The Aurora Regional Fire Museum is located in Aurora's old Central Fire Station. Visitors can pass a leather fire bucket from the early 1800s.
The museum is open to the public regular hours, and features a variety of interactive exhibits designed to educate and entertain children, families, and firefighters. The museum's primary exhibit, "Getting There, Getting Water, Getting Rescued" traces the evolution of the tools and technology used by firefighters. See the horse stalls and the "real" fire horses. Discover what was found under the f
loor boards of the old central fire station. Marvel at the strange looking Vajen-Bader smoke mask. See and hear how modern fire apparatus clears the streets with sirens, air horns, and devices that change traffic lights green. Watch vintage film clips of firefighters and fire engines on one of five video touch-screens. All this in addition to five pieces of fire apparatus on display in a fully restored 1894 fire station.
This week's trivia question is about fire poles! Fire poles are very famous fire tool and are easily recognizable by people! Do you know where fire poles were invented? Comment your answer down below, and come back on Sunday to find out the answer!
This is excellent information to remember as school starts up again shortly! We have to work together to keep the kids safe!
Come on out and see us today from 10-4. It’s free admission!
Thanks for the feature Good Morning Aurora! Our board member Tracy Duran had a blast at the event!!
Join us for our FINAL Second Tuesday Free Day on TOMORROW from 10am-4pm at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum! Four reasons to join us:
1. Interact with the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy!
2. Be the first to find our summer fun duck hidden in our exhibit and receive a prize!
3. Children can take home a fire vehicle play set while supplies last!
4. Turn in your completed passport to be entered into the drawing for a 32” Paw Patrol Marshall Pillow Pet!
Summer at the Fire Museum is generously sponsored by First Alert and Second Tuesday Free Days are made possible by Invest Aurora. We hope to see you all there!
The answer to the trivia question is C. Chief Erwin J. Bauman. On September 8, 1966, the Aurora Fire Department Museum! The basement of Station No. 4 was home to the museum. You can see the official establishment letter, photographers, and artifacts from the original museum during your visit to ARFM!
Join us for our FINAL Second Tuesday Free Day on Tuesday, August 13 from 10am-4pm at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum! Four reasons to join us:
1. Interact with the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy!
2. Be the first to find our summer fun duck hidden in our exhibit and receive a prize!
3. Children can take home a fire vehicle play set while supplies last!
4. Turn in your completed passport to be entered into the drawing for a 32” Paw Patrol Marshall Pillow Pet!
Summer at the Fire Museum is generously sponsored by Alert and Second Tuesday Free Days are made possible by Invest Aurora.
Cheers to Smokey Bear on his 80th birthday! 🥳 For eight decades, Smokey has been inspiring people around the world to practice wildfire safety. Sparky The Fire Dog is proud to reunite with Smokey to celebrate their shared mission of safety. Join us in honoring Smokey’s incredible legacy and their enduring friendship!
Happy Birthday, Smokey Bear! Since 1944, Smokey Bear has shown generations of Americans the importance of preventing unwanted human-caused wildfires. Join , Forest Service, and the in celebrating Smokey Bear’s 8 decades in wildfire prevention!
Visit SmokeyBear.com to learn more about Smokey's wildfire prevention tips and how you can celebrate his 80th birthday!
Back to school season is officially here! We will be at East Aurora School District 131 Back to School Fair this Saturday from 10-2pm! Be sure to stop by our table and say hi to board member Tracy! She has lots of goodies to give away so don’t miss out!
*Museum will be open regular hours 10-4pm*
Dobroskills.net is here getting ready to teach Hands-Only CPR classes during Family Night @ ARFM!! Stop on by 5-8pm tonight!! It’s free admission!!
We hope to see everyone tonight!
Looking for a free family-friendly activity for tomorrow night?Join us for Family Night at ARFM tomorrow night from 5-8pm! The evening will feature free admission, interactive activities, a scavenger hunt, and FREE hands-only CPR classes sponsored Dobroskills.net
Advanced registration is preferred for the hands-only CPR classes, but space is limited. Classes are intended for ages 12+. Three classes will be held: 5:15pm, 6:15pm, and 7:15pm. Register Online at http://dobroskills.net/ARFM-FREE-CPR
This week's trivia question is a multiple-choice question! We decided it was time for an ARFM trivia question! Comment on your answer below and return on Sunday to see if you got it correct! Make sure to check out our stories to participate in more trivia!
Looking for a free family-friendly activity for tomorrow night?Join us for Family Night at ARFM tomorrow night from 5-8pm! The evening will feature free admission, interactive activities, a scavenger hunt, and FREE hands-only CPR classes sponsored Dobroskills.net
Advanced registration is preferred for the hands-only CPR classes, but space is limited. Classes are intended for ages 12+. Three classes will be held: 5:15pm, 6:15pm, and 7:15pm. Register Online at http://dobroskills.net/ARFM-FREE-CPR
We will be here! Stop by and say hi!
Join us tomorrow evening Tuesday August 6, from 6pm to 8:30 pm for National Night Out, at the Kane County Sherriff's Office.
Please see the attached overhead for parking and attractions. This is a free event.
🚧⚠Enter only off of Peck Road as we will have the entrance off of Route 38 closed for the safety of the public due to all of our attractions and activities. All parking will be in the west lot of the Judicial Center. ⚠🚧
We will have a DJ, photo booth📸, bounce houses🏠, cotton candy, snow cones🍧, and hot dogs 🌭for the first 1,000 attendees.
Check out all of our divisions and specialties, including the Drone🛩 team, Swat Vehicles🚓, Fire Department🚒 and Emergency Management vehicles, the Mounted Patrol 🐴and even a helicopter 🚁land.
Thanks to Jewel-Osco, Airtime Inflatables,
Affordable Party Rentals, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Aramark, Russ Heinen at Music Express, Chicago Water and Fire Restoration, Fox Valley Balloon & Rentals, and Twee Parties for Donating and sponsoring our event!
Museum Store Spotlight
Who doesn't love a fun surprise? These Fire & Rescue Building Blocks come in a mystery egg, so you won't know what vehicle you pick! Each set contains about 30 pieces so you can build your vehicle! There are 5 different vehicle variations that you can possibly get! Pick up your mystery egg in our Museum Store for only $2!
It's time to reveal the answer to this week's trivia question! The Union Fire Company was established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 7, 1736. This volunteer fire company was the first of its kind in the United States. It was co-founded by Founding Father Benjamin Franklin! The Union Fire Company was in active service as late as 1791.
Did you get the answer correct?
It's already August! Just because summer is quickly coming to a close doesn't mean our book recommendations are! We will continue to share recommendations till we run out! This recommendation features a classic character for many Curious George! The story takes readers on a field trip to the fire station with George! We love this story so much that we have 2 versions for sale in our museum store!
The English Version is available for $4
The bilingual Version is available for $5
Comment your favorite fire-related book below; it might be featured in a future post (it does not have to be available in our Museum Store)!
The last week of the City of Aurora Youth Services Summer Camp is complete! Although our original plans were changed due to the weather, we still had a blast! The 4th-grade kids got a fantastic Aurora -IL Fire Department nt tourAurora -IL Fire Department Aurora -IL Fire Department tour, created first aid kits, colored fire helmets, and completed the scavenger hunt! We hope all the campers had as much fun as we did this month!
Will we see you at Aurora Downtown's Stolp Island Block Party tomorrow night? We will be there all night, 5pm-9pm! Come find our table and say hello! This event is lots of fun, and you won't want to miss it! Hope to see you there!
Comment below your favorite emoji if we see you tomorrow night!
This week's trivia takes us back to the colonial era of history! Comment your answer and find out on Sunday, August 4th, if you got it right! We hope everyone is enjoying trivia as much as we are! Make sure to look at our stories for more trivia fun!
If you were to walk into the Company No. 1 side of Central Station back in December 1972 this would have been your view.
Check out Aurora Fire Department’s 1957 American LaFrance Pumper with gear ready to go.
Some things to keep in mind over the next few days with this crazy humidity and heat
Hot and Humid weather will continue the next couple of days. Keep these heat safety tips in mind from our friends and partners at Illinois Emergency Management Agency to help stay safe and cool!
Museum Store Spotlight
Who doesn't love a toy that involves building blocks? We have many options of items that involve building something, but these Mini Building Blocks are one of our favorites! We have 3 different versions: Benjamin Franklin, a cow, and a fire engine! They are available in our Museum Store for only $9 each!
Congrats to the new Deputy Chief!
There is still time to enjoy Summer at the Fire Museum! Be sure to follow us on social media and check our website for updates on all the exciting plans we have in store. Don’t miss out on any of the fun!
Mark your calendars now and join us for:
~ August First Fridays - Stolp Island Block Party (Friday, August 2)
~ National Night Out @ Kane County Sheriff's Office (Tuesday, August 6)
~ Family Night @ ARFM (Wednesday, August 7)
~ Second Tuesday Free Days (Tuesday, August 13)
There are 4 opportunities to have your Fire Museum Summer Passport stamped! Fill it and be entered to win a Marshall Pillow Pet!
Our weekly trivia answer is here! The two fires burning at the same time as the Great Chicago Fire on October 8, 1871, were the Phestigo Fire, and they now call the Great Michigan Fire!
The fire in Peshtigo, Wisconsin, burned on October 8 and 9, 1871, and is considered the deadliest wildfire in US history. The firestorm burned over 2,400 acres of land, including every building in Peshtigo and over 400 farms. More than 2,000 people were killed in this fire, and the local economy was destroyed.
A series of fires also burned in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, collectively known as the Great Michigan Fire of 1871. The cities of Holland, Manistee, and Port Huron suffered significant damage. Across Michigan, 2.5 million acres were destroyed, and thousands of buildings were damaged, with no lumber left to rebuild. The exact death toll is unknown.
Did you get the answer correct? What are some fire-related topics you would like a trivia question about?
Head on over to our Instagram () as we celebrate 130 years of Aurora’s Central Fire Station. Each day we will feature a new photo from our collection of Central Station and the Aurora Fire Department throughout the years.
Here is a look at some of the photos we posted over the last two weeks!
We can't believe that the last few weeks of summer are upon us! As we try to enjoy what is left of the summer, we figured it was important to share these boating safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Awareness of the dangers in and around the water is essential. We hope everyone stays safe and enjoys what is left of the summer!
The Fire Tetrahedron represents the four essential elements of a fire. These four things must be present simultaneously to produce a fire. Oxygen is needed to sustain combustion, enough heat is required to raise the temperature to its ignition temperature, some fuel or combustible material is necessary, and a subsequent exothermic chain reaction. If you remove any of these elements, the fire will be extinguished. Knowing how a fire is created is essential to avoid accidental fires.
53 N Broadway
Aurora, IL
60505
| Tuesday | 10am - 4pm |
| Wednesday | 10am - 4pm |
| Thursday | 10am - 7pm |
| Friday | 10am - 9pm |
| Saturday | 10am - 9pm |
| Sunday | 11am - 6pm |
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The wait is over! Our 2024 Holiday Ornament features Aurora's 1965 Cadillac Ambulance. Pre-Order yours today - ornaments are $20 each or two for $35 and can be shipped nationwide. #ARFM #Aurora #holidayornament
My name is Meggan Sommerville, a former firefighter and paramedic, and I have been a volunteer for The Aurora Regional Fire Museum for 5 years. I now have the unique privilege of working with three different fire museums across the country. The Aurora Regional Fire Museum’s mission of preserving this area’s rich heritage of firefighting and their continued efforts to connect with the community are just a few of the reasons why I return to Aurora to volunteer my time at the museum and contribute to its future. Join us today as a shared steward of the Aurora Regional Fire Museum in support of our $1.30 Endowment Campaign. Our endowment helps us live out our vision to honor and protect the past, present, and future of the fire service. Your contribution today will help sustain the museum into the future. Together, we can preserve history, protect lives, and inspire future generations. Visit https://bit.ly/arfmEndowment to donate today. #auroraillinois #savingplaces #PreservationMonth
94th Memorial of the Orpheum Fire with the Aurora -IL Fire Department.
TOMORROW IS THE DRAWING! Less than 24 hours remain to purchase your ticket for our Third Annual Meat Raffle! Each $25 entry gives you the chance to win one of six prizes valued at $1,500! Stop by the Museum or purchase your ticket online! Purchase your ticket online: https://bit.ly/2023MeatRaffle
Aurora! We are LIVE at our Fifth Annual Community Hero Day event at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum in Downtown Aurora. Watch Live as our partners at the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board demonstrate just how quickly a fire can spread within the home through a LIVE burn demonstration. Witness the role fire sprinklers play in saving lives and property! A huge thank you to the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB) and the Aurora Fire Department for making this demonstration possible 👨🚒🔥🧯👩🚒
Bourbon cooler raffle drawing! Last of the Night!
The 1948 American LaFrance is back in the building! And we’re on Tik Tok! Follow us at aurora_firemuseum for more!
Join us throughout the afternoon as we broadcast the Aurora Fire Department’s Promotional and Graduation Ceremonies. Tune in for the following: 3:30pm - 2020 Fire Academy Graduation
On this day, ninety-one years ago, the Aurora -IL Fire Department suffered the loss of one of their own in the line of duty. On May 9, 1929, the Aurora Fire Department responded to a fire at the Orpheum Building on the block of 79-93 Main St., now known as Galena Blvd. One of the responders was 61 year old, Captain Barney Weiler. Weiler entered the basement of the Orpheum Building to help one of his men fight a fire that had been discovered in the basement. Minutes later, Weiler emerged from the basement and collapsed into the arms of two firemen waiting on the sidewalk. Despite their efforts to save Weiler, he died of smoke inhalation before reaching the hospital. Weiler was the first line of duty death the Aurora Fire Department had. Weiler joined the Aurora Fire Department in 1898 and was promoted to Captain of No. 4 Company in 1907, working a total of 31 years for the department.
Thank you for joining us for Virtual First Fridays! The Aurora Regional Fire Museum is a 501c3 organization and we need your support. Consider making a donation or become a member and help us continue on during these trying times. https://aurora-regional-fire-museum.square.site/
Thank you for joining us for Virtual First Fridays! The Aurora Regional Fire Museum is a 501c3 organization and we need your support. Consider making a donation or become a member and help us continue on during these trying times. https://aurora-regional-fire-museum.square.site/
Last week, our staff and Board made the tough decision to close the Fire Museum in response to the coronavirus (Covid-19). Our number one priority is the safety of every visitor that walks through our doors. As a result, the Museum joins all of the other museums in Aurora with an immediate closure for thirty days. At this time, we hope to reopen during the week of April 13. We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust our activities according to the recommendations of local officials. We are committed to growing our social media presence and will provide additional content for families to enjoy. We hope this allows you to continue connecting with the Museum and our mission. Throughout our closure, our staff will remain accessible to answer any questions you may have about the museum and our exhibits. As a small business and a nonprofit, I ask you to continue to support us and the many others located in Aurora and across the region. Your support ensures that we will overcome this challenging time stronger than ever.
The Aurora Regional Fire Museum (ARFM) operates four social media accounts. We have a presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The purpose of these accounts is to further the reach of ARFM and to provide an avenue for the Museum to create and share content as it relates to history, safety, news, and upcoming events. Posts and comments to the page should not attack any individual or institution, posts that do this will be removed.
