Are you at least 18 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall and do you have good eyesight? Then you may be the type of person the Bermuda Fire Service is looking for to boost the ranks.

However, those are just the first requirements you will have to meet if you choose to apply for the positions being advertised in today's The Royal Gazette .

Applicants will go through a vetting process during which time they will sit written examinations in mathematics, general knowledge and English language.

They will also be physically tested for strength, speed, endurance, agility and will be checked to see if they suffer from either acrophobia (the fear of heights) or claustrophobia (the fear of enclosed spaces).

And they will be required to have a medical examination and an interview before they meet the criteria for selection.

Lt. Anthony Caisey said the station would be opening its doors to people interested in joining the service over the next three days.

He explained that the idea behind the open house was to provide potential applicants with a better understanding of what was involved in becoming a fire fighter.

Visitors would be shown various equipment fire fighters were trained to use and what they would be required to do in the course of their training.

Division Officer Mr. John Pacheco said he hoped this would make it easier for people to decide if a career in the service was what they really wanted.

Lt. Caisey added that during the visits people would be able to pick up application forms which had to be returned by November 10. Recruit training is due to start in January and will last 14 weeks.

STOPPING FIRES EARLY -- Children from schools around the Island are visiting the Bermuda Fire Service this week and next as part of Fire Safety Awareness Month. Shown with the Fire Service mascot Sparky are three-year-old Anthony Fernandez (left), and four-year-old Sean Davis of Kid's Venture Nursery, St.

George's.