Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

Aurora Regional Fire Museum officials say that although the pandemic is lingering, there are signs of things getting more like normal at the facility at 53 N. Broadway in Aurora that reopened in January based on the state’s COVID-19 mitigation plan.

Executive director of the museum Brian Failing said “We’ve been open normal hours which are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and have seen people mostly in the afternoons. We’re seeing up to about 30 people a week and are hoping that as the weather improves and spring and summer arrive, our numbers will grow.”

The museum operates under the current COVID-19 guidelines which include having visitors wear masks as well as maintaining social distancing. Exhibits that include hands-on components and other touching elements have been taken out as well as having touch points reduced.

In the meantime, work to provide exhibits and attractions for visitors has continued, with the installation of new exhibits in the past two months including half a dozen pictures depicting fire department-related subjects as well as a new exhibit on loan from the national Emergency Medical Service. The installation covers the topic of innovation in emergency medical services from battlefield medicine to modern civilian techniques, and will be on loan for a number of months.

Looking ahead, more exhibits are planned including work on a Safety in the Home exhibit which would roll out this summer as well as a new fall initiative which would honor two events.

Tags: Aurora Regional Fire Museum

Excerpts from the Dailyherald.com:

 The Aurora Regional Fire Museum will kick off Fire Prevention Week a few days early as part of Aurora Downtown’s First Fridays event from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6. The museum will feature a variety of activities for children to partake in, information for parents on safety, as well as a variety of local artists and vendors. All activities are free, while supplies last.

Special this month will be a variety of activities in honor of Fire Prevention Week. Activities include:

• Children can color their own fire helmet and fire safety bookmark to take home.

• New York Life Insurance will be on hand to provide child safety ID kits for all parents to have in case of an emergency. New York Life’s Child ID Program is designed to help children in our

community learn how to stay safe in the home, at play, or wherever they happen to be. In only 3 to 5 minutes, a child ID kit is printed for each parent or guardian free of charge. These include a child’s photo, fingerprints, contact information, and other pertinent data needed by the police in case of an emergency.

• First Alert, the leading brand in fire safety, will be providing educational materials and fun activity sheets on the importance of whole home safety. Also included, will be a raffled basket of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and other safety products.

In addition to these special activities, the museum will feature a variety of local artists and vendors as part of their Pop-Up Shops. This month will feature everything from jams and baked goods to handmade signs. Vendors include: Splinter and Things, BoogieBean Boutique, Kiddie Capes, A Little Something Sweets, Ursula Naturals, Moondragora, Young Living Wellness, Short Bench Woodworks, The Cookie Garden, and Covered in Chocolate.

“Collaborations like this with local artists and area businesses allow the Museum to engage with the community in new and exciting ways. First Fridays provides the perfect platform and audience to try new concepts and forge new relationships,” said Executive Director Brian Failing.

Fire Prevention Week runs from Oct. 8-14. It has been sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association since 1922, when the commemoration began. It is observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which Oct. 9 falls, in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began Oct. 8, 1871, and did most of its damage Oct. 9.

The Aurora Regional Fire Museum preserves the history of the Aurora Fire Department and fire service in our region through our collections and exhibits while educating visitors about fire safety and prevention. For more information about this event or the Museum, contact Brian Failing, executive director, at (630) 256-4141 or ed@auroraregionalfiremuseum.org.

Tags: Aurora Regional Fire Museum