I have a lot of connections to the fire fighting community. My father and grandfather were both volunteer fireman, my great grandfather on my mother’s side was as well, and my best friend even have several family members that are serving as well. As such, when I found the Hall of Flame Fire Museum in our Arizona guide book, I knew we had to go.

Located just minutes from the Phoenix Zoo and Botanical gardens, the Hall of Flame is a true treasure. It boasts that it is the largest fire fighting museum in the nation with over 90 fire apparatus in their collection. I became about as giddy as a child while Karly and I walked through the displays that date from 1725 through 1969, including several examples from Japan, Germany, Italy, and other nations.

In addition to the trucks and wagons, there were also exhibits on forest and wildfire units, 9-1-1 and dispatch operator systems, and a section about household fire safety for the younger visitors. However, the most powerful and touching section for me was the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes. This section featured stories of the men and women who went above and beyond the call of duty and received awards for valor. It also featured the names of every registered and active firefighter that gave their life in the line of duty since 1981, including a special monument to the hundreds that perished in the attacks on September 11th, 2001. I am not ashamed to admit that I was moved to tears during this wonderful dedication.

A final display of note is the thousands of firefighting unit arm patches that cover the walls of several of the rooms. With the help of a directory, I was able to track down several departments that I knew and were familiar with. If you or someone you know is involved with fire and rescue, and would be willing to donate a patch to their collection, the museum would be proud to display it.

The Hall of Flame Fire Museum is, in my opinion, a must see item for anyone that will be in the Phoenix area. It has much to offer and is great for all ages. I hope that you will take the time to see this wonderful treasure. For more information, please visit the Hall of Flame Website.