Herculaneum Fire Department firefighter Josh Kaiser poses with his children, Evan Kaiser and Emma Kaiser, on a Herculaneum firetruck during the 2021 event.

Herculaneum Fire Department firefighter Josh Kaiser poses with his children, Evan Kaiser and Emma Kaiser, on a Herculaneum firetruck during the 2021 event.

Those who like to attend the Jeffco Fire Engine Rally won’t be disappointed with this year’s event.

The 28th annual rally, set for Saturday, Sept. 24, at Herculaneum City Park, 776 Joachim Ave., will feel a lot like those held during the last several years, said Bill Haggard, president of the Jefferson County Firefighters Association and chairman of the rally organization committee.

“Every year, I try to think of different things to do, but I don’t really come up with any,” Haggard said. “We have meetings, and no one else ever comes up with anything, either. But I think people are happy with what we do, so we’re not changing much.”

The rally, the only one of its kind in the St. Louis area, will begin as always with a parade of firetrucks and other emergency vehicles that will take off at 9 a.m. from St. Pius X High School, 1030 St. Pius Drive, in Crystal City, and proceed north on Hwy. 61-67 to the park grounds.

The parade’s grand marshal will be Jeff Broombaugh, the former chief of the Rock Community Fire Protection District.

Broombaugh, a lifelong county resident, retired after a 39-year career with Rock Fire in June 2022.

“He was there for several years,” Haggard said. “During his tenure, he probably held every position in the department, from firefighter all the way up to chief.”

Broombaugh is now the deputy chief in charge of officer development for the De Soto Rural Fire Protection District.

James Lady, 11, a sixth-grader at Fort Zumwalt South Middle School, will represent the Midwest Burn Camp and Burns Recovered Support Group as the junior grand marshal.

James was severely burned in an accident when he was 2 years old during a camping trip.

Once the parade reaches the park, at about 10 a.m., the rally, which ends about 3 p.m., will open with the presentation of colors by the Jefferson County Firefighters Color Guard. Then Shannon Jackson Coaley of Hillsboro will sing the national anthem, followed by a memorial ceremony conducted by county fire chaplains.

The service will honor the following 18 people associated with local firefighting efforts who have died since the last rally:

■ Michael Allen of the Rock Community Fire Protection District and Rock Township Ambulance District.

■ John W. Baynes of the Dunklin Fire Protection District.

■ Ronald Ray Beckett of the Mapaville Fire Protection District.

■ Glenn “Doc” Brod and John B. Wood of the De Soto Fire Department.

■ Kevin L. Cremer and Brian Todd Hill of the Festus Fire Department.

■ Herschel A. Dugan and Alan Holt of the Herculaneum Fire Department.

■ John Hutson and Marvin Shaffrey of the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District.

■ Lawrence “Larry” Leonard of the Goldman Fire Protection District.

■ Rose Marie Nemeth of the Big River Ambulance District.

■ Donald L. Null of the De Soto Rural Fire Protection District.

■ John Michael Richardson of the Festus Fire Department and Jefferson R-7 Fire Protection District.

■ Michael Roth and Robert F. Uhlinger Jr. of the Rock Community Fire Protection District.

■ Emil Ruoff of the Saline Valley Fire Protection District (formerly the Shady Valley Fire Protection District).

“The people who gather for the ceremony really take it seriously,” Haggard said. “We read off the person’s name and the date that they passed and we ring a bell for each one.

“To observe the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, we also ring the bell three times, then four times and then another three times for the 343 firefighters who died responding to the World Trade Center,” he said.

The ceremony will be followed at about 11:30 a.m. by a fire sprinkler suppression demonstration. Another demonstration called “The Evolution of the Fire Service,” is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

“They’ll bring in an old pumper firetruck from the 1980s and a new one and show the differences,” Haggard said. “The old one would work with a series of levers, and the new one pumps water by using computers. It’s pretty impressive to watch.”

The rally, like usual, will cater to youngsters, with a bounce house and 20-foot inflatable slide, slingshot game, a scavenger hunt for Smokey Bear and Sparky items (with possible visits by both), games, face paintings and a balloon artist.

“There are obviously things that are directed to adults, but we’re always wanting to engage the kids,” Haggard said.

A children’s firefighter challenge will put participants through the paces in a number of activities, including crawling through a culvert pipe, entering through a window and rescuing a doll.

The Rock Community Fire Protection District will bring its fire safety house, where children will learn how to escape a home fire.

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, with air rescue helicopters from ARCH Air Medical and Air Evac Lifeteam scheduled to arrive around 11 a.m.

An awards ceremony for the vehicles at the rally will begin around 2:45 p.m.

A Dalmatian show will be included.

The Jefferson County Health Department will give away bicycle helmets to children while supplies last, and the

De Soto, Shekinah and Joachim Masonic lodges will run a child identification program.

As usual, vendors will sell various firefighter-related items, and the organizing committee will sell official T-shirts as well as T-shirts from past rallies.

Vendors also will sell food and drinks.

Admission and parking are free. Alcohol will not be permitted on the grounds.

For information, call Haggard at 314-852-4964.