We use the red card as an indicator to physical fitness as much as safety and tactics. Per NWCG, twice as many wild-land firefighters have died from heart/medical conditions than burn-overs.
You are right, every department has different standards on level of training. What is your departments requirements before a FF is able to make entry on a structure fire? Ours is you must be at least FF 1.
For exercise I try to do the "pack test" every Saturday morning and use the weights and elliptical machine at our station 3 times a week.
