In 1871, Chicago had a dry July to September. No rain fell in October’s first week as temperatures soared and humidities dropped. On the night of Oct. 8, southwest winds at 20 to 40 mph pushed fire rapidly through a city built mainly of wood.
2 FIRES: OCT. 8-10, 1871
Peshtigo, Wis.
1,200 deaths (800 in Pesthigo); 1.2 million acres burned; 17 towns suffer damage
Chicago
300 deaths; 3 square miles burned
One ironic aspect of Chicago’s fire was that much of the wood used came from Wisconsin near Peshtigo.
SOURCES: Frank Wachowski, National Weather Service archives, U.S.D.A. Forest Service
STEVE KAHN AND RICHARD KOENEMAN/WGN-TV
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