08/14/2026
Last week we had the honor of visiting The Hall of Flame located at 6101 E. Van Buren Street, directly across from the Phoenix Zoo and next to Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The Hall of Flame is dedicated to preserving the history, equipment, technology, and human stories of firefighting. It is widely recognized as the world's largest museum devoted to firefighting history.
The collection began with George F. Getz Jr., who started collecting firefighting apparatus in the 1950s. The museum was established in 1961 and eventually moved to Phoenix, where the current museum opened in 1974.
It is much larger than you might expect, approximately 35,000 square feet, with more than 130 pieces of firefighting apparatus and thousands of smaller artifacts.
What you will see?
· Fire engines and firefighting equipment dating back to the 1700s
· Hand-drawn and horse-drawn fire apparatus
· Early motorized fire engines
· Firefighting uniforms, helmets, tools and equipment
· Thousands of fire department patches
· Wildland firefighting exhibits
· Historic fire alarms and communications equipment
· A 1952 American LaFrance fire engine visitors can actually climb aboard
· A fire-safety learning area for children
· Art and historical materials related to the fire service
If you’ve never visited the Hall of Flame Fire Museum, we encourage you to make it a destination! It’s more than a collection of historic fire engines, it’s a powerful tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and service of firefighters and first responders throughout history. Take some time to explore, learn, and honor the men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting our communities. You’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for the heroes among us. A big thank you to Chuck Montgomery for inviting us to come out and tour.🚒
