“BOILER PLATE” PARADE RULES

 

 

GENERAL: 

 

Failure to adhere to the rules and regulations will result in the disqualification or the receiving of demerits as appropriate and defined.  Demerits will be used to determine trophy winners.

 

The insert name of judging association will judge apparatus, fire departments, auxiliaries, color guards and musical units.  Judging will be governed by the general and specific rules and regulations published for this event.  THE DECISION OF THE JUDGES IS FINAL.

 

To be eligible for trophy competition a fire department unit must consist of the following:  Color Guard (does not have to be firefighters), an officer followed by a minimum of number marching members.

 

A color guard must consist of three (3) or more persons with the American Flag in its proper position and appropriately guarded.  The flag may be guarded with or without arms or firematic tools.  The use of arms or firematic tools must be uniform.

 

A firematic color guard may be dressed in a uniform differing from the body.  However, the uniforms must match and include head gear and gloves.  Members will be included in the total of members in the line of march.

 

A non firematic color guard must be dressed in matching uniforms; their number WILL NOT be counted as members in the line of march.

 

Active members of the military may march in their respective uniforms without penalty.

 

The lack of a proper color guard will automatically disqualify the fire department from trophy competition.

 

The American Flag shall be unfurled at all times and shall not be dipped in salute.

 

In the event of an alarm or other emergency while the parade is in progress, all units will move to the right side of the road upon the approach of any emergency vehicle.

 

 

 

FIREFIGHTER’S RULES:

 

To be counted in the line of march all members must wear the same matching uniforms including shoes, socks, gloves and ties.  The use of gloves and/or ties is optional.  See general rules for color guard exceptions.  Members acting as fire police may also be counted.  The chief or OIC must inform the parade committee of the number prior to the start of the parade.

 

There will be no demerits for long or facial hair.  However, all participants are expected to be clean and neatly groomed.

 

When a company or department banner is used it must be carried by company or department members.

 

A unit with forty (40) or less in line behind the officer may march either (2) or three (3) abreast.  Units with forty one (41) and over MUST march three (3) or four (4) abreast.  Single file, regardless of number, IS NOT permitted.

 

Any company wishing to use a drill sergeant may do so.  This person will be counted in the line of march and judged for marching ability. Upon passing the reviewing stand the drill sergeant must march abreast of the lead or last rank, be on the reviewing stand side and render a salute.

 

The officer in charge must render a salute at the reviewing stand.

 

Any unit acting in a manner to discredit the volunteer fire service as a whole shall be subject to disqualification at the discretion of the judges or host.

 

Members riding in vehicles must be in full uniform and wear safety devices.

 

The sounding of sirens and/or air horns or the ringing of bells or any other noise in the line of march will result in the disqualification of the offending unit.

 

The use of flashing lights is required / is not permitted (strike one) in the line of march.

 

No more than two (2) firefighters shall ride on an apparatus: driver and passenger next to driver.  Both must wear safety devices.

 

No more than number cars permitted per unit.

 

Apparatus will be judged at insert location between insert times.  First come, first judged.  Any units arriving after insert time will not be judged.

 

All apparatus must be company or department owned and in service to be judged for competition.  Blue lights or lenses on fire apparatus will/will not (strike one) be grounds for disqualification.

 

Each company or department is limited to number fire apparatus.  Chief’s vehicle(s) will not be counted as apparatus.

 

 

AUXILIARY RULES:

 

The officer in charge must salute the reviewing stand.

 

No demerits given for the lack of color guard or banner.  If a color guard is used it will be subject to judging as stated in the general rules.

 

A minimum of number members marching is required to qualify for a trophy.

 

All other rules and regulations will be the same as defined in the FIREFIGHTER section.

 

PARADE FORMATION

 

Each division shall march at a distance of 50 feet from the grand marshal

or the preceding division.

 

Units shall follow each  other at a distance of approximately 50 feet.

 

formation of units shall be as follows

 

fire company or department formation

 

music

20 feet

color guard

10 feet banner (or chief IF no banner in use)

10 feet

chief

10 feet clergy

10 feet

asst. chief(s)

10 feet

past chief(s)

10 feet

company officer

firefighters

 

auxiliary formation

 

10 feet following firefighters

color guard (if any)

banner (if any)

10 feet

officer in charge

10 feet

marching members

 

 

vehicle formation

 

20 feet for all vehicles

riding meMbers

riding auxiliary members

Chief(s) vehicle(s)

in service apparatus

antique appaRatus (if any)

 

 

PARADE DEMERITS

 

GENERAL

 

 

5 DEMERITS

 

WRONG PLACE IN LINE                                                                

IMPEDING FORWARD PROGRESS                                              

OFFICER NOT SALUTING REVIEWING STAND                           

INCORRECT FORMATION        

NON FIREMATIC EQUIPMENT VISIBLE ON APPARATUS (WATER CONTAINERS PERMITTED)

                                                    

 

3 DEMERITS

 

DRILL SERGEANT OUT OF POSITION   

FAILURE OF DRILL SERGEANT TO SALUTE REVIEWING STAND

INCORRECT FORMATION

EXCESSIVE SPACING

EXCESSIVE MEMBERS ON APPARATUS

 

 

                                            

1 DEMERIT (EACH OCCURANCE)

 

NOT DRESSED  

NOT COVERED

OUT OF STEP   

TALKING, WAVING, SMOKING, CHEWING, SPITTING, LAUGHING, BREAKING RANKS              

UNKEMPT HAIR OR FACIAL HAIR

NON UNIFORM USE OF SHOES OR SOCKS

NON UNIFORM USE OF GLOVES

NON UNIFORM USE OF BUTTONS, BADGES, TIES, FLAGS OR PATCHES ON UNIFORMS

NON-PRESCRIPTION SUN GLASSES   

NON PRECISION MOVEMENT, POOR CARRIAGE OF BODY

POOR ALIGNMENT OF HAT, COCKED AT ANGLES

EXCESSIVE JEWELRY

UNKEMPT, SOILED OR MIXED UNIFORMS

OPEN BUTTONS

VISIBLE CELLULAR PHONES, PAGERS, ETC

 

 

COLOR GUARD

 

 

DISQUALIFICATION

 

AMERICAN FLAG DIPPED IN SALUTE OR DISHONORED

 

 

5 DEMERITS

 

AMERICAN FLAG OUT OF PLACE

AMERICAN FLAG NOT PROPERLY GUARDED

AMERICAN FLAG NOT UNFURLED OR AT INCORRECT ANGLE

AMERICAN FLAG SOILED OR TORN

 

 

3 DEMERITS

 

FINIALS NOT FACING FRONT

FINIALS NOT UNIFORM

UNIFORMS NOT NEAT/CLEAN/MATCHING

HAND POSITION OR MOTION NOT UNIFORM

RIFLES, AXES, ETC. NOT ON SAME SHOULDER

 

 

2 DEMERITS (EACH OCCURANCE)

 

OUT OF STEP      

NOT COVERED/DRESSED

NON-UNIFORM SOCKS, SHOES, HATS, GLOVES OR PATCHES

 

 

1 DEMERIT (EACH OCCURANCE)

 

TALKING  

SMOKING 

SPITTING  

LAUGHING  

WAVING

CHEWING GUM  

NON-PRESCRIPTION SUNGLASSES

VISIBLE CELLULAR PHONES, PAGERS, ETC.

 

  

 

APPARATUS (STATIC)

 

DISQUALIFICATION

 

OPERATOR NOT PRODUCING DRIVER’S LICENSE

MISSING OR EXPIRED INSURANCE CARD

 

 

10 DEMERITS

 

Dirty or improperly displayed turnout gear

DIRTY OR in need of repair ladders or lanyards                

S.C.B.A. Missing, defective, outdated

Dirty or messy hose beds/hose lays/suction

 

 

5 DEMERITS

 

Wheels not chocked (rectify before continuing)                                         

Dirty Glass or Windshield                                                                       

Dirty or Scuffed Tires                                                                               

Cab interior dirty, not neat, seat belts not working

Dirty, chipped or improperly painted tools        

Lights not working

Extinguishers missing or outdated

Cleanliness of apparatus, running boards, bumpers, chipped paint

Dirty or unorganized cabinets/compartments

Dirty wheel wells or undercarriage

Dirty Engine Compartment

Dirty/battery and or battery compartment

 

 

 

APPARATUS (MOVING)

 

10 DEMERITS

 

Dirty Glass or Windshield

Dirty or Scuffed Tires

Dirty wheel wells or undercarriage

Dirty or improperly displayed turnout gear

Lights not according to rules

Dirty or messy hose beds/hose lays/suction

Cleanliness of apparatus, running boards, bumpers, chipped paint

Sounding of siren or air horns

 

 

 

5 DEMERITS

 

Driver out of uniform (such as can be seen)

Dirty, chipped or improperly painted tools

Apparatus not centered in roadway

Excessive or improper riders