History of Chicago Fire

The Chicago Fire, also known as the Great Chicago Fire, refers to a catastrophic event that took place in Chicago in 1871. When did the Chicago fire begin? It started burning from October 8 and continued till October 10, 1871. October 8 was a Sunday. The fire lasted till the early hours of Tuesday that followed.

History of the Chicago Fire

The Great Chicago Fire ended hundreds of lives in Chicago and devastated an area of about four square miles in Chicago, Illinois. It is regarded as one of the most severe disasters in the 19th century that the United States had to face.

The Chicago fire started around a small shed near 137 DeKoven Street. A cow kicking a lantern was believed to have been the cause of this fire. However, the reporter who had made up this story admitted to have done so to make his report interesting. Chicago housed many wooden constructions, which caused the fire to spread. Secondly, the strong winds from the southwest caused the fire to spread faster. The massive devastation that the fire caused was also a result of the carelessness of the people of Chicago. They did not take heed of the fire, when it had just begun.

After the fire department was informed, the guard in the department did not take any immediate action. It was after the fire got bigger that the guard realized the severity of the incident. The fire reached a tall church located to the west of Chicago River. It soon spread to the other parts of the city destroying hotels, departmental stores, theaters, the City Hall and also the water works of the city. It eventually became uncontrollable, until nature came to the rescue of Chicago. The winds became milder and the city experienced a drizzle due to which the fire extinguished itself.

After this unfortunate event, Chicago underwent dramatic change. The rebuilding that followed the devastation led Chicago to become one of the most important economic centers of USA. The municipal flag of Chicago bears four stars, one of which commemorates the Great Chicago Fire.

For a detailed description of this incident, read about the Great Chicago Fire.