The organizers of FireFest say the event that began in 2012 will be no more.
Plans had been in the works to have FireFest return after the pandemic, including a Day of Parades through 11 communities across Chatham-Kent. However, founder Brent DeNure says circumstances beyond his control have put an end to those hopes.
The event has had a tumultuous few years. Back in 2018, DeNure said that year’s event would be its last because of an ongoing dispute with the municipality. It was revived with a scaled back version the following year, but then sidelined by the pandemic in 2020.
Attendance had grown from 6000 people with 40 trucks in its inaugural year, to attracting over 150,000 visitors and 600 classic emergency response vehicles over the eight years it was held.
DeNure says there are still other ways to get up close and personal with vintage fire trucks and emergency response vehicles with similar events being held in Kingsville and Port Lambton this September.