Looking for some input on a "competition"

Are you looking for a smokeoff within your fire department, or with competing departments?  Its up to you how you want to set it up if its not going to be a certified competition.  Contact fire departments, decide on the no. of teams allowed to enter, set up some prizes, awards, trophies, plaques or certificates, find a place to hold it, require sanitation, set up a judging panel, do you need electricity, sanitation facilities, is the public allowed, anything served to the public would require Inspection, a bond would have to be posted, insurance provided, and so on.  If you want to go certified, contact your local competition bureau or state agency for rules and regulations, requirements, $ bond, etc.

One of our local fire depts started one last year. They had 4teams show up . They had very nice plaques made up for top 3 in each class then after we turned in they had us serve the public,charged $5.each worked out great! Got some local business donations and it turned out good. I think they could have done more advertising for teams. But this year it's looking a lot better already. Great luck to you!! I made a suggestion this year to use an old ax or a helmet as an overall trophy no need for money just bragging rights I think it would be cool!

Other than a backyard BBQ, anything involving the public, be it cooks or testers, you are assuming a lot of responsibility for health and safety.