Definitions

The definitions listed below have been adopted by our Association to aid in the uniformity of judging.

1. Fire apparatus that complies with NFPA standards

2. Rescue/Ambulance equipment that complies with NJAC 8:40

TANKER
     Shall have a water carrying capacity of not less than 1500 gallons      and may or may not have a pump.

AERIAL
     If there are no specific categories provided, an aerial truck shall be      defined as a piece of equipment capable of raising a ladder,
     bucket, platform or squirt by other than manual means.

FARTHEST DISTANCE
     As the crow flies: the host company will always determine this.

AGE OF VEHICLE
     Date on the pump panel, state vehicle registration, or other      documentation will be utilized. As for refurbished and/or restored      apparatus, host company will make the determination as to the age      of the piece.

Judging Standards

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Host Company Check List


1. Private place for the judges to meet before and after the parade.

2. Food: Coffee and donuts ready at the time the judges arrive in the      morning. Lunch ready at the agreed time.

3. Mugs or t-shirts: Enough mugs or t-shirts set aside for the judges on      parade day.

4. Pre-judging Area:
     Enough judging lanes to handle the expected number of apparatus.
     Enough traffic cones to mark these lanes
     Signs directing apparatus to the proper lane.
     Enough personnel to direct apparatus in and out of the judging area
     Someone from the parade committee available to answer any      questions or handle any problems that may occur.
     Restroom facilities for judges and participants
     Cold drinks available for the judges
     Have place cards displayed in the windshield of each apparatus
     that will be judged

5. 30 days before the parade contact the Chief Judge with the following      information:
     A breakdown of apparatus expected to attend and the categories in      which they will be competing.
     Notification of any changes you may have made to your prize list.
     At this time the Chief Judge will inform you of how many judges to      expect and how many lanes will be needed for pre-judging.
     Assignment of time for each company to report for registration and      pre-judging.

Suggested Trophy Catagories

1. BEST APPEARING PUMPER
     By Capacity, 500, 750, 1000, 1250, or 1500 GPM
     By Age, 0-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16 years and over

2. BEST APPEARING AERIAL
      By Type, Ladder, Elevating Platform, Tele- Squirt
      All types together

3. BEST APPEARING MINI PUMPER 0-500 GPM

4. BEST APPEARING MIDI PUMPER 500-750 GPM

5. BEST BRUSH TRUCK: Four wheel drive, or off road use

6. BEST APPEARING UTILITY: Light units, Cascade, Etc.

7. BEST APPEARING SPECIAL PURPOSE VEHICLE: Chiefs cars, etc.

8. BEST APPEARING RESCUE APPARATUS
     Fire Department, Light, Medium, Heavy
     Rescue Squad, Light, Medium, Heavy

9. BEST APPEARING AMBULANCE
      Fire Department
      Rescue Squad

10. BEST APPEARING TANKER
       Straight
       Tractor Drawn

11. BEST APPEARING MOTORIZED ANTIQUE
       Fire Department Owned
       In – Service
       Parade Piece
       Privately owned

12. BEST APPEARING HORSE DRAWN
       Drawn by horses
       Transported by vehicle

13. BEST APPEARING HAND DRAWN APPARATUS
       Drawn by hand
       Transported by vehicle

14. BEST APPEARING COMIC UNIT

15. BEST APPEARING OVERALL FIRE DEPARTMENT

16. BEST MUSICAL UNIT

17. MOST MEMBERS IN LINE OF MARCH

18. COMPANY TRAVELING FARTHEST DISTANCE

19. JUDGES AWARD (3)

The above listed categories are a small sampling of the different types of awards that are available to you for your parade. Each category may have a first, second or third prize.

Items Subject to Inspection

1. Registration, driver’s license for the operator & insurance card
     Are they in order?
     Are they up-to-date?

2. Warning & running lights
     Clean?
     Operational? If it is made to light up, does it work?

3. Front Bumper
     Free of dirt? Rust? Loose Paint chips?
     Front suction area. Paint chips?
     Gaskets in place in the soft sleeve?

4. Cab
     Windows dirty? Water spots?
     Dust on dash? Sun visors?
     Dirt behind or under seats, which includes under the passenger
     seat, where the radio is located.
     Glove box clean or full of junk?
     Floor mats? Dirty? How about underneath?

5. Wheel Wells and Under Carriage
     Clean?
     Free of rust?

6. Battery Boxes
     Clean & free of corrosion, rust & dirt?
     Batteries full?
     Cables clean?

7. Engine
     Clean?
     Free of dust & rust?
     Engine cover compartment clean?

8. Jump seats
     Are the SCBA serviceable & clean?
     Is area around the seats clean
     Hand lights serviceable?

9. SCBA
     SCBA must be clean & serviceable
     Bottles in hydro? Full?
     Masks clean inside and out?
     Buckles clean and free of dirt?
     All straps fully extended and in good working order?
     Must meet ALL OSHA and NIOSH requirements

10. Hand lights
       Serviceable?
       Clean?
       Lens clean?
       No rust?

11. Tools
       Paint on ANY striking surface?
       Dirt or rust?
       Handles cracked or worn?
       Tool boxes neat and orderly?
       Nozzles free of dirt and rust?
       Threads free of dirt, rust and polish?

12. Booster Reels
       Hose free and clean? On the reel neatly?
       Area under the reels clean?
       Is the nozzle clean and in the OFF position?

13. Cross lays
       Hose clean and serviceable?
       Neatly packed?
       Nozzles in the OFF position?

14. Pump Panel
       All gauges reading ZERO (0)?
       Panel clean?
       All discharges and intakes clean?
       Caps HAND tight?
       ALL gaskets installed?

15. Hard Sleeve
       Is the hard sleeve clean? In and Out?
       Does the female end spin freely?
       ALL gaskets in place

16. Compartments
       Door latches and hinges free of dirt, paint and rust?
       Floor covering? Under floor covering clean and free of dirt?
       Inside upper lip clean?
       Door gaskets installed and in good shape?
       Fittings: Are all fittings clean and serviceable? Gaskets
       clean and in place?

Loose equipment: Tools and loose equipment in compartments clean,        neatly arranged and/or mounted?

Generator: Clean, serviceable and all fluid levels correct?

Cords and Reels: Neatly rolled? Guards in place? All ends THREE pronged?

Do receptacles have covers and are the gaskets clean and in place?

Tools: Paint or rust on any striking surface? Placed neatly in        compartments?

First Aid Kit: 24-unit Fire department type per NFPA 1901? Kit fully        stocked and properly labeled?

Fuel Containers: Any fuel container should be the safety type and        properly labeled.

17. Ground Ladders
       Clean and serviceable
       Ropes frayed?
       Ropes should be tied with a clove hitch and safety know or
       clipped on the ladder

18. Bed Ladders
       Clean and serviceable?
       No fraying of cables, no rust or excessive grease

19. Outriggers
       This area should be clean and free of excessive grease
       Pads clean and free of rust?

20. Hose Load
       Neatly packed?
       Dirt in the hose or the hose bed?

21. Ropes
       Ropes neatly wrapped, serviceable and not frayed?
       Proper lengths in accordance with NFPA 1901 for Ladder        Companies?

22. Fire Extinguishers
       Properly inspected and tagged?
       All gauges read properly?
       Units in hydro?

23. General Appearance
       Vehicle clean?
       Free of wax build up?
       Water spots?
       Scratches? All should be touched up.

24. NFPA 1901
       All apparatus must be the basic requirements of the NFPA 1901

25. Personnel
       Courteous?
       Knowledgeable?

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What the Judges Expect

A list of prize categories to be judged.

You should try to have a minimum of 10 trophies.

The more prizes you have, the greater the interest will
In your parade.

At least one or more trophies should be called “Judges Awards” or “Special Awards”.

A total count of apparatus registered in competition 30 days prior to your parade.

A list of YOUR rules and regulations for the parade.

Once established, the rules should not be changed, except in case of emergency. Parade judges must enforce all rules.

Someone from your parade committee assigned to the judges.

A pre-judging area large enough to handle the types of apparatus in ur categories. Rows with traffic cones set up for the various categories.
Identification in the windows of each vehicle as to the category registered.

All registered Fire Companies shall be informed that they must have their equipment in the judging area at their assigned time. Apparatus in competition should be the only equipment permitted in the judging area. Registration should be closed about 1 hour prior to the start of your parade.

A private place the judges can meet prior to and after the parade to discuss awards. Coffee and donuts in the morning, a sandwich and soda at or about noon & some type of food after the parade.

A ceramic mug or tee shirt for each judge if you have them.

What the Hosting Company Should Expect

There is no fee for our service.

Your judges are all professionals.

We supply all materials needed to perform the judging.

Decision of the winners in each category is provided in writing, usually within one house after completion of your parade.

All judging forms and score sheets are kept on file for one year by the Chief Judge.

No interference with your parade

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