National Fire Academy campus map, directions and memorials

Directions to the National Fire Academy at the National Emergency Training Center

From Baltimore:

I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) to I-70 West (toward Frederick) to Route 15 North to Emmitsburg. Left turn off Route 15 to South Seton Avenue.

From Washington:

I-495 (Washington Beltway) to I-270 North (toward Frederick) to Route 15 North to Emmitsburg. Left turn off Route 15 to South Seton Avenue.

From Philadelphia and East:

Pennsylvania Turnpike West to Gettysburg, Exit 236 (Route 15). Go South on Route 15 to Emmitsburg. Right turn off Route 15 to South Seton Avenue.

From Pittsburgh and West:

Pennsylvania Turnpike East to Gettysburg, Exit 236 (Route 15). Go South on Route 15 to Emmitsburg. Right turn off Route 15 to South Seton Avenue.

From Herndon, Virginia (Dulles Airport):

Turn left onto Route 28 (turns into Route 7). Take Route 7 West to Route 15. At Leesburg, Virginia, take Route 15 North to Frederick, Maryland. Continue on Route 15 North to Emmitsburg. Turn left off Route 15 to South Seton Avenue.

National Fallen Firefighters Memorial

Since 1981, the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, located on the campus of the NFA, has stood as the national symbol of honor to America’s firefighters. In 1990, the U.S. Congress designated the monument as the “official national memorial to volunteer and career firefighters who die in the line of duty.”

The 7-foot stone monument features a sculpted Maltese Cross, the traditional symbol of the fire service. An engraved plaque on the monument bears a message from President Ronald W. Reagan. At the base of the monument an eternal flame symbolizes the spirit of all firefighters — past, present and future. Plaques encircling the monument list the names of the men and women of the fire service who have died in service to their communities since 1981. Whenever a firefighter dies in the line-of-duty, the U.S. Fire Administration posts a notice of the death at the monument and lower flags at the site to half-staff.

A Wall of Honor around the monument holds plaques with the names of firefighters who died in the line-of-duty. A brick Walk of Honor® winds through the beautiful campus, connecting the monument site to the historic National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Chapel.

To Lift a Nation (The 9/11 National Memorial)

In 2007, the “To Lift a Nation” statue created by sculptor Stan Watts was added to the National Memorial Park. This 40-foot tall bronze monument was created to honor the heroes of Sept. 11, 2001. The three-times life-size statue recreates the now-famous photo taken by Thomas E. Franklin, a photographer for the Bergen Record, who captured the image of three firefighters raising the American flag at Ground Zero. The monument stands 40-feet high, 6-feet deep, and 8-feet wide. Each of the three firefighter statues weighs more than 5,000 pounds and was formed from approximately 160 bronze sections weighing between 60 to 80 pounds each.

National Civil Defense/Emergency Management Monument

Dedicated on April 6, 2002, this monument honors the thousands of civil defense and emergency management professionals and volunteers who have worked hard and faithfully to protect the public from both man-made and natural hazards.

The centerpiece of the monument is a 15-ton block of polished white Vermont granite, shaped as a three-sided pyramid, representative of the federal, state and local governments and their efforts in working together to accomplish a joint mission. The triangular base is 5 feet on each side, rising to 15 feet in height. The pinnacle of the monument is capped with a large, bronze American eagle, sculpted by the world-renowned sculptor, Lorenzo Ghiglieri. The base is encircled by a stone and concrete plaza with appropriately inscribed bronze state plaques embedded in concrete, surrounded by a circle of state flags.