The Peshtigo Fire happened near the town of Peshtigo in northeastern Wisconsin on October 8th, 1871, the same day the Great Chicago fire began. The Peshtigo fire burned 1,875 square miles and destroyed twelve communities, killing between 1,200 and 2,500 people. The fire is believed to have been started by small fires that were used for land-clearing that blew out of control and created a firestorm.
People who attempted to escape the giant flames were often met with their own deaths. If they didn't burn alive or suffer from smoke inhalation, they drowned or froze to death in the deep wells and the frigid rivers. The fire itself generated so much smoke that the Green Island Light, a lighthouse, was kept continuously lit for weeks. The Peshtigo Fire's death toll couldn't even be properly counted because all records had gone up in flames. It was truly a dark time for America as a whole.
Fun Facts:
- There was a theory that the fire had been started by a meteor touching down. This was debunked when NASA submitted a paper that stated that meteors are cold to the touch when they reach the surface of Earth.
- By the time the fires were done, they had burned 1.2 million square acres, an area fifty times larger than Rhode Island.
- Families fled to a local chapel in their area for protection. Even though the chapel was surrounded by flames, it survived nature's fury.
Two pieces of lumber that survived the Peshtigo Fire:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please be respectful. Think to yourself, "Would I say this to a child?"