The Firefighters Fountain, Kansas City, USA
Firefighters
Fountain - 1991
The Firefighters Fountain of Kansas City is located Penn Valley Park, north of Country Club Plaza at 31st and Broadway. As its name implies, the Firefighters Fountain is a memorial to those firefighters who have fallen in the line of duty throughout the city’s history. The decision to create this memorial for all of the fallen firefighters was brought on by a tragic event in 1988. Early in the morning on November 29, 1988, Kansas City fire trucks were dispatched to put out a burning pickup truck at a construction site. They were warned that there may be construction-related explosives at the site, but they were not aware of the volume of powerful explosives that were inside several trailers adjacent to the burning truck. The explosion that occurred when the fire from the truck set off one of the trailers killed six firefighters instantly.
The tragedy was felt throughout Kansas City. The loss was made even more difficult to understand when a subsequent investigation revealed that arson had caused the initial fire. The arsonists were individuals involved in a labor dispute with the construction company.
In an effort to commemorate those who had died in the disaster, a plan was formed to memorialize not only these firefighters, but all those who had died in the line of duty in Kansas City’s history. In keeping with Kansas City’s reputation as ”The City of Fountains,” an outdoor fountain was the logical choice for a memorial. The project was funded by the Kansas City Parks Department and private donations.
Larkin Aquatics was commissioned to design the water fountain and associated landscaping. A competition was held to determine who would create the two bronze sculptures planned to figure importantly into the fountain’s design. The winner of the competition was a local sculptor, Tom Corbin. Corbin’s work can be seen in several other prominent Kansas City water fountains.
The finished fountain features two sculpted bronze firefighters pointing a hose. The sculptures are surrounded by a basin of water approximately 80 feet in diameter and holding 76,000 gallons of water, making this outdoor fountain one of the largest in Kansas City. Water shoots from 48 brass nozzles that are real nozzles used on fire truck hoses. The fountains water sprays create a striking resemblance to water being sprayed from a fire hose.
In addition to the fountain itself, there are a series of short pillars located in a semi-circle behind the fountain. Etched into the granite are the names of every firefighter in Kansas City who has died in service. In the center of the pillars, there is the figure of a firefighter with his head bowed.
The fountain was completed and dedicated in 1991. As one of the largest in the city, it is a popular stop for locals and visitors.