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FIREFIGHER’S PARADE RULES AND REGULATIONS
OF THE
HUDSON VALLEY VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION
GENERAL
- The Judges will be instructed to judge the parade over its entire length, from the start line to the finish line, except no judging shall be in the immediate area where the Members from the Firemen’s Home are viewing the parade, and the Judges should avoid judging on hills and corners when possible.
- To compete for awards, the Fire Unit must have eight (8) or more members in the line of march on the street. The Fire Unit must be a dues paying member of the Association and have their annual dues paid in full on or before the opening day of the annual convention. Auxiliary Units must have five (5) members to compete for awards and must march as a separate unit. The Auxiliary Unit must be a current dues paying member of the Auxiliary Association.
- Competing Fire Units will be judged on four (4) components: Color Guard, Uniform, Marching and Apparatus. Units may compete without apparatus without penalty. Auxiliary Units are judged on two (2) components: Marching and Uniforms.
- Apparatus will be judged separately and scored separately, and trophies for apparatus will be assigned separately. Members of the parading Fire Unit are permitted to ride on each of the fire apparatus in the parade provided they are seated in a proper seat. Any member riding in what is considered an unsafe position as determined by the parade judge shall cause that Fire Unit to be disqualified. There is no minimum number of personnel required on an apparatus.
- No Fire Company or Department attending the Convention shall use any kind of warning device; of any type (lights, sirens or horns) during the Entire Convention period, (including the parade) unless fire or ambulance unit is responding to a bona fide alarm. The Unit will be disqualified for that year’s awards and will carry thru for the following year. This may also subject their Unit for any type of police action.
- Fire apparatus are not required to be eligible for trophies. Fire vehicles shall NOT display warning/response lights in the parade route. Use of warning/response lights will result in disqualification. Daytime running lights are not emergency lights. There shall be no advertising of any kind on any apparatus. Any vehicles displaying lights not in compliance with New York State Vehicles & Traffic Regulations will be subject to demerits. Tip lights and system operational lights are allowed and not considered to be response lights.
- Hose beds on all apparatus shall be exposed so Judges can determine cleanliness and neatness of hose packs and associated equipment. Judges will not open compartments, open doors or otherwise touch apparatus while in the line of march.
- Apparatus shall be operated by personnel duly qualified and authorized by the participating Fire Unit and shall be operated in a manner consistent with these rules and the laws of the State of New York.
- All apparatus and vehicles in the line of march shall be cleaned and polished, and all equipment shall be in place and in working order. No equipment or articles shall be carried on apparatus and vehicles other than equipment used in Fire, Emergency, and First Aid Services. The carrying of intoxicants shall result in disqualification.
- All personnel riding in vehicles shall be wearing the proper seat restraints if so equipped. This includes private vehicles being used in the parade. Personnel not wearing seat restraints shall be demerited per occurrence.
- Any and all vehicles belonging to a Units band may not fall into the parade line of march. Band Units doing so will result in demerits for the hiring Fire Unit.
- Units arriving after the parade has started, shall fall in at the end of the parade regardless of the Division to which they were assigned. In the event a Unit falls into a Division while the parade is in progress, they shall be marked on the judge’s sheet as “Wrong Position” and shall receive demerits.
- Respect must be shown for the decorations in the City, Town or Village that is entertaining our Association. In the event the membership of a Fire Unit is found destroying or in any way molesting the same, the offending organization Fire Unit will be disqualified from winning any awards and the individual will be prosecuted. Always respect the colors of our Country, and the property of our host and well as the citizens and merchants of the community we are guests in.
- The parade shall be judged based on appearance of the marchers and apparatus from the standpoint of cleanliness, neatness, orderliness, and sobriety. The rules of this parade shall apply regardless of the ages of the apparatus or the type of uniform worn by the marchers. The decision of the Judges is final. (ALL SCORES WILL BEGIN AT 100)
- Should there be a tie for any Unit or Auxiliary award, the tie shall be broken by awarding to the Unit with the most members in the line of march. If a tie still exists, then the head Judge of the parade shall use other established and accepted methods to break the tie. In all cases the decision of the Judges will be final.
- The convention dress parade of the HVVFA shall be judged in accordance with the rules herein set forth and judged accordingly using the forms and demerits approved by the P & RC.
- It shall be the responsibility of each marching Fire Unit to guard their equipment against damage or loss at all times. Neither the LCC nor the HVVFA assume any liability for damage or loss suffered by any parade participant.
- Any infractions not listed on the Judge’s scoring forms shall be two (2) demerits for each occurrence.
UNIFORM CLASSIFICATIONS
- BLOUSED: Bloused uniform of any style or color, including Regulation, adopted by a unit for any use including parades. The trousers shall be of uniform color, plain or striped, matching or contrasting the color of the blouse. The hat shall be of matching or contrasting color and be of either eight point or box design, with the unit hat badge on the riser. Officers may wear white hats if they desire. Accessories, including shirts, ties, shoes, and socks must be uniform throughout, except Officers who may display insignia of office. Gloves are optional, but use must be uniform throughout. It is permissible for the Chief to wear Regulation uniform when the unit is attired in non-regulation Bloused uniform.
- DRESS: Unbloused uniform of any style or color, adopted by a unit for any use, including parades. Accessories must be uniform throughout, except Officers who may display an insignia of office. It is permissible for the Chief to wear a Regulation uniform when the unit is attired in dress uniform.
- SPECIAL UNIFORM: When the members of a special unit squad, such as Fire Police or Rescue, are not issued parade uniforms of the unit, they may wear the uniform issued to them for such special duty, but must parade as a separate unit at the rear of the unit’s marchers, and must not intermingle with the marchers of the main unit.
- It is permissible to wear an American Flag Patch on the shoulder of any of the above mentioned uniform classifications.
- There will be no demerits for the length of service indicator on any uniform regardless of classification. Positioning of indicators on the uniform shall be uniform throughout the unit.
- It is permissible for a paid driver to wear their work uniform while driving an apparatus in the parade. As a safety consideration, all drivers will be exempted from wearing gloves, but may wear them is they so desire.
- In all uniform groups, the presentation of the unit pertaining to design, color, style, patch, and accessories shall be uniform except as noted. Demerits will result in instances where uniformity is not constant. Non-uniform patches shall also result in demerit. No jewelry other than fire service badges and awards shall be worn on the uniform or person exposed to view. Wedding and engagement rings as well as Medic Alerts are accepted. All hair (including facial hair) shall be neat in appearance.
- Municipal officials and clergymen may march at the head of their Unit in civilian clothes. Fire Chiefs with uniforms different from their unit may march at the head of the unit. The forgoing items will not be subject to demerits.
PARADE MARCHING
- Any movement by a marching unit other than forward, which shall delay the forward progress of the parade, will disqualify the entire unit. The entire unit includes the Color Guard, Fire Unit, Auxiliary Unit, Apparatus and Musical Unit. The entire unit will be held in violation in the event that their musical unit retards the progress of the parade.
- In the event an alarm for fire or ambulance is sounded while the parade is in progress, all units of the parade shall move to the right side of the roadway on the approach of the responding apparatus or ambulance and remain halted until the vehicle(s) have proceeded past.
- Where a unit has forty (40) or less officers and men in line, excluding Chief, Assistant Chief, Color Guard and fire unit band, they may march two (2) abreast. Where the number as specified above is more than forty (40), that unit must march three (3) or more abreast. Units pulling the parade carriages or antique apparatus are excepted from these requirements. No unit (firefighter or auxiliary) may march single file.
- There shall be no disorderliness during the parade such as smoking, chewing, carrying or drinking beverages, etc. Any unit conducting themselves in such a manner during the parade as to bring discredit to themselves or to the Volunteer Fire Service shall be disqualified from winning any parade awards.
- Incapacitated and/or life members of a Fire Unit will be permitted to ride in private cars directly in the rear of the unit column (see parade unit formation). They may wear civilian clothes, but must wear a unit hat to be counted as members in line for the most in line award.
- In Judging for the Most in Line Award, all members of the unit must pass over the start and finish lines to be counted by the Parade Judges.
- Personnel of local fire units, auxiliaries, and those involved with the presentation of the parade will be counted as personnel in the line of march for their respective marching unit.
- Where the last rank of marchers has one or more open files (positions), the marchers in that rank shall fill the files from the right side.
- The Chief Officer in the line of march shall render a hand salute to the reviewing stand.
COLOR GUARD
- Any Fire Unit without a guarded American Flag will be disqualified. One or more persons shall constitute a guard; however if one person is used, the guard must march to the right of the American Flag. The guard shall not carry or display a flag or banner (shoulder patch excepted). Such person or persons shall be either members of the Fire Unit or of a Uniformed National Service Organization. The American Flag is to be guarded at all times.
- In all instances where eagles are displayed on flagstaffs, such eagles must face forward at all times.
- The United State Flag and its guard must directly precede the Fire Unit in the line of march. The Fire Unit identifying Banner or flag may precede an accompanying musical (or similar) unit if so desired. NOTE: Fire Company or Department musical units will also be included in the make up on the line (see Parade Unit Formation section).
- The flag of the United States shall be carried on the marching right, which is the flag's own right. When in a line with other flags, the United States Flag(s) shall always be to the right.
- American flags must be unfurled at all times, except during rainy or inclement conditions. The American Flag is not to be dipped or lowered at any person or anything.
- Musical Units are eligible for musical Color Guard awards only.
AUXILIARY UNITS
- Auxiliary Units shall march to the rear of the Fire Unit, and they shall not intermingle with the Fire Unit while parading.
- The uniform worn by the Auxiliary Unit must be uniform throughout as to style, color and accessories. Hats and/or gloves, if part of the uniform, shall be worn, with hats at the same angle. No Jewelry other than an American Badge or Pin may be worn exposed for view by the unit member. Wedding and engagement rings as well as Medic Alerts are accepted.
- If carried, the American Flag must be guarded. (see Color Guard section)
- Shoes shall be of similar style and of the same color. Hose must be worn and be uniform in color.
- Hair shall be neat in appearance.
- Length of uniforms shall conform within each unit.
- Incapacitated members and Life Members of the Auxiliary Units will be permitted to ride in private cars directly in the rear of the unit column (see Parade Unit Formation section). They may wear civilian clothes but must wear some type of unit identification other than a badge (i.e., hat, etc.) to be counted with the unit members for the Most in Line Award.
- All rules that apply to Fire Units shall also apply to auxiliaries except where noted above.
SPECIAL MARDI GRAS PARADE RULES
Any Unit that discharges water on spectators, on members of other units or of the marching unit itself, in any manner, will be disqualified from all awards in the Mardi Gras and the Dress Parade collectively. The use of fireworks in any form is also forbidden.
All motorized vehicles and equipment must be operated by a qualified person and in a forward gear for the entire parade route or disqualification will result.
Marching units shall not throw candy or gifts to the spectators along the parade route. The handing or placing of candy and other gifts into the hands of children and spectators is allowed.
Disqualification from the Mardi Gras Parade will be at the discretion of the LCC.
PARADE UNIT FORMATION
The following chart shall be used by Fire and Auxiliary Units for establishing the correct order for paraders. It should be noted that not all components apply to all marching units. The officer in charge of the marching unit should review this chart and disperse the unit for the best presentation of the unit. The indicated distance in feet represents maximum separation between components. Marching units should maintain a maximum separation of 100 feet between units and divisions breaks should be no more than 150 feet.
A Company or Department Flag may be carried in the Color Guard of the unit and be used as the Unit identification.
PARADE UNIT FORMATION
Unit identification (Banner) (Optional Position)
10 Feet
Musical Unit
20 Feet
American Flag Color Guard
10 Feet
Unit identification (Banner) (Optional Position)
Chief – Assistant Chiefs
10 Feet
Chaplain – Officials – Commissioners – Past Officers
10 Feet
Unit Officers (Captains, Lieutenants)
5 Feet
Unit Members
10 Feet
Special Unit Officers
5 Feet
Special Unit Members
15 Feet
Auxiliary Color Guard (optional)
10 Feet
Auxiliary Banner
10 Feet
Auxiliary Officers
5 Feet
Auxiliary Unit
20 Feet
Explorers / Junior Firefighters
20 Feet
Cars – Incapacitated & Life Members (Firefighters & Auxiliary)
20 Feet
Chief Vehicles
20 Feet
Apparatus
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