Western Reserve Fire Museum

The idea of a fire museum began in 1972 when a group of 12 fire buffs formed the Western Reserve Fire Buff’s Association (WRFBA). This was a diverse group of people interested in firefighting, fire apparatus, and fire history. The goal was to share these interests with others through programs and events held throughout the year, with the long term goal of someday creating a fire museum in Northeast Ohio. To extend their outreach they became a member of the International Fire Buffs Association and a chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America (SPAAMFAA). In 1992 WRBA hosted an IFBA convention that drew over 300 attendees and the profit from this event provided the seed money to start the planning for a future fire museum.