NYC Fire Museum Unveils Exhibit Celebrating EMS/Firefighters During the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic was and remains challenging for everyone. While many around the world were forced to quarantine in place, that was not an option for first responders and health care providers. To honor and celebrate the heroism of paramedics, EMTs, and other personnel of the New York City Fire Department during the pandemic, a new exhibit recently opened to the public. The “Unmasking Our Heroes” exhibit premiered on April 15 and will be open for viewing through the end of August 2022 at the New York City Fire Museum (278 Spring Street in Manhattan).

The exhibit celebrates the valiant efforts of the department’s emergency medical services workforce as it responded to calls for medical assistance during the pandemic.

New York City Fire Museum Executive Director Jennifer Brown said the exhibit features dozens of poignant images—including a moving video in which FDNY EMTs and paramedics reflect on their service during the last 2 years—as well artifacts curated from the public and other items that showcase the heroism and extraordinary efforts of the first responders.

The museum began curating the exhibition and seeking contributions from the public shortly after the pandemic began and New York City went into lockdown in March 2020. The exhibit—which is spread out among gallery rooms—also features an interactive component that allows the public to leave personal messages thanking first responders.

“We made requests to the public to share their signs saying thank you and other items they had collected in the incredible outpouring of support the public showed for our frontline workers in EMS,” Brown says. “The centerpiece of the exhibit is a video, ‘Unmasking Our Heroes,’ the New York City Fire Department created. The video features a first officer, a paramedic, and an EMT talking about what it was like to respond. It is a truly compelling video and really highlights the amazing heroism of our first responders. It’s really incredible to watch the video in this quiet room. It is unbelievably impactful.

“The video was made in 2021 and they talk a lot about the height of the call volume. The deputy chief, who was a captain at the time, mentions she wasn’t with her children during that whole time because she didn’t want to expose them to anything. Listening to them talk about trying to protect their families was really emotional. The EMT talks about the importance of being with his crew during that time to bond and how they had to be each other’s support network because they had to isolate from their families.”

The video runs for 12 minutes on a continuous loop. Brown says the photography is sourced from the fire department and placed in the same room where visitors may watch the video.

“We have a lot of photography highlighting the public showing support with their signs,” she says. “We started collecting that in the summer of 2020, requesting items from the public. We also have a wall where members of the public can leave messages of gratitude. The board keeps getting filled up, and we will have several by the end of August. We will definitely keep those as part of the museum’s overall collection of artifacts.”

Another room highlights data from the response to COVID-19.

“The call volume hit record highs, especially in 2020, with 6500 calls in a day at one point,” Brown says. “We also have a manikin in that room that shows how they had to don their gear, with the medical protections and the masks. Sometimes they had to do it multiple times on a call for protection. It helps to show having to get into the full medical makeup.”

The exhibit is open 10 AM–5 PM Wednesdays through Sundays (advance ticketing is preferred but walk-ins are welcome). Masks are still required in the museum.

“We are seeing a lot of people returning to New York City, and a lot more international travelers,” Brown says. “We have had firefighters/first responders from around the world coming to see it since the exhibit opened. It has been really crowded, and it has been encouraging to see more people visiting.”

Admission is $10 for adults; $8 for students, seniors, firefighters, AAA members, and the federally disabled (with ID); and $5 for children. New York City Fire Museum Council and Cool Culture members, active and retired FDNY and NYPD members, and active and retired US military service members enter for free.

The mission of the New York City Fire Museum is to collect, preserve, and present the history and cultural heritage of the fire service of New York and provide fire prevention and safety education to the public, especially children. For more see https://www.nycfiremuseum.org.

Susan E. Sagarra is a writer, editor, and author based in St. Louis, Missouri.