Aurora Regional Fire Museum to Host FREE Eighth Annual Community Hero Day on October 4

The Aurora Regional Fire Museum is excited to host the Eighth Annual Community Hero Day on Saturday, October 4, from 10 AM to 2 PM. This free, family-friendly, event celebrates our community’s heroes with engaging activities, demonstrations, and educational opportunities.

Community Hero Day will feature a wide range of attractions including a touch-a-truck experience, fire truck rides, live fire department demonstrations, free hands-only CPR classes, face painting, and more!

Returning this year! The Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board will hold a live fire demonstration at 1 PM. Witness firsthand how quickly fires can spread and learn about the life-saving importance of fire sprinklers.

Event Highlights:

• Touch-a-Truck: Explore over a dozen vehicles from local organizations.

• Fire Truck Rides: Enjoy free rides courtesy of Mrs. O'Leary's Fire Truck Tours

• Fire Station Tours: Tour Aurora’s Central Fire Station, offered by the Aurora Fire Department.

• Hands-Only CPR: Take a free hands-only CPR class to learn how to save a life in an emergency.

• Safety Information Booths: Engage with various community partners.

• Food Vendors: Tasty eats available for purchase from Strawberries BBQ

• Free Museum Admission: Access the Aurora Regional Fire Museum at no cost.

• Live DJ: Enjoy family-friendly music throughout the event.

“This event continues growing year after year and is one of the largest of its kind in the area,” said Brian Failing, executive director of the Aurora Regional Fire Museum. “What started as a way to celebrate our community heroes has evolved into an annual tradition that brings together our community in support of public safety.”

This year’s participants include the Aurora Fire Department, Aurora Police Department, Aurora EMA, Nicor Gas, ComEd, Kane County Sheriff’s Office, Dazzo’s, Metra Police, Illinois Tollway, and West & Sons Towing.

Community Hero Day is made possible by the support of our generous sponsors. We extend our deepest thanks to our fire truck ride sponsor, Denova Detect, as well as our gold sponsors, Nicor Gas, Comcast, and Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board, for helping us offer this event free of charge to the community.

Learn Hands-Only CPR at Community Hero Day – October 4

Come for the trucks, stay to save a life! This year’s Annual Community Hero Day at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum is packed with family fun — and a chance to gain a truly life-saving skill. Alongside fire truck rides, firefighter demonstrations, food trucks, and Touch-a-Truck opportunities, you can also learn Hands-Only CPR in a free outdoor class.

Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Location: Aurora Regional Fire Museum (outdoors at Community Hero Day)
Class Times: 10:30 AM | 11:30 AM | 12:30 PM | 1:30 PM

Each session lasts about 30–45 minutes and will be taught by Bobby Dobroski of DobroSKILLS CPR, an American Red Cross Licensed Training Provider who regularly teaches classes here at the museum.

Important Notes:

• This is a hands-on class only – no online learning required.

• The Hands-Only CPR course is not OSHA-approved. If you need CPR for workplace requirements, you’ll need a full certification such as Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED.

Spots are limited!
Register today for your free CPR class: dobroskills.net/free-cpr-class

For more information about additional CPR training at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum, visit: dobroskills.net/arfm

Aurora Regional Fire Museum to Host Traveling 9/11 Exhibit

The Aurora Regional Fire Museum is honored to host America United: The Days After 9/11, a powerful traveling exhibit opening to the public on  Tuesday, June 3. Created by the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn, the exhibit explores the national response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

“As we approach the 24th anniversary of that tragic day, I hope this exhibit serves as a space for reflection and conversation across generations,” said Brian Failing, Executive Director of the Aurora Regional Fire Museum. “For those who remember, it is a moment to honor and reflect; for those born since, it is a chance to learn and understand. We have a responsibility to ensure the memory of 9/11—and the stories of courage, loss, and unity—are never forgotten.”

While the exhibit includes a timeline of the day’s events, its focus is on what came after: the emotions, resilience, and acts of unity that followed. Two interactive tables prompt visitors to reflect on themes of compassion, community, and what it means to be American. The centerpiece includes two steel beams recovered from the World Trade Center. The exhibit is appropriate for all ages.

“The Aurora Regional Fire Museum continues to serve as a powerful place of remembrance and education,” said Aurora Fire Chief David McCabe. “This exhibit honors the memory of those lost while inspiring new generations to reflect, learn, and lead with compassion.”

The public is invited to a special welcome ceremony at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 2 at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum. Members of the Aurora Fire and Police Departments will escort the exhibit to the museum, where it will be received by the Aurora Fire Department Honor Guard. Brief remarks will follow.

America United will remain on display through Saturday, September 13. Additional artifacts and stories from the Museum’s own 9/11 collection will also be featured.

Aurora Regional Fire Museum to Host FREE Seventh Annual Community Hero Day on Saturday

The Aurora Regional Fire Museum is excited to host the Seventh Annual Community Hero Day on Saturday, October 5, from 10 AM to 2 PM. This free, family-friendly event, presented by First Alert, celebrates our community’s heroes with engaging activities, demonstrations, and educational opportunities.

 Community Hero Day will feature a wide range of attractions including a touch-a-truck experience, fire truck rides, live fire department demonstrations, free hands-only CPR classes, face painting, and more!

 Returning this year! The Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board will hold a live fire demonstration at 1 PM. Witness firsthand how quickly fires can spread and learn about the life-saving importance of fire sprinklers.

Event Highlights:

• Touch-a-Truck: Explore over a dozen vehicles from 14 local organizations.

• Fire Truck Rides: Enjoy free rides courtesy of Mrs. O'Leary's Fire Truck Tours

• Fire Station Tours: Tour Aurora’s Central Fire Station, offered by the Aurora Fire Department.

• Safety Information Booths: Engage with various community partners.

• Food Vendors: Tasty eats available for purchase from Strawberries BBQ & Home Run Hot Dogs.

• Free Museum Admission: Access the Aurora Regional Fire Museum at no cost.

• Live DJ: Enjoy family-friendly music throughout the event.

“This event has grown into one of the largest of its kind in the area,” said Brian Failing, executive director of the Aurora Regional Fire Museum. “What started as a way to celebrate our community heroes has evolved into an annual tradition that brings together nearly 50 organizations in support of public safety.”

This year’s participants include the Aurora Fire Department, Aurora Police Department, Aurora EMA, Nicor Gas, ComEd, Kane County Sheriff’s Office, Dazzo’s, Groot, Metra Police, Illinois Tollway, Illinois Army National Guard, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

 Community Hero Day is made possible by the support of our generous sponsors. We extend our deepest thanks to our presenting sponsor, First Alert, and our platinum sponsor, ATI Restoration, for helping us offer this event free of charge to the community.

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!