Emmet-Chalmers Fire Protection District

05/16/2026

04/15/2026

This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Emmet – Chalmers Firefighters want to recognize and say THANK YOU to the great dispatchers we depend on at the Macomb/McDonough County Communications Center.

Public Safety Dispatchers are an important part of emergency services; when there is an emergency, it all begins with them.

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, sponsored by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and celebrated annually, honors the thousands of men and women who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to the world’s citizens.



‪ #‎ThankaDispatcher‬ ‪ #‎NPSTW‬

03/29/2026

Burn ban continues for McDonough County. DO NOT BURN!

From the National Weather Service - Quad Cities:
..Elevated Fire Danger Today...

Gusty south winds gusting up to 30 MPH will combine with
mild temperatures, low humidity, and plentiful dried vegetation
to produce an Elevated Fire Danger through early this evening. If
a fire were to start under these conditions, there would be an
increased threat of fire spread and be difficult to control.

Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. Use extra caution while
operating outdoor equipment around dry vegetation and do not
carelessly discard ci******es.

03/26/2026

Tonight is the night!

03/22/2026

🚫🔥 BURN BAN IN EFFECT – McDonough County 🔥🚫

A countywide burn ban is now in place due to dry conditions and elevated fire risk. This ban will remain in effect until further notice.

❌ Prohibited Activities:
• Burning brush, leaves, or yard waste
• Agricultural burning
• Campfires and bonfires
• Burn barrels
• Any outdoor fire not fully enclosed

⚠️ Low humidity, mild temperatures and dried vegetation make fires spread quickly and dangerously. Most local fire departments rely on volunteers—please help keep us safe and available for true emergencies.

💸 Violations may result in fines, liability for damages, and other penalties.

🙏 Let’s work together to prevent unnecessary fires and protect our community.

Stay updated through local alerts and media.
www.mcesda.com
www.ecfpd.org

MACOMB, IL -- Due to ongoing dry conditions, elevated fire danger, and forecasted hot and dry weather patterns conducive to rapid fire spread, McDonough County officials have issued a countywide burn ban effective Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 7:00 AM, and continuing until further notice. The decision....

02/27/2026

RED FLAG WARNING - CRITICAL FIRE DANGER - DO NOT BURN!
McDonough County continues to be under a BURN BAN!

From the National Weather Service - Quad Cities:..RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM CST THIS
EVENING FOR CRITICAL FIRE DANGER...

The National Weather Service in Quad Cities has issued a Red Flag
Warning for unseasonably mild temperatures, gusty winds, low
relative humidity, and plentiful dry vegetation, which is in
effect from noon today to 6 PM CST this evening. The Fire Weather
Watch is no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA...Portions of southeastern Iowa, western
Illinois, and northern Missouri.

* TIMING...From noon today to 6 PM CST this evening.

* WINDS...Southwest to West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 20 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Middle to upper 60s.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread
quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

02/24/2026

Burn ban continues for McDonough County. DO NOT BURN!

From the National Weather Service - Quad Cities:
..Elevated Fire Danger Today...

South to southwest winds will become gusty up to 30 to 40 MPH
today. The peak wind gusts are expected from late morning through
early afternoon, before slowly decreasing from west to east as a
cold front approaches. These winds will combine with milder
temperatures, low humidity, and dry conditions to produce and
Elevated Fire Danger today, mainly between 10 AM and 5 PM. If a
fire were to start under these conditions, there would be an
increased threat of fire spread and it would be difficult to
control.

Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. Use extra caution today
by avoiding actions that could lead to fire starts. Be especially
careful while operating outdoor equipment around dry vegetation
and do not carelessly discard ci******es.

02/18/2026

McDonough County continues to be under a burn ban. DO NOT BURN!
Area fire departments have responded to numerous fires over the past several days.

From the National Weather Service - Quad Cities:
..Critical Fire Weather Conditions Today...
..RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO
8 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR CRITICAL FIRE DANGER...

* AFFECTED AREA...Portions of eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois

* TIMING...From Wednesday morning through Wednesday evening.

* WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 15 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly.
Fire behavior is expected to be extreme. Outdoor burning is not
recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

01/01/2026

In 2025, Emmet – Chalmers Firefighters responded to 113 incidents.

12/14/2025

🎅🚒 Santa Tracker Activated! 🚒🎅

The Emmet–Chalmers Firefighters have activated their Santa Tracker!

Starting today at 1:00pm, Santa will be traveling through the Meadowbrook and Georgetown subdivisions, riding his sleigh pulled by a fire truck. He’ll be stopping along the way to greet everyone and pose for photos 📸.

❄️ After traveling through the subdivisions, Santa will be at the Firehouse, where families can visit him before he heads back to the North Pole. Due to the cold weather, we encourage people to meet Santa at the Firehouse.

🎁 Donations Welcome
Firefighters will be collecting non-perishable food items to donate to families in need. Donations can be left near the sidewalk as Santa passes by.

📍 Stay Updated
Santa Tracker updates will be posted here on our page:
👉 facebook.com/emmetchalmersfire

🚨 Listen for the Sirens!
Santa’s arrival will be announced by the sirens of the fire trucks.

Happy holidays from the Emmet–Chalmers Firefighters! 🎄✨