When the Island Burned: Fires that Shaped the Vineyard

When the Island Burned: Fires that Shaped the Vineyard

Humans have used fire as a tool since before they were human, but have never completely tamed it. Occasionally, it escapes our grasp, and becomes a terrifying agent of destruction. Catastrophic fires are less-remembered on the Island than devastating storms, but they have played a significant role in Vineyard history. Join MVM’s Research Librarian Bow Van Riper for a look at some of the Vineyard’s iconic fires, from the blaze that gave the Island its first fire department, and 1883 inferno that leveled downtown Vineyard Haven to the twin fires that reshaped Oak Bluffs in the summer of 1965 and beyond.

[Please note: This is an online program]

Admission: $10 per participant. Registered attendees will receive a link to join by email before the program begins.

DETAILS


Date January 15, 2026
From 5:00 pm
To 6:00 pm
Type Talk
Venue Live on Zoom
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