The 2008 Chester County Firefighters Muster and Challenge will consist of six (6) challenge events. SEPTEMBER 14, 2008

A description of the events and scoring rules for each is listed below. For a more complete list of Challenge rules click here.

The Challenge events will begin PROMPTLY at 10:00 a.m.

The tentative order of the events in 2008 is:

1. Bucket Brigade
2. Donning Protective Gear
3. Tug - of - War
4. Hose Rolling Exercise
5. Suppression Exercise
6. Ladder Climb

Event #1    Bucket Brigade

Equipment Provided by Competition Officials: 5 gallon plastic fill buckets, 55 gallon drum and water source
Protective Gear Required: Pants/Boots, Gloves, Helmet (all items supplied by competitors)
Number of Team Participants: Five

Team members will be positioned in an area fifteen (15') feet wide, between the water source (a portable pond) and the 55 gallon drum.

Upon receiving the signal to start, the first team member will begin filling the buckets from the water source and pass them forward through the other competitors until the last team member dumps the water into a 55 gallon drum. The buckets will then be passed back through the competitors to be filled again.

The team is finished when the judges signal that the 55 gallon drum is full.

The competition is based on completing the challenge in the fastest time.

Event Rules:

• All team members must have donned the required protective gear prior to the start of the event.
• At the start of the event, the 5 gallon fill buckets will be on the ground next to the water source. The team member filling the buckets may not pick them up until time has started.
• The distance between from the water source to the barrel shall be 15 feet - as marked by the judges.
• As the buckets are passed back and forth, all team members must touch each bucket in the order that they are standing in. If a team member is skipped while passing the buckets, a two second penalty will be assessed for each violation.
   

To register your team or apparatus for the 2008 Firefighters Muster

Event #2 Donning Protective Gear

Equipment Provided by Competition Officials: Dressing benches
Protective Gear Required: Pants/Boots, Coat, Gloves, Hood, Helmet and SCBA (all items supplied by competitors)
Number of Participants: Five

Prior to the start of the event, all team members will be seated on dressing benches placed five (5') apart.

Each team member's protection gear will be placed on the ground (as it hangs in the fire station) five (5') feet in front of the team member.

Upon receiving the signal from the judge, the team members stand up, move forward to their gear and don all of his/her protective gear.
When all of the gear is worn, the team member returns to their dressing bench and signals with a raised hand that they are finished.

The team is finished when the last team member sits down and judges signal that they are finished.

The competition is based on completing the challenge in the fastest time.

Event Rules:

• No team member may have any of the required protective gear on or with them prior to the start of the event.
• Team members must remain seated on their dressing bench until the judge's signal to begin. A two second penalty will be assessed on the team's score for each violation.
• All team members must dress themselves. Other team members are not permitted to assist. A two second penalty will be assessed for each violation.
• All protective clothing must be properly donned and worn. All buttons, snaps, zippers, clips or other fasteners must be fully utilized as designed by the manufacturer. A two second penalty will be assessed for each violation.
• All SCBA must be fully donned. A proper mask seal is required and the unit must be fully in service with air flowing. A two second penalty will be assessed for each violation.
• When all of the gear is worn, the team member returns to their dressing bench and signals with a raised hand that they are finished. Team members must keep hand raised until acknowledged by the judges and may NOT adjust equipment after their hand is raised.
• Upon completion of the event, the judges will inspect all team members for violations prior to reporting the final team scores.
   

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Event #3 Tug - of - War

Equipment Provided by Competition Officials: Fifty (50') natural fiber rope
Protective Gear Needed: Boots, Gloves (all items supplied by competitors)
Number of Participants: Five

Two teams of five align themselves at the end of a fifty foot rope. The rope is marked with a "center line" and two markings fifteen (15') feet on either side of the center line.

The teams start with the rope's center line directly above a line marked on the ground, and once the contest (the "pull") has commenced, attempt to pull the other team such that the marking on the rope closest to their opponent crosses the center line.

Event Rules:

• Standard Tug-of-War rules shall apply.
  

There will be a 45 break between Events # 3 and # 4
 

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Event #4   Hose Rolling Exercise

Equipment Provided by Competition Officials: 100' sections of 1.75" hose
Protective Gear Required: Pants/Boots, Gloves, Hood, Helmet (all items supplied by competitors)
Number of Participants: Five

All team members start from behind a pre-designated start line with unrolled hose stretched out in front of them.

Prior to the start signal, all team members must don their nomex hood backwards to "blindfold" themselves prior to beginning the event. The hood is to remain in place during the entire event.

Upon receiving the signal to start, each competitor will begin to roll their section of hose.

The team is finished when all team member have rolled their hose completely.

The competition is based on completing the challenge in the fastest time.

Event Rules:

• Team members can not touch or remove the hood until they have completed rolling their section of hose. A two second penalty will be assessed for each violation.
• Team members cannot assist each other in the rolling of the hose either physically, by coaching or any other means. A two second penalty will be assessed for each violation.
• Upon completing the hose roll, each team member must lay the rolled hose roll on its side. Judges will inspect the hose (by picking it up) to determine if it will remain rolled. In the event the hose begins to unroll, a two second penalty will be assessed for each violation.
   

To register your team or apparatus for the 2008 Firefighters Muster

Event #5   Suppression Exercise

Equipment Provided by Competition Officials: Gated wye, 50' sections of 1.75" hose, nozzles, traffic cones
Protective Gear Required: Pants/Boots, Coat, Gloves, Helmet (all items supplied by competitors)
Number of Participants: Five

Team members will start from behind a pre-designated start line.

Upon receiving the signal to start, the team members work as a team to attach the gated wye to the designated water source; connect both hoses to the gated wye; attach the nozzles to the hoses; and charge the line.
The competitors will direct water streams at the traffic cones (set up 30' beyond the nozzles). The team is finished when all three (3) traffic cones are knocked over and the nozzles are shut.

The competition is based on completing the challenge in the fastest time.

Event Rules:

• All must be wearing the required protective gear prior to the start of the event.
• Each team member must be assigned one of the five tasks necessary to place the suppression equipment into service.
• The tasks must be completed in order. Team members may not help each other to complete a task. A two second penalty will be assessed for each violation.
• Any two team members may be chosen to be the firefighter on the nozzle.
• There must be a back up firefighter on each hose. A two second penalty will be assessed for each violation.
• The team competing NEXT in the event is responsible to break down the equipment and return it to the start position.
   

To register your team or apparatus for the 2008 Firefighters Muster

Event # 6     Ladder Climb

Equipment Provided by Competition Officials: Thirty-Five (35') foot extension ladder, 50' section of 1.75" hose, pick head axe, 6' pike pole
Protective Gear Needed: Helmets, Pants/Boots, Gloves (all items supplied by competitors)
Number of Participants: Five

The team members begin standing twenty-five (25') feet from the base of the ladder.

The ladder is on the ground in a stowed position at the start of the event.

The hand equipment will be positioned at the base of the ladder.

Upon the judge's signal, two team members, raise the ladder against the adjacent wall, to the level designated by the judge and secure it for the three climbers.

Once the ladder has been secured against the tower, the first climber picks up the hose and climbs the ladder to the top, exiting the ladder at the top onto the deck.

Once the first climber has stepped off of the top ladder, the second climber picks up the axe, climbs the ladder to the top, exiting the ladder at the top onto the deck.

Once the second climber has stepped off of the top ladder, the third climber picks up the pike pole, climbs the ladder to the top, exiting the ladder at the top onto the deck.

As the third climber reaches the top deck and steps off the ladder, the first climber mounts the ladder and descends back down the ladder with their original piece of equipment. Once off the base of the ladder, the competitor walks briskly to the starting line with their equipment.

As the first climber steps off the base of the ladder, the second climber descends the ladder in a similar manner as the first, returning to the start line with their equipment.

As the second climber off the base of the ladder, the third climber descends the ladder in a similar manner as the first, returning to the start line with their equipment.

Once the third climber reaches the ground, the two competitors heeling the ladder will join the climbers in running for the finish line. The ladder operators DO NOT lower the ladder.

Event Rules:

• When climbing and descending the ladder, each rung must be used by the climber. There will be NO "sliding" on the ladder. A two second penalty will be assessed for each violation.
• Only one team member is permitted on the ladder at any time. A two second penalty will be assessed for each violation.
• While the climbing is in progress, the next team member in line to climb may not leave the start line until the previous participant has stepped off the top of the ladder. A two second penalty will be assessed for each violation.
• Team members may assist each other when getting off and onto the ladder in the interest of team safety. Team members may not hold the equipment for each other during the transition.
   

To register your team or apparatus for the 2008 Firefighters Muster