“Nebraska has such a rich tradition of firefighting,” Sommerville said. “The idea for this museum came about in 1969. It finally became a reality in 2009, so it’s been a long time coming. We have a rich tradition of firefighting, from structure fires to rural fires to wildland protection – we have it all here in this state. To be able to honor that and have it as a museum for 15 years is very special.”

Sommerville has worked at three different fire department museums across the country.

“Each one is unique in its own way,” she said. “They are there to tell the story of the fire service to the next generation.”

Staff at the Nebraska Firefighters Museum & Education Center will celebrate the facility’s 15th anniversary with a celebration at the museum from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The event will feature free food, raffle prizes and games — and raise awareness of the men and women who protect our lives and property as firefighters.

Admission to the celebration is free. Daytime admission to the museum tour is $4.50 for adults and $3 for children.

“To show the kids who are used to seeing these big, fancy fire trucks on the street a hand pump that took 22 people to operate is something very special,” Sommerville said. “They had to work hard to pull the pump to the scene and work hard to put out the fire. And they were working without any protective gear.”

Years ago, many community members were involved in firefighting.

“It gives the kids today a real appreciation for how far we’ve come,” she said. “Fighting a fire is hard, hard work, but think of all the men and women who came before them and what they went through. They risked their lives, just like the staff today.”

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Nebraska Firefighters Museum & Education Center, Sommerville hopes community members and residents across Nebraska will join the staff in celebrating.

“We’re throwing a great party to celebrate 15 years of preserving and honoring the rich heritage of firefighting in Nebraska,” Sommerville said. “We’ll also be celebrating Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday.”

Children can try their hand at a fire hose competition.

“They will be using a small diameter fire hose, but will still have full experience using a hose,” Sommerville said. “We are still looking for volunteers for our diving pool, someone who wants to sacrifice themselves for fire protection.”

The day will also include distribution of fire safety information and raffle prizes of 25 items donated by local businesses. Prizes include grooming services, pet beds, gift baskets, oil changes, movie tickets and donated rooms at local hotels.

The museum’s mission includes preserving Nebraska’s firefighting heritage and educating the public about the importance and benefits of the fire service in saving lives and property. The museum also aims to educate people about fire prevention and fire safety.

Sommerville realizes that most people only think about fire safety after a fire has already occurred.

“When school groups come to visit us, the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department members demonstrate all their protective gear,” she said. “They answer any questions about what they do in the event of a fire. They also talk to the children about prevention.”

Almost 80 percent of the firefighters in the country work on a voluntary basis.

“They’re not compensated for risking their lives,” Sommerville said. “I don’t think enough people understand what that means. When it comes to women in the fire service, we’re letting young girls know that women can be firefighters too. Only 11 percent of all volunteers are women. I was a firefighter in Illinois. We had girls who didn’t want to be firefighters come to the museum. After talking to us and seeing pictures of women fighting fires, they walked away thinking, ‘This is a real opportunity for me.’ We’re inspiring a new generation of kids who are seriously considering becoming firefighters.”

Smokey Bear and Sparky the fire dog will be at the event. The first 50 children will receive a gift bag from the two mascots.