The 29th Jeffco Fire Engine Rally, held Sept. 30, went off well, drawing hundreds to Herculaneum City Park, said Bill Haggard, president of the Jefferson County Firefighters Association and chairman of the rally organization committee.
At left, siblings Everly Gutknecht, 3, and Knox Gutknecht, 6, both from Crystal City, visit Rock Community Fire Protection District’s table for hats and sunglasses.
Haggard said it’s tough to get a bead on the size of the crowd because the rally is a come-and-go activity.
“I think the crowd was about the same, but it started thinning out earlier than usual because of the heat,” Haggard said of temperatures that cracked 90 degrees in the afternoon. “It’s not supposed to be that hot this time of year. Other than the heat, we couldn’t have asked for a nicer day.”
He said the schedule was rearranged somewhat so that events to be held later in the afternoon, including a vehicle stabilization demonstration by the Festus Fire Department and the awards ceremony, were moved up.
“It was getting warm for everybody and we sensed people were wanting to leave,” he said.
Amelia Vandeven, 10, of Barnhart makes herself at home in a vintage firetruck.
Haggard said 35 to 40 firetrucks participated in the morning parade from St. Pius X High School in Crystal City to the park.
“We had some drive in the parade and leave, and we had others show up and park their trucks at the rally that weren’t in the parade, so it’s hard to get an exact number,” he said. “I don’t know why someone would drive a firetruck from Sullivan to be in the parade and then not come to the rally, but it happens.”
A highlight of the rally, as always, was the arrival of a helicopter from LifeNet Farmington, Haggard said.
“The helicopter stayed most of the day, but when the crowd started thinning out, it went ahead and left,” he said.
Wyatt Lovejoy, 5, of Festus gets comfortable in the LifeNet Farmington rescue helicopter.
The following awards were given to agencies that had vehicles at the event:
■ Paramedic of the Year: Emily Stefan, Valle Ambulance District.
■ EMS Chief Officer of the Year: Jesse Barton, Valle Ambulance District.
■ EMS Department of the Year: Valle Ambulance District.
■ Firefighters of the Year: Zach Smallegan, Jefferson R-7 Fire Protection District; and Nick Uzzetta, High Ridge Fire Protection District.
■ Fire Chief Officer of the Year: Robert L. Hipes Jr., Hematite Fire Protection District.
Apparatus winners were:
■ Farthest traveled: Washington Fire Department.
■ Best lettering and detailing: Wolf Creek Fire Protection District.
■ Newest apparatus in service: Festus Fire Department.
■ Best overall antique: Goose Creek Lake Fire Department.
■ Best overall rescue apparatus: St. Clair Fire Protection District.
■ Best overall current apparatus: Festus Fire Department.
■ Best overall ground cover apparatus: Ste. Genevieve Fire Department.
■ Best overall EMS apparatus: Joachim-Plattin Ambulance District.
■ Best aerial apparatus: Crystal City Fire Department.
■ Best pumper apparatus: Wolf Creek Fire Protection District.
■ Best tanker apparatus: Hematite Fire Protection District.
■ Oldest apparatus in service: Bloomsdale Fire Protection District.
■ Heritage apparatus award: O’Fallon Fire Protection District.
■ Judges Award: Herculaneum Fire Department.
Tamara Maupin, 7, of Hillsboro, left, Rilynne Delarber, 8, of De Soto and her sister, Leanna, 6, pose as firefighters.
Haggard said seven Dalmatians were entered in various judging categories, with Ember, owned by Avalon Boehme of Pevely, taking first in the most spots competition.
Pierce, owned by James Fields of Bonne Terre, brought the fewest spots to the judges and also was the largest canine in the competition. Another Ember, owned by James Fields of Bonne Terre, was judged the smallest. Pongo, owned by Kayla Bert of Chester, Ill., was best dressed. Demi, owned by Ashley Gravett of Bismarck, showed off the best trick.
“I think that may be the most Dalmatians we’ve ever had entered,” Haggard said. “They came from all over.”
Ashley Kaiser of Herculaneum won the drawing for the firefighter painting, and David Pratte of Bonne Terre took home the firefighter tumbler.
A memorial service was held to honor the 12 people associated with local firefighting efforts who have died since the last rally:
■ Heath M. Besand of the Dunklin Fire Protection District.
■ Bob Bohmie of the High Ridge Fire Protection District.
■ Donald F. Brown of the Hillsboro Fire Protection District.
■ Richard Hiel of the Rock Township Ambulance District.
■ Ted W. Howell of the De Soto Fire Department and De Soto Rural Fire Protection District.
■ Al LaPointe of the Rock Community Fire Protection District.
■ Dennis Sanchez of the Festus Fire Department, Crystal City Fire Department and Joachim-Plattin Ambulance District.
■ Danny Scharf of the De Soto Fire Department.
■ Robert W. “Bob” Schlingmann of the Hillsboro Fire Protection District and Goldman Fire Protection District.
■ Tommy Seegers of the De Soto Rural Fire Protection District and Valle Ambulance District.
■ Cindy Vaugh of the Joachim-Plattin Ambulance District.
■ Barbara A. Williams of the Valle Ambulance District.
Next year’s rally has been scheduled for Sept. 28.