Mount Vernon firefighters John Dearborn, right, Doug Stevens and Dana Dunn hang an American flag Sunday while other volunteers flip racks of chicken barbecuing in scorching heat for the department’s annual chicken barbecue in the center of the village.

Members of the volunteer company prepare and sell between 500 and 600 meals every year to raise money for the department, Chief Dana Dunn said.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the community cookout, according to Dunn.