Competitor Qualifications

Competitor must be 18 years old or older and be an active member of a fire department.

Competitor must be prepared to show proof of age and fire department affiliation when asked to do so by any member of the Individual Firefighter Competition staff.

Registration & Events

Competitors are urged to sign up early.  Pre-registration will be via U S Mail only.  No telephone or fax registrations will be accepted.  Sign-up for individuals will be permitted on the day of the event.  Each competitor is encouraged to enter all events.  The accrual of points in each event will determine the "Best Overall Firefighter".

An individual is considered to be registered upon submission and receipt by AFFHS of a properly completed Registration Form with payment.  All Pre-Registration entry fees are required on or before May 31, 2010.  The Pre-Registration fee is $20.00 for each individual competitor.  An additional entry late fee of $5.00 for each individual competitor will be assessed for entries received after May 31, 2010.  There will be a Competitor's Meeting at 9:30 am (EDT) on the muster grounds.  All competitors are required to attend the meeting.  The Rules & Regulations and the events will be described during the meeting.  Any competitor not attending the meeting will be disqualified from the competition.

Refund requests will be honored on or before May 31, 2010, after which there will be no refund.

The Waiver and Release Form must be signed by every competitor prior to participation.  The form stipulates that this is a "drug free" competition; by executing this form, competitors acknowledge they are not using any banned substance.

The Appalachian Foothills Fire Muster Individual Firefighter Competition (AFFMIFC) has a zero tolerance policy for the use of banned substances by competitors in any AFFMIFC event.  The presence in a competitor's urine of a substance, and/or metabolite of a substance belonging to a class of drugs or substances, currently banned by the Appalachian Foothills Fire Muster Individual Firefighter Competition (AFFMIFC) may be cause for forfeiture of any awards resulting from competition and the permanent loss of eligibility to compete.

Competition Categories, Points, Category Ties

Awards will be given for the top 3 finishers in each event.  Any chief officer is eligible by applying on a timely basis.  Points will be accrued for the top 5 places in each event as follows:  1st Place - 5 points;  2nd Place - 4 points;  3rd Place - 3 points;  4th Place - 2 points;  5th Place - 1 point.  In the event of a tie in the final points standing, a run-off event will be scheduled by the referee and additional points accrued accordingly.  The run-off event will be selected by random drawing held by the referee.  In the event of a tie in any category, the accrued points for the tied competitors will be deleted and a run-off event will be scheduled immediately by the referee.  Those competing in the tie-breaker shall acquire the top points in that event according to their standing in the tie-breaker event.

Event Organization & Management

All competitors are expected to be present, registered, and checked in at the event site no later than 9:30 am (EDT).  Each competitor must personally be present for check in.  Delinquent competitors will be disqualified.  The Start Order will be created by competitor numbers being randomly drawn by the referee for the first event.  Subsequent events will be run in the same order as the first event.  The "next-up" competitor must be in the staging area with necessary turnout gear when the preceding participant is at the start line.  Competitors not ready for start signal will be disqualified.  The start order is established with competitors going through the course consecutively based upon the Start Order.  Lane assignments are randomized and preference for lanes will not be allowed.  Management reserves the right to all order assignments.

Each competitor will be assigned a number that will be displayed on the helmet.  Friends, fans and family members are not allowed on the course at any time, and competitors are permitted on the course only when they are physically running an event.  Penalties, including disqualification, may be assessed for violation of this rule.  Disrupting the competition will result in disqualification.

Disputes regarding penalties will be resolved by the competitor and the Event Referee.  No other individuals are to interrupt this process.  Other individuals disrupting the dispute resolution will result in the competitor being disqualified.  We do not review videotapes, etc.  All Event Referee decisions are final.

Awards

Individual competitors will receive trophies for the first 3 finishers of each event.  These awards must be claimed prior to the conclusion of the muster.  Items not claimed on the day of competition will NOT be sent to competitors.  There are no exceptions to this procedure.

The "BEST OVERALL FIREFIGHTER" will be awarded to the competitor with the highest accrued points for the sum of all the events.  The "BEST OVERALL FIREFIGHTER" will receive a trophy and 50% of the total entry fees.

Other prizes may be awarded by sponsors on an event-by-event basis.  AFFHS assumes no responsibility for the delivery of these awards.

Equipment Rules

TURN-OUT GEAR.  All competitors must compete in their own protective equipment.  All turnout gear must be approved for structural fire fighting consistent with NFPA standards in effect at the time of the event.  Officials will inspect all gear prior to participation.  Their decisions are final.  Articles of turnout gear and SCBA must not be removed or lost during the competition.  If dropped, they must be retrieved and correctly replaced by the competitor before continuing.  Non-retrieval results in disqualification.

Turn-out Gear shall include, but not be limited to: coat, pants with suspenders, boots, gloves, nomex hood, helmet, and SCBA.

SCBA.  A high pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (air pack & regulator) may be brought by the competitor or will be provided by the hosting fire department.  The SCBA must be worn by all participants for specified events.  Competitors may use their own facepiece.  Competitors must finish each event without running out of air.

Start

Prior to the start signal, each competitor must be behind the starting line.  Following the start command, "Get ready, set," an audible sound will start each heat.  An early "false" start may result in a restart or a 5-second penalty, at the sole discretion of the Referee.  Any multiple false start will result in disqualification for that event.

Finish

Upon completion of each event, competitors will be inspected by an official for infractions to proper equipment use, which shall include buttons snapped, buckles buckled, straps snugged, etc.  Competitor shall receive a 5-second penalty for each infraction.  Failure to be checked immediately following crossing the finish line shall result in disqualification for that event.

THE COMPETITION

Each event will be performed in the order specified below.  Complete turn-out gear, including SCBA, will be worn during each event unless otherwise stated.

The Appalachian Foothills Fire Muster and the Individual Firefighter Competition are family-oriented events.  No foul language or jestures or other abusive language will be tolerated.  Violation of this rule will result in immediate disqualification from the Individual Firefighter Competition.

EVENT 1:  Code Red.  The Code Red evolution consists of a series of stations where the competitor progressively dons all his/her turnout gear and SCBA.  After completely donning the gear the competitor advances to the tailboard of the fire engine to complete the competition.  All competitors must walk through the complete competition.  "Walk" is defined as heel touching then toe.  Bunker gear must meet specifications listed in the Equipment Rules for the Individual Firefighter Competition.

Prior to the start signal, each competitor must be laying flat on their back, legs straight and hands on chest or stomach.   Station 1:  Bunker boots will be placed 10 feet from the starting line.  Bunker pants must be pulled down over top of boots with suspenders placed to the sides.  All fasteners must be fully open.  Competitor shall don the boots and pants with all fasteners and ammenities properly affixed before moving to the next station.   Station 2:  Nomex hood shall be placed 10 feet from station 1. Competitor shall don the nomex hood (hood must be on the head) before moving to the next station.   Station 3:  Bunker coat will be placed 10 feet from Station 2.  Coat must be laying flat on the ground with all fasteners fully open. Competitor shall don the coat with all fasteners and ammenities properly affixed before moving to the next station.   Station 4: SCBA mask will be placed on the ground 10 feet from Station 3.  All mask straps must be fully extended  Competitor shall don the mask with all fasteners and ammenities properly affixed before moving to the next station.   Station 5:  SCBA will be placed 10 feet from station 4. SCBA must be placed on the ground with cylinder down and all straps fully extended. The SCBA must be donned and all straps and belts cinched tight.  Competitor must be breathing air from the SCBA before moving to the next station.   Station 6:  Helmet will be placed 10 feet from Station 5.  Helmet will be placed on the ground in upright position with face shield up and chinstrap unsnapped or fully extended.  Competitor will place helmet on head, adjusted "if needed", chinstrap snapped together or cinched tight, and face shield down before moving to the next station.   Station 7:  Gloves will be placed 10 feet from Station 6.  Gloves must be placed side to side, palms up, fingers pointing toward the competitor.  Both gloves must be properly donned and fitted before moving to the next station.   Station 8 (Finish):  Contestant must walk 70 feet and step up onto tailboard of truck.  Elapsed time will stop when competitor is fully on the tailboard.  Competitors will be inspected by an official for infractions to proper equipment use.  Competitor shall receive a 5-second penalty for each infraction.  Failure to be checked while standing on the tailboard shall result in disqualification for the event.  Any contact with the opposing competitor will result in disqualification.

EVENT 2:  Forcible Entry.  The forcible entry evolution utilizes the Keiser Force Machine™ (a chopping simulator).  Using the 8-pound shot mallet provided, the competitor must drive the 160-lb. steel beam a horizontal distance of 5 feet.  Pushing, raking or hooking the beam is not allowed; it must be struck only by the head of the mallet.  The handle must not come in contact with the beam at any time.  The upper edge of the beam will be covered with pressure sensitive tape, making infractions visible by a mark on the tape.  A 5-second penalty is assessed for each infraction after the first handle strike.  Both hands must be above the tape mark on the handle (12-in. from the head end) at the point of impact.  A 2-second penalty is assessed for any portion of each inch that the sled is short of the end of the tray.  The hammer must be placed on the designated 2'x3' mat.  A 2-second penalty is assessed for this infraction.

EVENT 3:  Hose Advance.  Competitor shall travel 140 feet through course delimiters.  Any deviation from marked course or knocking over the obstacle will result in a 5-second penalty for each infraction.  The competitor must pick up the nozzle end of the 1.75-in. charged hose line and drag it a distance of 75 feet.  Once the nozzle crosses the 75 ft. stripe, the competitor opens the nozzle, hits the target with the water stream, shuts down the nozzle and places the nozzle on the ground.  Opening the nozzle before it crosses the 75 ft. stripe is a 5-second penalty.  If the nozzle is not shut before it is placed down, the competitor must go back and close it.  If course staff is required to shut off the nozzle, it is a 10-second penalty.  If the nozzle opens after hitting the ground, there is no penalty and the competitor can continue to the finish line.

EVENT 4:  Hose Roll.  One rolled 50-ft. section of 1.75-in. hose line, laying flat on the ground at a designated location behind the start/finish line will be picked up and unrolled toward the opposing end of the course.  Competitor will then proceed to re-roll the hose, male threads first, pick up the completed roll, and return it to the designated location where it was found in the beginning.  Hose must be placed where it was at the beginning of the event, in the condition it was found in the beginning.  If the hose line crosses the lane divider delineator (i.e., goes out of lane), a 5-second penalty will be assessed.  Any contact with the opposing competitor will result in disqualification.  Time stops when the competitor places the rolled hose at the designated location where it was before beginning the event.  Failure to place the rolled hose back where it was at the beginning and in the condition it was at the beginning will result in a 20-second penalty to the competitor.  Competitor must be completely across the start/finish line before the time stops.  The referee, at his discretion, may stop any contestant who, in an official's opinion, creates a dangerous situation.  SCBA shall not be worn during this event.

Summary

Any instructions or procedure not covered in these Individual Firefighter Competition Rules and Regulations are referenced in ESSENTIALS OF FIREFIGHTING, 4th Ed. By: IFSTA, NFPA 1500, and NFPA 1001