It's a trick question: How many fire trucks do you need in a parade to get into the Guinness Book of World Records?
"Well, technically, I suppose one would be a record," said Kevin Stirtz, a little sheepishly. That's because Stirtz and the city of Burnsville will be establishing a new world record category when they gather fire trucks from five states for the city's annual Fire Muster celebration Sept. 10-12.
Their record won't be easy to break they hope to have 100 trucks.
What amazed Stirtz, one of the Fire Muster organizers, is the level of detail required by Guinness officials.
"They are very serious about this. We have got to have a whole team of people to document this with video," he said. "We need spotters, and all the trucks have to be registered."
And the people doing the verifying can't be just anyone.
"They have to be outstanding members of the community," Stirtz said.
The fire engine parade will be 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 11, leaving from Civic Center Park by Burnsville City Hall.
Stirtz said every truck must have been an active-duty vehicle, or had the potential to be active duty.
"It can be an antique, if at some point it had the ability to be an actual firefighting truck," he said.
The parade will celebrate the Muster's 25th year, said Melissa Flach, director of the city Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Most Muster events will be in Nicollet Commons Park in the Heart of the City project and in the Civic Center Park. Events include carnival rides, a fireworks show, games, various running races, a competitive "baby crawl" and live music.
In a special tribute to the firefighters who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, as many as 400 firefighters will sing "God Bless America" at 1 p.m. Sept. 11, at a location to be determined.
Another parade, which Flach called the "traditional, community parade," will be Sept. 12 from 1 to 2 p.m. The route for that parade hasn't been set yet.
Stirtz said the terror attacks of Sept. 11 heightened public appreciation of firefighters, and participation in the city fire musters has risen since then.
"I have the sense that more people want to be involved in their community," he said.
"I think there is a new level of respect and awareness.
"First and foremost, this is to honor people who perform that valuable service. It's a natural magnet for everyone."
For more information, check out the fire muster Web site, Burnsvillefiremuster.com.
