Fire Brigade Museum | Espai Bombers: Parc de la Prevenció

About Fire Brigade Museum | Espai Bombers: Parc de la Prevenció

The Barcelona Fire Brigade Museum, Espai Bombers: Parc de la Prevenció, is a museum inside a historic building that is the former Fire station built for the 1929 world Exhibition in Montjuïc and the only surviving historic fire station building remaining in Barcelona. The space is actually much more than a museum, describing itself as a training, dissemination and exhibition centre dedicated to safety and prevention of fires.

Renovation of the building was undertook from 2014 to 2017 to convert it from a disused fire station into the current space. The construction if the building is brick and stone for the walls with steel beam spans for the roof and floors. The building ceased to be used as a fire station in 2000 and was left empty till 2003 when it was used as a venue for the World Police and Fire Games. From 2005 it was provisionally used by the Spanish National police as offices until 2013 when Barcelona City Council took ownership to transform it into the current museum and education space.

The permanent exhibition explains the history of the Barcelona Fire Brigade from its inception in 1825 and later incorporation as a municipal service in 1839. The motto of the Barcelona fire brigade, Vetllem, protegim i salvem, (We watch over, protect and save) can be seen on the wall of the museum space.

Today, the service consists of only 425 firefighters.
Today, Barcelona is served by only seven fire stations.
Today, each fire station is provisioned with up to 10 fire fighting vehicles.
2025 marks the 200 year anniversary of the service.

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Visiting Fire Brigade Museum | Espai Bombers: Parc de la Prevenció

Two horse drawn, steam powered pump carriages: used coal to fire a steam boiler that would create the pressure to drive the water hose pumps. They are Merry-weather steam pumps made in London, UK. The steam pumps typically took a team of six to operate, having a stoker/fireman who would feed the boiler, a mechanic that would operate all the valves, plus four firefighters that would operated the hoses.
Two petrol powered 1920s ladder and pump cars: The smaller of the two is a Delahaye 84 PS that has a 400L water tank. the larger is a Delahaye 59. they were purchased by Barcelona Fire Brigade in 1923 and 1921.
Horse drawn hand cranked pump: was operated by two firemen who cranked the large over head swing arm that would drive a manual pump.
Ford Model A sedan: was a four door vehicle from the early 1920s that could transport firemen.

The 1971 IberiaRadio factory fire: when the Poble Nou factory was destroyed by fire.
The 2005 Carmel sinkhole: a sinkhole opened as a consequence of the tunnel boring machine working below for the L9/L10 metro tunnels.
The 2007 Barcelona blackout: a large electricity transformer caught fire leaving about a tenth of the city without electricity for months.

There are many more examples and photos but the above three were the ones that stuck in my memory, especially the blackout because I was working as an infrastructure engineer at the time so was very busy during that period.

Surrounding the vehicle's are objects of historical interest such as fire fighting equipment, first aid equipment, helmets from all periods, plus more fire service street furniture such as fire alarms and hydrants.

When you enter the courtyard museum entrance you will see on the wall a poignant set of plaques dedicated to all the Barcelona fire fighters that have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Fire Brigade Museum Opening Hours

Tuesday: 10:00h to 14:00h
Wednesday: 10:00h to 14:00h & 16:00h to 20:00h
Thursday: 10:00h to 14:00h
Friday: 10:00h to 14:00h & 16:00h to 20:00h
Saturday: 10:00h to 15:00h & 16:00h to 20:00h
Sunday: 10:00h to 15:00h
Closed: Monday's and most public holidays

What to take with you for Fire Brigade Museum | Espai Bombers: Parc de la Prevenció

The Barcelona Fire Brigade Museum is at ground level with a shallow ramp inside the museum so is fully accessible for those with reduced mobility.

You may be asked to deposit large rucksacks, bags and other over sized items in reception before entering. Access should be OK with a small 10L rucksack.