News 12 at 6 o'clock, July 26, 2010

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Six Augusta-Richmond County firefighters have filed complaints stemming from a test last Wednesday that took place in 102 degree heat at the department's training facility on Deans Bridge Road. Some firefighters tell News 12 they were outside for 15 hours.

More complaints and formal grievances are expected to be filed.

48 firefighters were trying to move up to the rank of Sergeant and were taking a pumping test. It was the second portion of the promotional exam. Firefighters were asked to pump water through hoses given various conditions.

"Those that perform well and move forward are always happy, and those that don't are typically somewhat upset about it," said Chief Training Officer Christopher James.

James is now the man feeling the heat from some in the department. Four firefighters walked out of the exercise. Off camera, one of them tells News 12 he was protecting his health and was there until 1 a.m. Thursday.

Because of past cheating on the exam, James says the department decided to test the firefighters together. In previous years, the test would be administered throughout two days. Scores on the second day would be better than those on the first day.

James adds it was necessary to make sure the exam was fair and the department would be promoting the right people. Firefighters had to arrive at 8 a.m. and couldn't leave until they took the exam.

"This was so that we could secure the test, so that answers could not be passed from one candidate to the next," he said.

According to James, there were no heat-related injuries. Firefighters had to remain at a training facility warehouse without air conditioning away from view of the test. But firefighters were provided fans, food, and drinks, says James.

Fire Chief Howard Willis also approved the conditions.

"I have a concern for them, and I was trying to make it as well as I possibly could, but in the firefighting world, we fight fires in all kind of conditions: heat, rain, cold, everything."

Willis also says firefighters were allowed to sit in air conditioned fire trucks when it became apparent the test was running long. Mechanical problems with one of the trucks and a storm further delayed the day.

In a June email, candidates were warned that the times of the test would vary and that they should bring their own refreshments.

"Personally, I wish it would have gone quicker, yes, but I was in the mindframe of, 'We were going to complete this drill,'" said James.

The firefighters that left the test forfeited the promotion.

The county also determined the average score of the test was higher in the afternoon. Officials think it means the heat had no adverse effect on the firefighters.

Yet the county's human resources department says it will "fine tune" the process next time. James says this could include decreasing the number of candidates or bringing the test to an indoor training facility.