By: Sue Kramer
Firefighters love to show off their fire trucks, and what better place to do so than a competition where judges pick the best of the best and the winning fire company goes home with a trophy and the admiration of fellow firefighters?
Many fire engines that win competitions are called "parade pieces." These fire trucks are expensive, shiny, chrome-covered trucks purchased not to fight fires, but to be entered into competitions and parades. The equipment that fills the compartments of these parade pieces, unlike the equipment on a working fire truck, is also new and shiny, and often kept in protective storage until the day of a competition.
Every now and then, an exceptional fire truck comes along. What makes it stand out is the way it’s been maintained and cared for, and it catches everyone’s eye. And, if that winning truck happens to belong to a volunteer fire department that actually uses it to fight fires, it’s a victory akin to David slaying Goliath.
The Hibernia Fire Company slew Goliath last weekend when Capt. Chris Gazzillo, Lts. Mike Abrams and Mike Barlow, fireman Nick Knechel and Lt. Abrams’ 10-year-old son, Colin, took the Hibernia’s emerald green 1998 Pierce Dash Pumper to New Egypt in Ocean County for its first competition.
The event was the celebration of the New Egypt Fire Department’s 100th anniversary. Hundreds of pieces of fire equipment from all over the East Coast entered the competition and ensuing celebration parade. But for the members of the Hibernia, the decision to travel to New Egypt was based on respect, not the challenge of competition a means of showing support for its sister company and a way of saying thank you for a long-ago kindness.
The bond between the two fire companies dates back to the mid ’70s when the Hibernia had a 1959 Ward LaFrance fire truck. Nearly 20 years old, the truck had to be taken out of service for repairs. The New Egypt Fire Department stepped in and lent the Hibernia one of its fire trucks until the Ward LaFrance could be fixed. The Hibernia used New Egypt’s truck for over a month, and the members of the Hibernia have never forgotten New Egypt’s generosity.
When Hibernia received the invitation, it wanted to support New Egypt.
After all, "While our truck was out for repairs, they sent us their truck to use," Mr. Gazzillo said.
But then they got into the competition spirit.
"We had one full week of preparation; it was a long, 40-hour week," Mr. Gazzillo said of the prejudging cleaning, washing and waxing marathon the firemen undertook with the help of member Bruce Rock.
"It was every night after work, until at least midnight," Mr. Barlow added. "Friday night, we started at 5:30 and literally didn’t leave the firehouse until 2:30 in the morning."
The firefighters only got three hours sleep that night before the competition because they had to be in New Egypt by 8:45 Saturday morning, an hour drive.
The Lambertville firefighters not only got there on time, but were greeted with accolades from their fellow competitors who represented 40 registered companies from around the state. They were admittedly riding high on the attention, but the judges quickly burst their bubble.
"Lambertville, you’ve got four minutes to get ready," a judge announced.
"We were over in the cleaning area trying to prep last minute things removing some bugs and road grime from driving down. We wanted to set a standard," Mr. Gazzillo said of the frantic minutes before the judging began.
The Lambertville firefighters must have done something right because as they were putting the final touches on their truck, competing firefighters were heard saying, "Forget it, we’re done."
"They walked away," Mr. Barlow said. "When they said, ‘We’re not even going to compete,’ it made us feel really good. We ate it up."
He added, "Once that happened, we knew why we were there. We said, ‘Let’s go guys.’ We figured, hey, we gave it 110 percent, let’s see how well we do."
There were so many trucks entered into the competition it became even more ironic how things worked out. The judges were counting down the minutes until the judging would begin, and when the call went out, "Lambertville, you’ve got one minute," Mr. Barlow pulled the truck into the judging area, and Mr. Abrams found a penny.
"Whenever Lt. Abrams finds a penny, things work out in his favor," Mr. Gazzillo said. "He held onto that penny. The excitement we carried that day was unbelievable."
The Hibernia members were asked some routine questions, like how many calls they respond to each year. And then the judging began in earnest. The two judges checked out the company’s air bottles, ladder racks, compartments and the overall equipment and general appearance of the truck. They looked, wrote and looked some more. The Hibernia’s pumper scored the highest score.
Although the official judging was finally over, the unofficial judging was about to begin, and it is the unofficial judging that can make the difference between bringing home a trophy and going home empty-handed.
"The judges told us that if it’s a close competition, it comes down to the judges still judging you in the parade route," Mr. Abrams said.
So the firefighters lined up for the parade, and for the next two hours, while they waited for the parade to begin, they continued to clean and polish their truck. Just before the parade began, they went back to New Egypt’s firehouse and changed into their dress uniforms.
"My son, Colin, was with us," Mr. Abrams said. Colin is the "unofficial junior member of the Hibernia," and he was dressed in a custom-made, matching uniform, complete with his grandfather’s badge. His mom, Cherryl, made the uniform.
"We all got into the truck," Mr. Abrams continued, "and I said to myself, ‘Why are we in Class A uniforms with a jacket and hat, white shirt and dress shoes and sitting in the truck? Let’s get out and march.’ "
So, they marched, with Colin leading the parade, followed by Mr. Gazzillo and Mr. Abrams with Mr. Knechel marching behind them, just in front of the truck, which was driven by Mr. Barlow.
"We marched three to three and a half miles," Mr. Gazzillo said. "There were air horns blowing, and the other guys were going ballistic. We decided, absolutely not!"
So while others rode and blew their horns, the Hibernia members stayed in formation, marching quietly in unison as the spectators clapped and cheered their progress. When they reached New Egypt’s firehouse, the announcers said, "Ladies and gentlemen, the City of Lambertville," and the four Hibernia members turned to saluted their host’s firehouse as they marched past in formation.
When Mr. Gazzillo turned to see where the truck was, he was stunned to see Mr. Barlow had been stopped nearly a block back in the parade route. And to his surprise, there were 16 judges, dressed in red jumpsuits, pouring over every nook and cranny of the pumper.
"They were under the truck, in the truck, compartment doors were being opened; they checked everything," Mr. Gazzillo said. "The judges were holding him up."
And then, over the loudspeaker, a voice said, "Look at this truck!"
That was when they were fairly certain they’d won the coveted first-place trophy.
After the parade, the firefighters lined up to learn the results of the judging. The Hibernia had plenty of competition because 19 pumpers had competed for the honor of being named the best appearing and best equipped pumper between 2- and 5-years-old.
They remember nothing except the judge announcing the first-place winner, "Lambertville." The firefighters broke protocol then and, in fact, left Colin sitting alone in their rush to claim their honors.
They came home with a first-place trophy and the knowledge that not only had they poured their hearts and souls into the competition, but they had set a professional standard for competition.
All their hard work was undone in less than an hour when the skies opened up and dumped copious amounts of rain on them on their way home. But nothing could rain on their parade. This was the first time the Hibernia Fire Company had entered into a competition.
"We were never a parade company," Mr. Abrams said. "This was the first time that we actually decided to go out and compete and to bring home a trophy was really great. And we didn’t go down there as the Hibernia; we went down there representing Lambertville."
He added, "What was so exciting was having Colin in the very front. That’s the representation of the fire service. In all my years of service, this meant so much to me to see Colin leading. This is the future of firefighting, and that sets the standard. I got more chills watching him and watching the people clapping for him and saying, ‘Look at this little man in his full uniform.’ It was just so overwhelming."
