In 1957, a group of firefighting enthusiasts - employees of the Leningrad Fire Department - came up with a proposal to organize a firefighting exhibition. An initiative group was created, which included: the head of the UPO B. I. Konchaev, employees of the department - G. M. Kulakov, M. N. Demyanenko, G. G. Tarvid, F. B. Zilberstein, S. A. Shabanov, N. A. Gogin and others.

To create the exhibition, a collection of materials was announced in the garrison, an appeal to veterans and long-serving servicemen was published, and for the same purpose, tours of fire departments were organized, where firefighting tools, equipment, etc. were selected. All this contributed to the receipt of valuable and necessary exhibits. The exhibition received historical documents, books, banners, photographs, souvenirs and much more. Students and teachers of the I. E. Repin Academy of Arts provided great assistance in the design of the exhibition.