Local Organizations to Host First Responder Career Fair in Downtown Aurora on Saturday

Aurora, IL – The Aurora Regional Fire Museum in collaboration with Waubonsee Community College and the Kane County Sheriff’s Office will host the Second Annual First Responder Career Fair on Saturday, September 21 from 9am-Noon on the downtown Aurora campus of Waubonsee Community College.

The event brings together over a dozen organizations and departments. Waubonsee Community College will have information about educational opportunities in fire science, nursing, and criminal justice. Rush Copley Medical Center will highlight careers in healthcare. We will also feature representatives from 7 local law enforcement agencies and 7 local fire departments.

• Fire Department Partners: Aurora, Montgomery and Countryside, Oswego, Geneva, Lisle-Woodridge, Elburn and Countryside, and Sugar Grove.

• Law Enforcement Partners:  Aurora Police, Kane County Sheriff’s Office, Metra Police, Streamwood Police, Elburn Police, Wheaton Police, and Bartlett Police.

 In addition to the attending organizations, attendees will be able to ask questions of our panel of professionals in our panel discussion about career paths at 10:30am. All attendees will have an opportunity to take a professional photo to be used on their LinkedIn Profile or social media.

 “We are so excited to be able to partner with so many organizations to expose our community to careers as first responders,” said Brian Failing, executive director of the Aurora Regional Fire Museum. “Earlier this year we revealed our vision for the future of honoring and protecting the past, present, and future of the fire service. Events like this allow us to engage with local departments and attract more career seekers to the profession.”

 Registration is suggested, but anyone can show up to learn more; https://bit.ly/FirstResponderCareerFair The downtown Aurora campus of Waubonsee Community College is located at 18 S. River Street, Aurora, IL.

Spellbinding Spirits: A Haunting Evening at the Fire Museum

Check out our newest program!

Join us on Saturday, October 26th from 7:00pm-8:30pm for a haunting evening at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum. Built in 1894 as Aurora‘s old central fire station, the museum boasts a long, rich, and haunting history. 

The Fire Museum is rumored to be home to the spirits of two children who can be heard giggling, a cantankerous male spirit that prefers an early bedtime, and a dapper fireman who enjoys seeing people walk around and admire the engines.  

We will be joined on this paranormal tour by Aurora Historian, Author, Paranormal Researcher, and local Tour Guide, Tracy Duran, alongside Medium and Hoof + Horn shop Witch, Ruby Sue Bee.  

You’ll get to enjoy a brief presentation by Tracy, accompanied by enchanting hors d’oeuvres and a Magical Mocktail, and will then get to explore the museum on your own with EMF readers to see if the ghosts of the museum’s past will unveil themselves to you!  

Dressing for the occasion is encouraged, so conjure up your best witchy outfits, and make this an October to remember!  This event is kindly sponsored by local shop Hoof + Horn.

Purchase your tickets today by scanning the QR code, clicking the link, or by using the form below!

Contact the Aurora Regional Fire Museum for more information.

 Are you a member of the Aurora Regional Fire Museum? If so, contact us for an exclusive code to save $5 per ticket!

Fire Museum to Host FREE Community Hero Day on Saturday

The Aurora Regional Fire Museum will host the Sixth Annual Community Hero Day on Saturday, October 7 from 10am-2pm. Community Hero Day is a free, community event. The event features a touch-a-truck with vehicles from a handful of community organizations spanning from safety to community services. Additionally, families will have an opportunity to interact with a variety of community partners.

RETURNING AGAIN this year, the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board will conduct a live fire demonstration at 1pm! Learn first-hand how quickly fires can spread as well as the importance of fire sprinklers in saving lives and property.

Event Highlights:

·         Touch-a-Truck featuring over a dozen vehicles from a variety of community heroes!

·         Free fire truck rides by Mrs. O'Leary's Fire Truck Tours (sponsored by DeNova Detect)

·         Tour Aurora’s Central Fire Station courtesy of the Aurora Fire Department

·         Safety information and booths from our Community Partners

·         Food available for purchase from 3 Food Trucks

·         Free Museum Admission

·         Live DJ playing family friendly music

Hosted at the beginning of Fire Prevention Month, Community Hero Day allows the Museum to educate the entire community about fire safety and safety in our community. “One of the messages of the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) is that fire prevention starts with you. Community hero day allows us to educate children and adults about fire safety and introduce them to service providers in our community that help get us safe on a daily basis,” said executive director Brian Failing.

The event will include vehicles from the Aurora Fire Department, Aurora Police Department, Aurora EMA, FEMA, Nicor Gas, ComEd, Ozinga, Kane County Sheriff’s Office, Dazzo’s, Groot, Metra Police, and the Illinois Tollway.

Community Hero Day is presented by First Alert and is free to the entire community due to the generous support of First Alert and all of our generous sponsors.

Fire Museum to Participate in Worldwide Day of Play this Saturday

Today, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum announces their participation in Our World: Worldwide Day of Play on September 30, 2023. As a day dedicated to experiencing joyful learning through play, this event is focuses on getting kids and their families up, out, and playing around.

The Aurora Regional Fire Museum will participate in Our World: Worldwide Day of Play by hosting an event on September 30 focused on play. Our Day of Play features play by teaching about firefighting and fire safety. Children and families are invited to complete a scavenger hunt throughout the museum by visiting from 10am-4pm with a reduced admission cost of $5 per family.

“Play is a powerful experience that enriches people’s lives in museums, schools, homes, and beyond,” states Arthur G. Affleck, III, executive director of the Association of Children’s Museums. “ACM is pleased to partner with Nickelodeon on amplifying the importance of play on wellbeing and healthy brain development, and to make learning more effective and joyful for everyone. As children’s museums, we believe in the power of play and we strive to nurture more play and playful learning everywhere we go.”

“We are thankful for the opportunity to participate in this National Day of Play. This provides an opportunity to introduce children and families to our museum and do our part to educate our community about the role of firefighters and fire safety,” said Brian Failing, executive director of the Aurora Regional Fire Museum.

Our World: Worldwide Day of Play is part of Nickelodeon’s Our World global initiative to inspire kids and provide them with tools to activate their individual and collective agency.  As part of a network of than 300 ACM member children’s museums who reach millions of families in North America, and the more than 1,000 museums participating in Museums for All, a national access initiative that ACM manages, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum is a vital collaborator in the Our World: Worldwide Day of Play.

For a list of all participating Our World: Worldwide Day of Play events and more information about the initiative, please visit www.childrensmuseums.org/dayofplay.

Spring Break at the Fire Museum

School is out in Aurora for Spring Break and that means that it is the perfect time to visit the Aurora Regional Fire Museum! We will be open 10am-4pm, Wednesday - Saturday! Make sure to stop by and explore the Museum during your break.

Stop by and learn all about the history of firefighting and explore our Children’s Discovery Room. This will be one of the last opportunities to check out our exhibit on the Great Chicago Fire before it comes down to make way for a new exhibit.

CPR Classes Open to the Public to be Held at the Fire Museum

Starting in February 2023, we will host American Red Cross Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED and Basic Life Support For Healthcare Providers Classes taught by DobroSKILLS CPR. DobroSKILLS CPR is an American Red Cross Licensed Training Provider based in Aurora, IL.

Owner and instructor, Bobby Dobroski, has taught CPR since 2016 and started his small business in 2022.  The CPR classes being taught at the Fire Museum will be blended; meaning the first portion will take place online and the second portion will be in-person held in our meeting space. All CPR certifications are valid for two years and OSHA approved. 

For more information, class schedule, and sign-up instructions for CPR and BLS classes go to DobroSKILLS.net. 

Bobby with The Learning Experience - Sauganash Directors Deb and Julie on Make Believe Blvd demonstrating the encircling thumbs technique on infant CPR manikins.

Looking for a unique venue for your workshop, presentation or meeting? If so, look no further than the Hayloft Theatre. Featuring tiered seating for 60 in cushioned seats, our space is perfect for a variety types of events and meetings. Check out our Rentals and Parties page for more information.