Many of the Kansas City's fountains are dedicated as memorials and a great example of which is the Firefighters Fountain. It was completed in 1991 and one of the largest fountains in the city situated in Penn Valley Park, north of Country Club Plaza at 31st and Broadway.

As its name implies, the fountain is a tribute to the firefighters and those who had died in 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. It was 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 might be construction-related explosives at the site, but they were not aware of the volume of the 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 and 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.

Hence, an outdoor fountain was deemed to be the most appropriate memorial for the fallen firefighters considering the city’s reputation as “The City of Fountains”. The project was funded by the Kansas City Parks Department and through private donations.

Larkin Aquatics was commissioned to design the water fountain and associated landscaping. A competition was held to determine who would sculpt the centerpieces which are two bronze firefighters. 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 with 48 nozzles that are actual brass fire hose nozzles and surrounded with an 80 feet diameter basin holding 76,000 gallons of water. The fountain’s water sprays create a striking resemblance to water being sprayed from a fire hose.

In addition to the fountain itself, there are 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. At present, the fountain is a well-known attraction for locals and visitors alike.