The Western Illinois Museum, in collaboration with the One Book One Community Festival, will host a community conversation on historic fires in McDonough County with Fire Chief Dan Meyer on Thursday, April 23, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, followed by a pizza supper at the Museum.
The program is offered to explore the 2026 One Book One Community theme, “Fire, Light and Warmth, Danger and Destruction.” This year’s selected readings explore how fire, while destructive, can also serve as a catalyst for reform, innovation, and community resilience.
Sue Scott will share public records documenting significant fires in McDonough County, and Chief Meyer will examine how each event influenced local firefighting practices, policy and building codes.
Drawing from major fires spanning over 80 years, Chief Meyer and Scott will explore the causes and longterm effects of each event. Using historic photographs and primary documentation, they will guide a conversation about what changed as a result of these incidents and how those changes continue to shape public safety today.
Fires featured in the discussion include:
