Anne Samowitz, right, of Scarborough pets Jim, a Belgian horse owned by Sonny Richards of Windham, on Saturday while visiting the Portland Fire Museum on Spring Street. Anne is a volunteer at the Victoria Mansion in Portland and wanted to gather more information about Portland's Great Fire of 1866 to share with visitors she meets. Jim and his buddy Sam, left, have made appearances for six years at the fire museum's annual open house.

Dana Asdourian of Scarborough, a former Portland firefighter for 30 years, stands by "Atlantic," a hand-pump engine from 1848, while educating Jack Johnson of Memphis, Tenn., at the annual open house.

Ed Marks, president of the Portland Veteran Firemen's Association, Phil McGouldrick, retired fire chief of South Portland, and Jim Fahey, deputy vice president of the Portland Fire Museum, share stories while sitting on a fire engine.

Members of the Claddagh Mhor Pipe Band entertain visitors outside the Portland Fire Museum during the annual open house.

Antique leather water buckets line shelves inside the Portland Fire Museum.