The 27th annual Jeffco Fire Engine Rally will be held Saturday at Herculaneum City Park, 776 Joachim Ave., after a year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Admission and parking are free.
A parade featuring firetrucks and other emergency vehicles will kick off the event, starting at 9 a.m. at St. Pius X High School, 1030 St. Pius Drive, in Crystal City and proceeding north on Hwy. 61-67 to the park grounds, where the rally will begin.
Bill Haggard, president of the Jefferson County Firefighters Association and chairman of the rally organization committee, said attendees will not be asked to wear masks at the rally, the only one of its kind in the St. Louis area.
“We’re asking people to do what’s comfortable for them,” he said. “How many people won’t be comfortable attending, that’s an unknown.”
The parade grand marshal will be James Goebel, a retired fire inspector from the Rock Community Fire Protection District.
“Jim is on our committee and is vice president of the organizing committee,” Haggard said. “He’s been a state fire inspector and arson investigator. He’s been a big help organizing the rallies.”
Landon Wilson of Hillsboro will represent the Midwest Burn Camp and Burns Recovered Support Group as the junior grand marshal.
The rally will open at about 10 a.m. with the presentation of colors by the Jefferson County Firefighters Color Guard. Then Shannon Jackson Coaley of Hillsboro will sing the national anthem, leading into the memorial ceremony honoring at least 20 people associated with local firefighting efforts who have died since the last rally was held in 2019.
Those who will be honored include:
■ Delmas E. “Bud” Becker Jr. and Kenneth E. Marler of the Herculaneum Fire Department.
■ Charles F. Bieser, Richard “Dick” King and Eric Smoot of the Hillsboro Fire Protection District.
■ Roy R. Bohle, William J. McCabe and David L. Viehland of the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District.
■ David A. Brewer, Gary L. Peterein and Walter D. Wolk of the Mapaville Fire Protection District.
■ Imogene Brust and A. Eugene Rolfe of the Dunklin Fire Protection District.
■ Charles “Jerry” DeClue and Eldon “Bud” Smith of the De Soto Fire Department.
■ Keith A. DeClue of the Joachim-Plattin Ambulance District.
■ Donnell E. Hayes and Ronald Siebert of the Jefferson R-7 Fire Protection District.
■ Richard A. Miller of the North Jefferson County Ambulance District.
■ Robert Oberle of the Festus Fire Department.
■ James C. Voss of the Goldman Fire Protection District.
■ Ronald W. Wehlage Jr. of the
De Soto Rural Fire Protection District.
■ Jules C. Zimmerman of the Rock Community Fire Protection District.
■ Harold E. Hurtgen of the Hillsboro and Hematite fire protection districts.
■ Brian K. Rudy of the Hillsboro and Goldman fire protection districts and the Valle Ambulance District.
The ceremony will be followed by three demonstrations.
A fire sprinkler suppression demonstration by the Crystal City Fire Department and St. Louis Fire Sprinkler Alliance will begin at 11 a.m., an auto extraction demonstration by Sentinel Emergency Solutions will start at 12:15 p.m.,followed at 1 p.m. by a propane fire suppression demonstration by the Jefferson County Fire and Rescue Training Academy.
“People love to see things set on fire,” Haggard said.
In addition, the Missouri State Highway Patrol will have a “rollover vehicle” demonstration sometime during the day.
For the youngsters, the Fire Engine Rally will offer a bounce house and 20-foot inflatable slide, a scavenger hunt, a firefighter challenge and games, face paintings and a balloon artist.
The Rock Community Fire Protection District will bring its fire safety house, where children will learn how to escape a home fire.
A free photo booth will be set up for adults and children. In addition, children and adults will get close-up views of firetrucks and EMS vehicles.
The arrival of helicopters always is a highlight, Haggard said, with air rescue helicopters from ARCH Air Medical, Air Evac Lifeteam and Survival Flight scheduled to arrive between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Firefighter competitions will include an ax-throwing contest and a relay event of four firefighters racing against the clock and other teams to put on their protective gear.
The Jefferson County Health Department will give away bicycle helmets to children while supplies last, and the Shekinah and Joachim Masonic lodges will hold a child identification program.
For information, call Haggard at 314-852-4964.