Our curator, Firefighter Brian Anderson gives us a tour of the Blue Room. This room contains a colorful comic book strip explaining fire prevention. The room is also interactive, kids can try on firefighter gear.

October 2019

PBS station WHYY in Philadelphia featured the museum in an episode of their show “You Oughta Know.”

The episode – Call the Fire Brigade! Appeared during Fire Prevention Week. From Season 2019, Episode 32. Video used with permission of WHYY. The video begins at the 5:48 mark.

PFD Historian Jack Wright discusses the fire alarm box system that dates back to 1856.

Our apparatus floor houses our collection of rolling stock, from horse drawn equipment to motorized engines. Take a virtual tour of the floor and learn more about our collection as our historian, Jack Wright, discusses the collection.

Photos by Brian Kutner

Memorializing Those Who Served and Those Lost in the Line of Duty

The Philadelphia Association for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Firemen was instituted on November 24, 1834.

Research regarding a monument and vault purchased by the Association has been ongoing at the museum. Lee Ryan has discovered information regarding the construction of the monument and the firefighters that were interred in the vault. Read more.

On the second floor of the museum, you’ll find our beautiful memorial wall. A large stained glass window memorial to Philadelphia firefighters who died in the line of duty. Photo by Brian Kutner.

Learn more about the history of the wall, the engraved brass plates, and the history of the names of those memorialized.

Fire Truck Model Builder John Digiesi talks about his work creating models of the Philadelphia Fire Department’s apparatus.

We have historical/archive services
Looking for historical information about Philadelphia firefighters or fire stations, or other information about the Philadelphia Fire Department?

We can help. We will be glad to research the files and find the information you need. Visit our gift store to purchase a request for research.

Archival information is also available through the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries.