News : Iowa Firefighter\'s Association Convention Saturday event schedule

Area residents have welcomed Iowa's firefighters to the IFA Convention hosted by VFD and GFD.

Keystone's antique Chevy fire truck.

The IFA Convention means seeing many historic fire trucks.

Belle Plaine's steamer.

An antique Shellsburg fire truck, parked under the VFD aerial ladder.

Members of the Iowa Firefighters Association officially began their 2013 convention on Wednesday.

While events for the firefighters and their families are scheduled throughout the week, most of the public events take place on Saturday, Sept. 7.

A contest the IFA calls "drills" -- activities related to the use of water, hose and other firefighting equipment -- begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, near the courthouse, after a prayer at around 7:50.

Those drills will continue throughout the morning. The main waterball contest will begin at around 1 p.m.

Parade route

The parade of fire trucks and related vehicles begins at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday; line-up begins at 5.

The route begins on 8th Avenue near the railroad tracks. The vehicles will travel north then go one block east to 9th Avenue, winding past Virginia Gay Hospital before heading back to 8th Avenue to 4th Street, then along the Boulevard to the downtown area. After passing through downtown, the route leads south on B Avenue to 5th Street, then to Second Avenue then to the fairgrounds on Second Ave.

"The best place to see the parade is near the courthouse," says Scott Geissinger of the Vinton Fire Department. "There will be an announcer there sharing information about each truck and apparatus in the parade, and its history."

The parade, says Geissinger, is the IFA's way to thank the public for their support.

A variety of clothing and souvenirs will be sold to IFA members during the convention, and available to the public after the convention ends, Geissinger said.

Sportsmanship trophy to be presented

During the dance on Saturday night, the winner of last year's Sportsmanship Trophy -- the Cedar-Mount Auburn Fire Department -- will present the traveling trophy to this year's winner. The department has made a replica to keep on display at the fire station in Mount Auburn. Vinton won the trophy in 2008. See a 2012 story about Cedar-Mount Auburn winning that Sportsmanship trophy HERE.

See the complete IFA Convention schedule HERE.

See an earlier story about things to remember about the Convention HERE.