A museum documenting the history of the Harrisonburg Fire Department is now equipped with a video tour led by the agency's long standing leader.
On July 4th, 1944, an ice delivery truck had a short in its wiring, causing a vehicle fire. Another day, an oil stove blew up, causing over $1,500 in damage. Cigarettes caused accidental fires on Warsaw Avenue and many other locations throughout the year. These vignettes are recorded in a logbook from the 40s, one of the historical artifacts on display on the third floor of the public safety building in Harrisonburg. It sits alongside giant fire hose reels, rescue nets, and hazmat suits collected from the last 170-some years of firefighting in the city. And now, whenever you visit the museum, retired Fire Chief Larry Shifflett can be your guide – through a series of videos linked to QR codes at each exhibit.