Macomb Fire Department Provides Safety, Service to Community for 13-Plus Decades
The Macomb Fire Department has been serving the community for well over 130 years, and in those 13-plus decades, firefigthers throughout the years battled their fair share of fires. The Community News Brief, using excerpts from Macomb Fire Department history compilation, courtesy of the Macomb Fire Department (with information from old Macomb Journal editions), along with a presentation from Chief Dan Meyer and Western Illinois Museum Director Sue Scott, pulled together notable fires over the years. This year marks the fire department's 50th anniversary of calling the new Macomb Fire Station One its home.
When the citizens of Macomb formed a fire brigade in 1883, they were addressing the need of their time, which has continued on today.
January 8, 1881
Fischers' Foundry Fire: The whistle at Fischers' Foundry shrieked out the shrill alarm of fire. Huge volumes of smoke issuing from Fishers' Foundry showed the location, and in a short space of time two or three hundred willing workers had assembled there. Gash's water wagon, containing 13 barrels, arrived and a bucket line was formed. The fire started by the spark of an anvil. Total loss was close to $100.
