Welcome to
The Warren Fire Department Museum
Located at 38 Baker Street, Warren, RI.
To schedule a visit, please contact Chief Warren Fire & Rescue, James Sousa:
Featured Museum Items
Fire Bucket (circa 1808) belonging to B. Eddy, made of leather and paint. Used for passing water to a pumper or directly onto flames, often personalized with names or initials.
Gamewell Fire Alarm System District Listing (1950), Warren, RI. Paper and ink listing of fire districts, used with a telegraph-based system of street-mounted boxes to alert firefighters.
Fire Engine 'Little Hero' (1802), a hand pumper fully restored and purchased by the Town of Warren in 1804. Operated manually by firefighters using long handles to pump water under pressure from wells or rivers to fight fires.
Fire Alarm System: Gamewell System (1900), made of wood and brass. A telegraph-based system where street-mounted boxes sent coded signals to the central fire station, alerting firefighters.
Helmet (1880) from Narragansett No. 3, made of metal, wool, and cotton, painted white. Now displayed at the museum, 38 Baker St., adjacent to Narragansett Way.
Steam Engine No. 3 (1870) at Narragansett Station. Manufactured by Cole Brothers, in Pawtucket, RI. This rare vertical piston steam engine, pumping 550-600 gallons per minute, is one of only 60 ever made.
Uniform Jacket #3 (1900), made of wool and metal.
Photograph (1900) of firemen in front of Station #3, Baker St., Warren, RI.
Warren Fire Department badge featuring the original "Little Hero" purchased by the Town of Warren in 1804.
Photograph (circa 1939) of Fire Engine #5 with other trucks in the background, Warren, RI. Features early unlined fire hoses made of cotton or linen, with brass fittings and a 1.5" diameter.
Book: A History of the Fire Department of Warren, Rhode Island (1912) by Virginia Baker, published by Boundfield Press, Warren, RI.
Poster: History of the American Firefighter (1990), created by Fire House Magazine. Depicts the evolution of firefighting gear, tools, and advancements.
Photograph (1955) of Fire Engine #2 in the Firemen’s Memorial Parade, Main St., Warren, RI.
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To schedule a visit, please contact Chief Warren Fire & Rescue, James Sousa: jsousa@townofwarren-ri.gov
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The Town’s original, fully restored Hand Pumper/fire apparatus, the “Little Hero”, purchased in 1804 is housed at the Museum. Memorabilia and equipment from as early as 1802, when the Department was formed, to the present is on display, including helmets, leather fire buckets, uniforms, insignia, and photographs.
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The Warren Fire Department, established on May 20, 1939, originally served Warren Township with its first fire station located in a renovated gas station at 22730 Van Dyke. The department’s first firefighter was Vern Lumex, and William Van Huile was the first fire chief. The original Station #1 operated until August 23, 1955, when it moved to 8321 9-Mile Road. As the community grew, fire stations #2 and #3 were completed in 1949, and Station #4 was added at 5961 Beebe in 1957. In 1957, Warren Township became a home rule city and incorporated the Village of Warren, expanding the fire department’s responsibilities.
In subsequent decades, the department continued to grow, with Station #6 opening in 1967, administrative offices moving to the old Police Station in 1980, and a new Station #3 completed in 1986. A new Station #4 was dedicated in 1992, and plans for new fire stations #1 and #5 are underway as part of the Civic Center South project. The Warren Fire Department has continuously adapted to meet the needs of the community throughout its history.
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The Warren Fire Department Museum exists to safeguard the history, artifacts, and traditions of firefighting, connecting our community to the valor and dedication of its first responders.
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To schedule a tour of the Firemen’s Museum at 38 Baker Street, please contact:
James A. Sousa | Chief Warren Fire & Rescue
1 Joyce Street
Warren, Rhode Island 02885Email: jsousa@townofwarren-ri.gov