It’s been a bad year for the Jefferson County firefighting community.
At least 20 people associated with local firefighting efforts through the years have died over the last year, and, as it has done for the last 25 years, the upcoming Jeffco Fire Engine Rally will feature a memorial ceremony to remember them.
“We’ve had twice as many pass away as most years,” said Bill Haggard, president of the Jefferson County Firefighters Association and chairman of the rally organization committee. He has helped organize all 26 of the events.
“And I don’t ever know if it’s everyone (who has died),” he said. “I know quite a few of them, of course, and I keep track of the obituaries. And I send out a form to all the departments asking them for the names of people who have passed away since the last rally. But I’m not sure we’ve got everybody.”
Haggard said the memorial service is only part of the Fire Engine Rally, to be held Saturday, Sept. 28.
“It’s an important part, for sure,” he said. “We want to remember these people. But there will be a lot to fun things to do in five hours.”
This year’s rally, as always, will start with a parade of firetrucks and other emergency vehicles.
The parade will begin at 9 a.m. at St. Pius X High School, 1030 St. Pius Drive, in Crystal City, and proceed north on Hwy. 61-67 to Herculaneum City Park, 776 Joachim Ave.
The parade grand marshal will be Glenn Nivens, who recently retired after 44 years with the Antonia Fire Protection District, most of them as assistant chief.
“He’s actually been with Antonia for longer than that,” Haggard said. “He joined in 1972 as a junior volunteer firefighter, then started as a regular volunteer in 1975. He’s pretty versed in fire inspections. He’s a great guy who knows his stuff. A lot of people relied on him when they needed to know something, especially about the inspection end of it. I know I called him a few times.”
Camilla Hurst, a sixth-grader at Windsor Middle School, was selected by the Missouri Burn Camp and Burns Recovered Support Group to be the junior grand marshal.
Once the parade reaches the park, at about 10 a.m., the rally will open with the presentation of colors by the Ozark Firefighters Association. Then Shannon Jackson Coaley of Hillsboro will sing the national anthem, leading into the memorial ceremony.
Those who will be honored include:
■ Zachary Daugherty, Michael Pouliezos and Emmet Smetzer Sr. of the De Soto Rural Fire Protection District.
■ Paul Roth, Burl Rudisaile and Michael Warden, Festus Fire Department.
■ Frank Tidd Sr. and Carolyn Watz, Mapaville Fire Protection District.
■ Richard E. Ford, Cedar Hill Fire Protection District and Big River Ambulance District.
■ Stephen Hammer, Jefferson R-7 Fire Protection District.
■ Thomas Keener, Hillsboro Fire Protection District.
■ Michael Langsdorf, Saline Valley Fire Protection District.
■ Calvin Lindwedel, Goldman Fire Protection District.
■ William McCredie, Rock Community Fire Protection District.
■ Steven Niemeyer, Saline Valley Fire Protection District.
■ Oliver Pechmann, Cedar Hill Fire Protection District.
■ Kenneth Reed, Hillsboro Fire Protection District and Dunklin Fire Protection District.
■ Carol Wagner, Big River Ambulance District.
■ Alan Whitter, Festus Fire Department and Hematite Fire Protection District.
Also to be recognized at the ceremony will be Keith W. Parker.
“Keith is a retired firefighter from the Crestwood Fire Department, but he has been involved with the Fire Engine Rally for years,” Haggard said. “He judged our fire apparatus competition for a lot of years.”
Haggard said four demonstrations are planned, rather than the usual three.
A large-animal rescue demonstration by the Missouri Emergency Response Services will begin at 11:30 a.m.
“They usually get called out to rescue farm animals, maybe during flooding and other situations,” Haggard said. “I think they will do a simulated rescue.”
A fire sprinkler suppression demonstration by the Crystal City Fire Department and St. Louis Fire Sprinkler Alliance will begin at 12:15 p.m.
That, and a 1 p.m. propane fire suppression demonstration by the Jefferson County Fire and Rescue Training Academy, are sure to be crowd pleasers, he said.
“People love to see things set on fire,” Haggard said.
A new demonstration will be on physical fitness training by Fit4Duty LLC at 1:45 p.m.
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, a balloon artist and visits with Smokey Bear.
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 the chance to get close-up views of firetrucks and EMS vehicles.
The arrival of helicopters always is a highlight, Haggard said, and rescue helicopters from ARCH Air Medical, Air Evac Lifeteam and Survival Flight are scheduled to arrive between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Firefighter competitions this year will include an ax-throwing contest and firefighters using rescue tools to play a large-scale version of Jenga.
An awards ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m.
Haggard said he hopes to have entries for a Dalmatian show, in which awards will be given to the largest and smallest of the breed, the dogs with the most and fewest spots, the best dressed and the best trick.
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.
As usual, vendors will sell various firefighter-related items, and the organizing committee will sell official T-shirts and a commemorative coin from last year’s 25th annual rally. A quilt made of T-shirts from past rallies will be raffled off, and food and drinks will be sold.
Admission and parking are free. Alcohol will not be permitted on the grounds.
For information, call Haggard at 314-852-4964.