parade season [Archive] - Firehouse Forums

Dalmatian90

05-21-2004, 07:44 PM

I'm thinking about Colchester...but I have sisters up from down south around then...

New England Chiefs has already been claimed by a couple young bucks...although they both need me to sign them off on the Service truck before they can take it ;) I may just go up that Sunday incognito anyway...maybe wear a bag over my head and give Adze a bad name while I'm at it.

CSFA can go pound sand as far as I'm concerned, us cheap bastards ain't paying $100 to enter a parade...especially one we're just not at the level to be competetive in!

Adze39

05-22-2004, 01:11 AM

Originally posted by Dalmatian90
I may just go up that Sunday incognito anyway...maybe wear a bag over my head and give Adze a bad name while I'm at it.

Well, you would be in my neck of the woods (20 minute backroad trip to the Big E)...damn imposter!

3satellite

05-22-2004, 05:11 AM

TCFD12 and stealth: 104 and 303's crew is just lucky everyone in my dept is lazy and wont help get the true Trumbull Aerial Truck parade ready

MEckert129

05-22-2004, 04:20 PM

Would you also bring pieces of your firehouse that you had to rip off to make enough room for it?????;)

3satellite

05-23-2004, 08:20 AM

Wow Matt you surprised me I'm not used to intelligent comebacks from you

TCFD12

05-24-2004, 09:51 AM

Originally posted by 3satellite
Wow Matt you surprised me I'm not used to intelligent comebacks from you

Its something new he's trying.......Its just not working too well.......

fireguystu

05-30-2004, 08:52 PM

So what departments are going to Waterford on June 12th for Oswegatchie's 75th

theman01

05-30-2004, 09:35 PM

I have some questions. When you go to these
parades all over the state who pays for the
fuel, it must be expensive? And doesnt the
town get P.O.'d you take a first due piece
out to other towns what if there is a fire
and there is no truck or guys? Sorry it just
seems silly.

Dalmatian90

05-30-2004, 10:40 PM

When you go to these
parades all over the state who pays for the
fuel,

Fuel comes from the town pumps -- billed to the fire company (just like we were buying it at a gas station).

The small amount that would go for parades (Springfield for us was under 15 gallons on the Hummer -- we go through that every 3rd ambulance run) is paid out of the General Fund, which is co-mingled tax, fund-raiser, and misc. income.

And doesnt the town get P.O.'d you take a first due piece
out to other towns what if there is a fire and there is no truck or guys?

We have 6 pieces of apparatus & 2 ambulances. Average 35 members turnout to working fires -- not counting the two additional stations on automatic mutual aid. 2, 3, 5 guys & one truck ain't noticed.

Trucks are out-of-service for maintenance many more hours each year then they ever see in parades. And heck, a party at a member's house in the summer would have more members unavailable for a longer time than a parade does.

You add up all the fuel, out-of-service time, manpower it all doesn't amount up to anything more than a molehill, and if it gives some pride & enthusiasm to the guys cleaning up the trucks and making sure the equipment is stored neat & tidy it's not a bad trade-off.

boxalarm312

06-11-2004, 01:35 AM

What's everyone waiting for the first parade?????? To see who the big contenders are going to be this year..

3satellite

06-11-2004, 12:16 PM

If Trumbull Center does it up again I havent seen many trucks anywhere near the same caliber as there tower.

boxalarm312

06-12-2004, 12:18 AM

What about the truck that won last year??? & none of the trucks that were in the top 5 are in the same caliber.. What parades is everyone attending..

Adze39

06-12-2004, 12:33 AM

My FD is going to Oswegatchi (sp?) tomorrow...

Then most of them are just up this way...Windsor Locks, Suffield, Warehouse Point, East Hartland, Broad Brook, Winstead, Ellington....and I think there are a couple of others

boxalarm312

06-13-2004, 12:21 AM

So who were the big winners at Bethany, Oswegatchie, Beacon Hose, parades over the weekend ???????

TVFDT141

06-13-2004, 10:37 PM

If all goes well, we will be putting out fires this parade season. How about the rest of you?

boxalarm312

06-23-2004, 11:28 PM

WOW this tread died !!!!! No parades lately .

Adze39

06-24-2004, 01:05 AM

LMAO

Turns out our people going to Oswegatchie got some bad info...they thought the parade started at 6...they got there at 5...too bad the parade started at 4

boxalarm312

07-11-2004, 10:54 PM

I heard Nichols won with Quint 303 at Windsor Locks & beat Trumbull's Tower 104 for Best Appearing. Riverton's Tanker won at Tunxis. & Southington's Enigne Tanker won at Colchester. Are these the top trucks to watch or are the more out there ??????

Adze39

07-12-2004, 11:11 AM

Yeah, Nichols won best overall in Windsor Locks...but they were the only ones I've ever seen walk along side the truck, continuously cleaning it as it went down the parade route until the judges stand. That's a cheap move!

motorola1225

07-12-2004, 11:17 AM

Gee Adze I believe I saw Trumbull Center do the same thing. Are they cheap too? hmmm and hats to Southington!

TCFD12

07-12-2004, 11:17 AM

Originally posted by Adze39
Yeah, Nichols won best overall in Windsor Locks...but they were the only ones I've ever seen walk along side the truck, continuously cleaning it as it went down the parade route until the judges stand. That's a cheap move!

You obviously didn't look closely.

And why is that cheap? because they have the desire and drive to be the absolute best they can? Sounds like PRIDE to me.

Adze39

07-12-2004, 01:57 PM

Originally posted by TCFD12
Sounds like PRIDE to me.

Sounds like "parade piece" to me...

Motorola, Trumbull was behind us...if they did that then yes, I'll make the same comment about them...

TCFD12

07-12-2004, 02:33 PM

Originally posted by Adze39

Sounds like "parade piece" to me...

Motorola, Trumbull was behind us...if they did that then yes, I'll make the same comment about them...

I can assure you that neither piece is a "parade piece".

You still have no reason or explanation as to why its cheap........

Firebuff66

07-12-2004, 04:27 PM

Originally posted by Adze39
Yeah, Nichols won best overall in Windsor Locks...but they were the only ones I've ever seen walk along side the truck, continuously cleaning it as it went down the parade route until the judges stand. That's a cheap move!

That was an ignorant thing to say, how much do you know about Nichols FD? Did you know 303 is the Primary truck out of its Station? Did you know the members work hours and hours to get it ready for a parade? Did you know that the people at the department take and enormous amount of pride in keeping the truck clean? Did you know Nichols has a long history of winning? Did you know they used to win with their pumper that is over 20 years old? Did you know that pumper was the 1st due pumper for 20+ years and they still worked VERY hard to keep it in GREAT shape?
I think all the answers to these Questions would be NO, You have no idea who or what your talking about, you did no research before you made the comments and certainly didn’t go up and talk to the guys when they were at the parade, I would think one Volunteer would be happy to see their brothers taking so much pride in their truck. But then you would need to know what the term brother REALLY meant.

3satellite

07-12-2004, 07:03 PM

Firebuff i have to agree with what you said, also ADZE every Trumbull Firemen can smell your jealousy. I would be willing to bet 303 and 104 go on more calls then your entire Dept.

Adze39

07-12-2004, 11:41 PM

Originally posted by 3satellite
Firebuff i have to agree with what you said, also ADZE every Trumbull Firemen can smell your jealousy. I would be willing to bet 303 and 104 go on more calls then your entire Dept.

Dude, I am far from jealous. And yes, they probably go on more calls...big whoop...

Anywho...I was thinking about this during lunch today. Although, I don't agree with walking along side the rig during the parade, I do know of all the hours you guys put into cleaning the rig prior to the parade (which I respect doing).

When it comes to parades around this neck of the woods, we do take pride in our departments...which is why most of the FDs around here try to get Best Overall at the parades. If you want to focus on one aspect of your department, whether by choice or that you didn't have enough resources for marchers, then more power to you.

Basically, we all agree that we should take pride in our departments, but we just have different opinions on how to achieve those goals. Many/Most departments around here take alot of pride in their whole department. I don't think your tactic of walking alongside the rig has been seen in this area yet. I do know it came as a shock to most of the attendants, with alot of mixed reactions. Many people from different departments did not like what Nichols did. But like I said, it's just a difference of opinions on how to achieve the goals.

motorola1225

07-13-2004, 09:29 AM

Adze,

I don't believe that it is a bad thing to do, walking with the rig sounds like they were just trying to be the best they could be! I been to a few parades and I have seen other departments walk with their rigs as well. As far as pride well all you have to do is look at all the pieces that were there and you will see that everyone has pride, all the trucks looked great

Adze39

07-13-2004, 11:14 AM

So...out of curiousity, who from this thread was physically there?

Obviously, me and my running mouth were there....

TCFD12

07-13-2004, 11:37 AM

Originally posted by Adze39
So...out of curiousity, who from this thread was physically there?

I was there.

Obviously, me and my running mouth were there....

At least we can finally agree on something! LOL!

TCFD12

07-13-2004, 11:45 AM

Originally posted by Adze39
Many/Most departments around here take alot of pride in their whole department.

And around here we don't because we don't march? Please!

I don't think that one department has more or less pride then the next, regardless of what they chose to focus on.

motorola1225

07-13-2004, 12:44 PM

I have to agree with you TCFD, pride is pride no matter what you focus on. Hope you guys in Trumbull have a great year!

TCFD12

07-13-2004, 12:53 PM

Originally posted by motorola1225
Hope you guys in Trumbull have a great year!

Thanks, you too.

Adze39

07-13-2004, 01:40 PM

Originally posted by TCFD12
because they have the desire and drive to be the absolute best they can?

Originally posted by TCFD12
And around here we don't because we don't march? Please! [/

And around here we don't because we don't walk alongside the rig? Please!

LOL ;) Sorry...couldn't resist

Good luck to all

TCFD12

07-13-2004, 01:45 PM

Originally posted by Adze39

And around here we don't because we don't walk alongside the rig? Please!

LOL ;) Sorry...couldn't resist

Good luck to all

I realize your joking, but I never said that.

Adze39

07-13-2004, 01:56 PM

And I never said that you didn't have pride in your entire department...

TCFD12

07-13-2004, 02:11 PM

Originally posted by Adze39
Many/Most departments around here take alot of pride in their whole department.

Ummmm........basically you did.

Anyway. This horse has been beat long enough.

Time for a new thread.

Adze39

07-13-2004, 02:23 PM

And the same could be said that you implied that we didn't take pride in ours...

TVFDT141

07-13-2004, 07:25 PM

Children,

WHO THE HELL CARES!

Its great that everyone takes pride in their apparatus. I was at Tunxis and saw Branford in front of us wiping thier truck down as they came up to the reviewing stand. As for us, we cleaned the truck at 9 in the morning and drove it down. We ran outta tire shine at the line up. Who cares? Here in my town we dont have the time to take trucks out of service the nite before so we can clean it. We dont have the money to buy parade hose. We have 14 pieces of hard working appartus. Being the best isnt having the most glamorous piece of apparatus...Being the best is having people who know what the hell they are doing. People who save the lives of other people. People who dont let houses burn to the ground like some of these other departments. Thats being the best. We brought our tower to Avon a few weeks ago and won Best Aerial. We didnt wash it. Didnt wax it. We cleaned the windows with some windex, and put tire shine on the tires. I am not anti parade. As you can see I go to them. They are fun. But lets leave the ball bashing to what ass couldnt open up the hydrant. Or who was too much of a puss to go up and vent a roof.

A member of Branford came up to us at Tunxis after cleaning his Pierce and start basing our E-One engine. Saying how he thinks they are crap...This that and the whole nine. Little does he know we have a department of E-One apparatus. Also, little did he know two of our members who were present use Peirce's in both Hartford and Manchester. They were able to speak on the months of waiting it took to get parts. When it comes down to it all trucks are the same. They have the same motors, same trannys, same pumps.

I think some of us need to get our priorties straight. Instead of going to parades on saturday...how about get your quals up!

motorola1225

07-14-2004, 09:10 AM

I agree TVFD

TCFD12

07-14-2004, 10:32 AM

TVFD,

You are completely correct.

I just want to say, that contrary to popular belief, most (not all) depts. DO NOT have parade trucks, do not take trucks out of service and don't spend money on parade only items. I realize that there are some that do. I know that we don't, but that doesn't mean that we can't compete at that level.

Also, training should absolutely be the #1 priority and I know for a fact that there is a member in Vernon that can vouch that we are 100% dedicated to training.

Later.

TVFDT141

07-14-2004, 06:23 PM

Im glad to hear that you both agree. A instructor was speaking at the CFA and really opened my eyes. He was talking about parades and the festivities which take place after them. And its true what he had to say. When the parade is over. Most fire fighters make a bee line to the "beer garden." He asked us "What do you think the public thinks of that?" When I think about it now...I think it looks like ****.

FFHECTOR

07-15-2004, 06:22 AM

Hey ADZE what town are you from and where are you a firefighter?

Adze39

07-15-2004, 01:12 PM

Hey HECTOR what town are you from and where are you a firefighter?

Adze39

07-15-2004, 01:19 PM

Obviously, I am not from Trumbull...only 168 more towns to go! LOL j/k

What matter does it make? You want to bash my fire departments? Go ahead.

madrizzo2

07-15-2004, 04:10 PM

hey adze why cant you just be nice instead of having your head up your a$$ and answer hector. you are always a quick one to judge other departments tell us who you are a member with or you to chicken Sh@# to do it? you are such a little suck pump and probably get me kicked off of here but i dont care you suck and nothing but a POS!!!!!!!!!!!!!:mad:

Adze39

07-15-2004, 06:44 PM

Originally posted by madrizzo2
hey adze why cant you just be nice instead of having your head up your a$$ and answer hector. you are always a quick one to judge other departments tell us who you are a member with or you to chicken Sh@# to do it? you are such a little suck pump and probably get me kicked off of here but i dont care you suck and nothing but a POS!!!!!!!!!!!!!:mad:

Bet $10 I know which FD you are with...and please, don't hold your true feelings back! :)

Adze39

07-15-2004, 08:27 PM

Hector, send me a PM or email. I can't PM or email you.

NFD069

07-16-2004, 11:14 AM

At 11:16 p.m. July 9, 300, 303 responded to Route 15 south bound near exit 50 for a car fire, actually it rolled over between the exit and Route 15. Car on it's roof, fully involved, and some woods involved. 300 first in streched two lines, 303 second in streched a supply line. Call over at 12:17 a.m. July 10, day of the parade in Windsor Locks.

TVFDT141

07-16-2004, 11:41 AM

NFD069,
I understand that you are trying to make a point. But the attempt is weak. Its fine that the truck worked that nite. I dont know if that company uses parade hose. It would be my guess that they do. The same thing happened to us last year. The nite before the Avon parade we had a working structure fire. 1 line was stretched from the tower and we obviously used the bucket. When we got back to the station we replaced the used hose with washed (but yet still stained hose) and we washed the truck. Im not impressed by your story. By the way, our incedent started at approx 1145 and didnt let out until about 215 am.

TCFD12

07-16-2004, 12:05 PM

Originally posted by FFHECTOR
Hey ADZE what town are you from and where are you a firefighter?

Here (http://www.broadbrook.org/index2.asp)

NFD069

07-16-2004, 12:16 PM

Why did I get involved! Just saying we in Trumbull do not take trucks out of service for parades. And the hose that goes to parades on 303 is the hose that is always on it. They clean what they can and roll with it! No parade hose in Nichols!

Adze39

07-16-2004, 01:02 PM

Originally posted by TCFD12

Here (http://www.broadbrook.org/index2.asp)

There's the big secret...I think the people in the CT Forum were the only ones who didn't know...Jay, I'll have to figure out what you win. :)

Yes, I am a member of Broad Brook. Alot of us were disappointed we only got Best in Shirts and not Best Overall, but it is what it is.

Now, can you find out the second department?

TCFD12

07-16-2004, 01:41 PM

Originally posted by Adze39
Jay, I'll have to figure out what you win. :)

Ooooooh, I hope its something nice...........

Adze39

07-16-2004, 03:38 PM

Originally posted by TCFD12

Ooooooh, I hope its something nice...........

Like cleaning supplies? ;) LOL

TVFDT141

07-16-2004, 03:49 PM

Thats good. Learn your lesson. I did say that I didnt know whether they used parade hose or not. But its still a car fire. Might as well have been a FA. I just wasnt impressed by your story. And I dont expect you to be impressed by mine.

TCFD12

07-16-2004, 05:24 PM

Originally posted by Adze39

Like cleaning supplies? ;) LOL

I was hoping for some parade hose! :D

Adze39

07-16-2004, 05:38 PM

How about some glass mudflaps? :)

Or maybe I should see if they have "fire engine red" teflon paint?

TVFDT141

07-17-2004, 03:12 AM

Hows bout some wooden mud flaps!

stealth

07-18-2004, 12:46 PM

Congratulations to TCFD and Tower 104 for best overall at Middlebury.

TCFD115

07-18-2004, 03:52 PM

Thank you Stealth we do appreciate that.

KennypSHFD

07-19-2004, 03:47 PM

Yes... Trumbell's tower was very clean, quite a big truck to keep that clean, irreguardless of how many or few times the truck goes out. It takes hours just to re-clean the truck after the drive to the parade lineup. Lot's of luck the rest of the year, keep looking in that rear view mirror thou....

NFD162red

07-20-2004, 11:57 PM

so who is going to warehouse point??? 303 is... who else

Adze39

07-21-2004, 03:17 AM

Hmmm...

My bet for Best Overall is going to Windsor Locks...

Unit coming farthest distance...Broad Brook or Enfield LOL j/k

I think Nichols' toughest competition for Best Custom is going to be Blue Hills' Engine 1. However, you guys defeated them in WL so I'm going to bet you will beat them again.

I'll be surprised if Broad Brook wins anything because they typically have a crappy turnout for Warehouse Point since The Point switched from August to July (they took Simsbury's old date) due to the fact that at least half the FD goes camping that weekend. Maybe best dalmatian? Windsor Locks should have a strong turnout though.

Is TCFD going to WhP? If not, I'll place money on Vernon for Best Aerial. I believe Farmington won it last year...

TCFD12

07-21-2004, 09:33 AM

We are planning on being there.

TVFDT141

07-22-2004, 01:34 AM

We are sending E-441 and hopfully T-141. Adze, you are correct. Last year Farmington did with Best Aerial. They also won Best Aerial in Avon. We took Avon this year, so who knows.

motorola1225

07-25-2004, 02:34 PM

ok so who won what at Warehouse Point. I was there early on but had to leave so I didn't see many rigs. Thanks

secret

07-25-2004, 09:56 PM

winners go as follows:
best overall dept-windsorlocks
best overall apparatus-nichols
best appearing coats-wethersfield
best appearing shirts-suffield
best appearing 15 or under-broad brook
best appearing w/o music-rockyhill
best apearing color guard-wethersfield
farthest distance -nichols
best custom-blue hills
best commercial-east hartland
best aerial-east great plains
best rescue-gardner lake
besttanker-clinton
best minipump-farmington
best antique-lost acres
most men-wethersfield
best music unit-windsor fife
1st runner up music-colonel john chester fife
best dalmatian-rocky hill

secret

07-25-2004, 09:58 PM

PS:nadz i mean adze what was the last parade you went to because nichols dosn't bring a custom anymore.

Adze39

07-26-2004, 02:27 PM

Originally posted by secret
nichols dosn't bring a custom anymore.

My mistake

boxalarm312

07-29-2004, 12:17 AM

Now that the parade season is half over and the convention is insight, Nichols 303 & Trumbull's Tower 104 have been winning Best appearing apparatus awards everywhere (Nice job guys). Are these the Two top trucks ??? & what happen to Southington's Engine Tanker, it won at Colchester and then disappeared, and at other parades this year Southington has brought a custom pumper. Is the tanker done ???

motorola1225

08-02-2004, 09:29 AM

Ahh all is quiet, did anyone go to Batnam? Who Won what? Are the big guns laying low and waiting for the convention?

TCFD12

08-02-2004, 12:52 PM

Bantam Results (http://www.tcfd.com/upload/BantamParade.pdf)

Sorry for the bad scan.

motorola1225

08-09-2004, 09:39 AM

Who is going to Thomaston? I must say that southington's app. looks mighty fine. What is Trumbull Center bringing this time around? Who is going to Bridgewater?

TVFDT141

08-10-2004, 08:53 PM

I think this is the question that should really be asked...WHOS GOING TO BIG B!?!?!?!?! Thats Broad Brook. Tower 141 and E 441 will be there.

Adze39

08-11-2004, 12:24 AM

Originally posted by TVFDT141
I think this is the question that should really be asked...WHOS GOING TO BIG B!?!?!?!?! Thats Broad Brook. Tower 141 and E 441 will be there.

I'm trying to avoid it!!!

No matter where you go this weekend, bring an umbrella!

TVFDT141

08-11-2004, 01:05 AM

The forcast I saw said that Saturday should be fine.

Adze39

08-14-2004, 12:20 AM

Originally posted by TVFDT141
The forcast I saw said that Saturday should be fine.

Fireworks were postponed today, so the fireworks will be held Saturday, at night after the parade.

REDRIVER6

08-17-2004, 12:57 PM

Bridgewater is this Friday 8/20. This is a nice parade.

nickcabral

08-17-2004, 08:50 PM

Bridgewater parade is a great parade, and my favorite of all parades. The boys and girls here at Stony Hill have been working hard on Rescue 2 and Engine 2, dubbing the project,"dueces wild". It would be great to walk away with two truck trophy's this year. The last I heard, BFD was not permitted to bring Rescue 1 to parades as some type of punishment. It would be great to see it there, and provide some stiff competition, just hope there are no rescue calls in town if that happens.

boxalarm312

08-18-2004, 12:34 AM

Who won in Thomaston & Broad Brook ??????

REDRIVER6

08-18-2004, 11:26 AM

Nick, ol' boy you first should not listen to rumor. Second, there is no punishment going on.

nickcabral

08-18-2004, 12:36 PM

It would be good to have both rescues in the same parade, Red. But i NEVER listen to Batman....I heard that from a few people, but I am glad its not true. But anyway I got the night off from the PD so I will be at Bridgewater. Tower 1 is definitly due to win. Good luck to Bethel....See you on Friday.

WestTac1

08-18-2004, 01:32 PM

What time does Bridgewater step off on Friday and from where?

REDRIVER6

08-18-2004, 02:20 PM

August 20, 6:30 p.m. Route 133

REDRIVER6

08-18-2004, 02:26 PM

Nick, getting back the the punishment.... there is no such thing. .

nickcabral

08-19-2004, 09:40 AM

Hey Red, Did someone tick off boy wonder? He has been cleaning our firetrucks lately, and he got a shirt to march with us?????

WestTac1

08-21-2004, 12:42 PM

Whens the Next Western CT Parade?????? And when/where is the State Convention Parade this year????

nickcabral

08-21-2004, 05:14 PM

The State Convention is Sept. 19th this year. I think in Cromwell.

TCFD12

08-21-2004, 06:17 PM

Yes, Convention is in Cromwell.

motorola1225

08-22-2004, 10:54 AM

Who won what at Bridgewater? Any surprises?

THTruckie

08-22-2004, 02:02 PM

WestTac

The next western CT prade will be at Watertown Aug 28th AT 5PM !

Anyone else here going?

nickcabral

08-23-2004, 11:50 PM

I cant remember it all but I do know that at Bridgewater Parade best rescue and commercial pumper went to Stony Hill (no suprise on the rescue, but our engine 2 is a 1977 ford commercial pumper and we havent won anything in 12 years with it. we were pretty excited) best custom pumper went to Beckerle Hose in Danbury, best ladder was Washington I think. After that the beer took over and I dont remember much.