The Latvian Fire Museum (Museum) is part of the State Fire and Rescue Service. The Museum was opened in 1978 in an Art Nouveau building at Hanzas Street 5, which was built in 1910 according to the design of architect Reinhold Georgs Schmeling.
The Museum's mission is "To introduce the public to the history of the development of firefighting and civil protection in Latvia, to promote the readiness of residents to act correctly in the event of possible disasters.".
Museum exhibition and collection
The Museum's exposition educates and informs about the history of firefighting in Latvia from the mid-19th century to the present day and the history of the development of civil protection. The Museum's exposition is complemented by various exhibitions.
In total, the museum's collection consisted of 32,619 items as of June 2025. The collection is supplemented every year, mainly through donations from legal entities and individuals. The museum's collection is available to interested parties on weekdays from 08:30 to 17:00, with prior arrangement for visits.
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The history halls on the first floor display firefighter uniforms, helmets, tools, awards, hand and mechanical pumps from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as the "Chevrolet Six" fire truck;
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The second-floor exhibition allows you to trace the development of firefighting from the 1940s to the present day, to get acquainted with signaling and fire-fighting devices, firefighters' work clothes and equipment. Contains information about the largest fires and other disasters of recent years;
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The Hall of Fame keeps the names of firefighters who died in the line of duty, lists of awarded firefighters, and the flags of the State Fire and Rescue Service and the Latvian Fire Museum.
Museum visitors can learn practical skills in extinguishing, participate in quizzes, and watch documentary videos during their visit.
Visiting the Museum
Museum Opening Hours
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
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Closed |
10.00 - 17.00 |
Closed |
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On the eve of the holidays, the Museum is open from 10:00 to 16:00.
The Museum is closed on official holidays:
- January 1st,
- on Good Friday,
- on Easter,
- May 1st,
- May 4th (Day of the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia),
- on Midsummer days (June 23, 24),
- November 18,
- on Christmas December 24, 25, 26),
- on New Year's Day (December 31).
The Museum cash desk closes 30 minutes before the end of the Museum's working hours.
Getting to Museum
From the center of Riga:
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by trolleybus No. 3 to the stop "Lāčplēša iela",
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trolleybus No. 19 to the stop "Dzirnavu iela",
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by bus No. 2; No. 24 to the stop "Dzirnavu iela".
There is a parking lot opposite the Museum for tour buses and individual vehicles of Museum visitors. Bus parking must be coordinated with the Museum attendant.