work and dedication.

FIRE 20/20 is going to follow Lyndsey on her journey. She’s an inspiration that merits heartfelt praise!

If you would like more information about this project, you can contact Dan Haden, Recruitment and Community Outreach, Toronto Fire Services at 416-338-9518 or click to e-mail Dan.