A Fair Fire Test

To the Editor:

In response to the letter by Paul Mannix (''Sound the Alarm on Fire Test," Jan. 25 issue), we want to set the record straight: the Firefighter exam and the Fire Department's recruiting campaign have been open and fair. They will strengthen the department by helping it become more reflective of the community it serves.

The recruitment numbers tell the story. FDNY teams visited over 2,600 locations throughout the city during the campaign, attracting 29,638 applicants - the largest applicant pool for the job in a decade. Applications from women increased by 60 percent, and more than 40 percent of all applicants were New Yorkers whose racial and ethnic heritage is underrepresented in the department - the highest percentage of minority applicants ever.

The written test assessed all candidates on the same standard: the fundamental abilities needed to perform the job of a Firefighter. The test questions were prepared and reviewed by experienced firefighters and testing experts. All written complaints about the day's testing were investigated, and any issues that arose at test sites were handled according to standard procedures.

After the test, all candidates had an opportunity to challenge the proposed answer key. To ensure fairness, the city mailed each candidate a copy of the proposed key, along with a record of their answers. When final scores were announced, each candidate also received a copy of the final key and a detailed explanation of how scores were calculated.

Candidates who pass the written test and the physical test and meet all other requirements will be eligible to enter the Fire Academy, where they will be trained to apply their abilities and serve the people of New York City as Firefighters.

Mr. Mannix believes the city's recruiting and testing favored some groups at the expense of others. The facts show otherwise - over 29,000 applicants, more than 21,000 passing candidates, and, thanks to their own interest and effort, over 7,500 minority candidates on the Firefighter list for the first time in the City's history.

MARTHA K. HIRST, Commissioner, Department of Citywide Administrative Services
NICHOLAS SCOPPETTA, Commissioner, Fire Department.