Emergency response units from eastern Schuylkill and Carbon counties grabbed a dozen honors, including top marching awards at the 60th annual Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association Convention held Saturday in Pottsville.

According to the host Pottsville Fire Department, more than 250 pieces of equipment were entered for judging along with 11 bands and other entries.Judges selected Tamaqua American Hose Company 1 as the best appearing fire company marching unit accompanied by music, a $500 prize.The organization's large marching corps paraded in full dress uniform and incorporated the unique, upbeat sounds of "The Brewers," the West Islip Fire Department Marching Band, 12-time New York state champions. Judges also awarded the band first place among non-high school marching bands.AHC earned second place for its engine in the 1995-99 classification. The company was presented a special judges award for a contingent of six firemen pulling the company's 1857 hosecart, one of the oldest and most authentic pieces of firefighting equipment in the parade.Tamaqua Citizens Fire Company 1 also grabbed three awards.Judges singled out the CFC marching unit as the best appearing fire company without music, earning the $500 top prize in that category.CFC also earned second place for its engine in the 2010-14 classification and first for its personnel/utility truck.Tuscarora Fire Company won recognition for its engine, taking first place in the 2005-09 classification.Similarly, New England Fire Company, Walker Township, earned first for its tanker, 2000-14, and Community Fire Company, New Ringgold, took second place for its light brush truck.In out-of-county category, Nesquehoning Hose was judged best appearing fire company overall, also winning first for its aerial unit, straight stick with pump.Judges also awarded first place to Yuengling for a horse-drawn cart pulled by Leiby's Draft horses, Tamaqua.Photos will appear in Friday's edition of the Times News.Tamaqua South Ward Fire Co. and East End Fire Co. stayed behind to provide protection in the community.The annual convention, among the largest in the state, began in Tamaqua in 1955 and rotates among 10 of Schuylkill County's largest communities.Tamaqua hosted the convention in 2009 and is expected to do so again in 2019.