It scorched 1.2 to 1.5 million acres, although it skipped over the waters of Green Bay to burn parts of Door and Kewaunee counties. The damage estimate was at $169 million, about the same as for the Chicago Fire. The fire also burned 16 other towns, but the damage in Peshtigo was the worst.
How long did the Peshtigo wildfire last?
On the night of Oct. 8-9, 1871, this fire destroyed in two hours a swath of forest 10 miles wide and 40 miles long and obliterated the towns of Peshtigo and Brussels, killing about 1,500 people.
Was the Peshtigo Fire bigger than the Chicago Fire?
Peshtigo Fire: Introduction Historically, the Peshtigo Fire has been somewhat overshadowed by the Great Chicago Fire, though the Peshtigo Fire covered a much greater area and had many more fatalities. The Peshtigo Fire burned 1,875 square miles and destroyed twelve communities, killing between 1,200 and 2,500 people.
What is the largest US fire in history?
Peshtigo, today a small city located in northeastern Wisconsin's Marinette County, was the site of the largest (areal) and deadliest single wildfire in North American history. It happened nearly 150 years ago.
What was America’s deadliest fire?
The Peshtigo Fire America's Most Devastating Wildfires
| Fire | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Peshtigo Fire | October 8, 1871 | Deadliest fire in American history. The fire created its own wind system and turned into a tornado. |
| The Great Michigan Fire | October 8, 1871 | |
| Hinckley Fire | September 1, 1894 | |
| Yacolt Fire | September 1902 |
How did the Peshtigo Fire affect people?
The human toll was 1,152 known dead and another 350 believed dead. Another 1,500 were seriously injured and at least 3,000 left homeless. The property loss was estimated conservatively at $5 million and this did not include 2 million valuable trees and saplings and scores of animals.
Why is the Peshtigo Fire forgotten?
Peshtigo's logging industry was partially to blame for the disaster. In an era before responsible forest management practices, loggers simply stripped the land without regard for potential fire hazards they created.
How long did the Big Burn last?
For two terrifying days and night's – August 20 and 21, 1910 – the fire raged across three million acres of virgin timberland in northern Idaho and western Montana.
How long did the longest wildfire last?
The Chinchaga Fire started in logging slash in British Columbia, Canada, on 1 June 1950 that grew out of control and ended five months later on 31 October in Alberta; in that time, it burned approximately 1.2 million hectares (3 million acres) of boreal forest.
How many died in Peshtigo Fire?
In a few hours Peshtigo was burned to the ground, with about 800 people killed; with the surrounding areas included, the total number of deaths reached some 1,200–2,400. A monument commemorating those who died is in Peshtigo Fire Cemetery, and a museum houses exhibits on the subject.