The High Ridge Fire Protection District will be busy in April with a fundraising 5K and walk; a dedication ceremony for a new firetruck; and a breakfast with the Easter bunny.
All three events will be held at the High Ridge Fire headquarters, 2842 High Ridge Blvd.
The fire district used to hold the 5K and the Breakfast with the Easter bunny every year but canceled them the past two years because of COVID-19.
With new coronavirus cases on the decline, though, district officials felt it was safe to resume the activities, Capt. John Barton said.
“It’s a big relief to be able to have this race and the Breakfast with the Easter bunny; it’s been a long time,” he said. “We want to get back to interacting with our community and hosting these events where everybody can come up and meet us.”
Chief Ken Theiling said the district has missed holding public events.
“We support our community 100 percent, and they support us 100 percent, and that’s one thing that’s unique about High Ridge. Our community has always been behind us, and we’re always behind them as well.”
Firehouse 5K for Autism
The Firehouse 5K for Autism will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 2. Early signup is available online, but people also may sign up the morning of the race starting at 7:30 a.m.
Barton said the 5K starts at the headquarters, proceeds along High Ridge Boulevard to Frank’s Road and then returns to the headquarters.
The event also includes a 2-mile walk, with participants beginning at the headquarters and then walking 1 mile along High Ridge Boulevard before returning.
Barton said it will be the ninth autism awareness race the district has held.
“It’s just an example of the things we try to do to serve everybody in our community,” he said. “Autism awareness is something that’s near and dear to a lot of us.”
Over the years, the fire district’s 5Ks have raised $20,000 for organizations that provide services for people with autism, Barton said.
He said he hopes to raise $2,000 for Easterseals Midwest this year.
Barton said the event normally attracts about 150 people. Medals will be given out to the top three people in different age groups and to the top three first responders in the 5K.
Theiling said the race is family friendly and dog friendly.
The registration fee is $25 for those who sign up for the 5K or walk by March 31 and is $30 for those who sign up after that. To register online, go to highridgefirefighters.org/firehouse-5k-for-autism.
New truck
The ceremony for the new truck will be from 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 9.
The district will have a wet-down ceremony to celebrate the recent arrival of its new red Rosenbauer rescue pumper, which will replace a 2002 pumper.
The new truck cost $790,000, Theiling said.
He said the old truck will be sold, but as of March 16, the district hasn’t decided on a listing price.
The new firetruck will be put into service at the district’s House 3, 4655 Hwy. W, in Byrnes Mill.
“We’ll have a dedication and then it’ll sort of be like an open forum for people in the community to take a look at the truck, ask questions, just meet the firefighters and stuff,” Barton said.
He said the new 25.5-ton truck holds 1,000 gallons of water
Theiling said his truck is unique because it has a rear mount pump and has a panel that conceals the controls for the pumps.
“It keeps the pump panel cleaner when it’s behind a roll up door instead of being exposed to the elements,” he said.
The district covers High Ridge, House Springs, Murphy, Byrnes Mill and a part of the Jefferson County portion of Fenton.
The district has four stations. The other three are at 2842 High Ridge Blvd. in High Ridge, 1434 Gravois Road in High Ridge and 4560 Four Ridge Road in House Springs.
Breakfast with the Easter bunny
The fire district’s Breakfast with the Easter bunny will be from 8-11 a.m. Saturday, April 16. The event is free and open to the public.
“We are serving pancakes, sausage, biscuits and gravy, and then we’ll have coffee and juice,” Barton said.
The Easter Bunny will be available for photos.
Barton said Breakfast with the Easter Bunny is one of the district’s biggest events.
“There’s usually a line outside to even get in,” Theiling added.