Burnsville Fire Muster and Community Celebration

Mission: To bring the community of Burnsville together to celebrate this great community where we live, work and play.

About Us:

Burnsville, MN's community celebration officially began in 1980, evolving from a smaller neighborhood-based gathering. During the late 1970s, Burnsville resident and fire equipment collector Roger Jackson and some of his friends entertained children each summer by displaying his collection at what was known then as Diamond head Mall, capping the day with a short parade of equipment down Nicollet Avenue.

In 1980, as the community considered the possibility of a citywide celebration, Jackson suggested to a group of interested residents and business people that perhaps a fire muster patterned after fire musters popular in New England might work. City officials liked the idea and the Burnsville Fire Muster & Community Celebration became an official city event.

A nonprofit corporation was formed to organize the celebration. Dedicated volunteers, augmented by nonprofit groups in town organized, promoted and staged the event. Business donations, button sales and income from concessions became vital funding sources and continue, largely, to this day.

Fire equipment comes from throughout the Midwest, ranging from the horse-drawn hand pumpers (circa 1900) to the latest in firefighting machinery. In 2004, the Fire Muster's Fire Truck Parade was cited in the Guiness Book of World Records for holding the longest fire truck parade in the world with over 120 fire trucks.