Update: San Diego County Fair – Lights Out for Burn Run Parade

Update 3:25 p.m. Thursday, with Fire Expo schedule.

One of the highlights of the San Diego County Fair is the annual Burn Run, when firefighters form a convoy and parade toward the Fire Expo at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, with lights flashing and horns honking as California Highway Patrol officers serve as an escort.

But this year the parade scheduled for Saturday, which the Coronado Fire Department usually participates in, has been canceled, as the CHP has decided not to escort the fire trucks along the route.

“We were all ready to go, but the CHP informed us that they can no longer support the event,” said Jim Floros, executive director of the Burn Institute, which organizes the Fire Expo.

An unconfirmed report said that due to an accident involving CHP escorts in Los Angeles, the state has suspended all parade escorts and processions. Numerous messages left with the CHP were not returned.

Floros said that this year would have been the 22nd year for the Burn Run.

“The CHP would close intersections and do the escort, and that’s what made it so exciting and powerful, but they said they don’t feel like they can support the event after 21 years,” Floros said.

The Burn Run parade may be back next year with a multi-agency escort, possibly including the Sheriff’s Department and police departments along the route, Floros said.

While there is disappointment over the canceled Burn Run, the Fire Expo will go on as planned Saturday at the fair.

Coronado firefighters will be there, said Capt. Darren Hall, with a truck that will enter the Grand Pavilion. In addition, Firefighter/Paramedic Jamie Edmonds will sing the National Anthem for the 4:30 p.m. opening ceremonies.

Admission is free for fairgoers, and it will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fire trucks from around the county will stage at the Albertsons in Del Mar around 11:30 a.m., have lunch and roll into the fairgrounds.

Highlights will include a firefighter demolition derby, live demonstrations including extinguishing a car fire and rappelling from the arena rafters and fire safety exhibits.

Here's the full schedule, thanks to Edmonds:

11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Fire Expo Opens – Static and dynamic displays take place throughout the day.

11:30 a.m.: Staging and lunch at Albertsons.

12:45-1 p.m.: Leave Albertsons for fairgrounds.

3:15-4:30 p.m.: KPRI-FM concert.

4 p.m.: Chiefs on site for Opening Ceremonies.

5 p.m.: Demolition Derby 

Bill Stoudenmire and Jennifer Vigil contributed to this report.