Forged in Fire: The Rossland Fires
We have created a new outreach exhibit at the Prestige Mountain Resort - just in time for International Firefighters Day!
Forged in Fire: The Rossland Fires covers the history of Rossland's significant fires and the beginning of the Rossland Fire Department.
Like many boomtowns, Rossland was plagued with fires in its early days. Mining camps were especially affected by fires due to quickly-built and makeshift structures largely constructed of wood. Insurance companies urged the town to make fire upgrades, and in 1896 the Rossland Fire Department was formed as a volunteer force. Still, Rossland's downtown was hit by huge fires in 1902, 1927, and 1929, altering the building landscape and forcing additional fire safety upgrades. The most notable difference was the loss of the upper floor of the Post Office in 1929. The history of the fires and Rossland's firefighters is a tale of perseverance, calamity, and community.
While we could not bring one of the fire trucks in our collection downtown, Forged in Fire features photographs and artifacts from our extensive fire department collection. We have created a map showing the locations of the major Rossland fires to help explain where key fires took place.
This exhibit will be on display in the front window of the Prestige Mountain Resort during the summer of 2021. Follow that up with a visit to the museum to check out our fire trucks and additional equipment!
1999.16.6 - RFD Firefighter’s Helmet
You can also explore more of the collection in our online collection database - Community Portal! Click below for the Rossland Fire Department collection (in progress).
We want to thank the Prestige Mountain Resort for being an ongoing supporter of our Outreach Exhibit program.
