Great Chicago Fire of 1871

_{Great Chicago Fire of 1871, image credit: Wikimedia Commons_ Author:
Currier and Ives_ CC0 Public Domain}

This incident occurred around147 years ago, there was a fierce fire in the United States of Chicago. The Great Chicago Fire is one of the disasters that can be heard in the United States of the nineteenth century. This fire started on October 8, 1871, on Sunday night. And all the accepted steps for extinguishing the fire was unsuccessful until Tuesday morning on 10th October. The entire Chicago city was turned into a damaged city in that devastating fire.

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How this fire was originated?

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There are many legends about the cause of the fire in Chicago city. From Catherine and "Mrs. O'Leary's" cottage house, who was a respected family in the city, maybe this fire was thought to originate. It is said, on the night of 8th October, O'Larry goes to his cottage house to collect cow's milk. At the time, a cow kicked "Mrs. O'Leary". As a result, "Mrs. O'Leary" falls upon the fire lamp and this is thought to be the initial beginnings of the fire. Some others thought that the accident occurred in the light of the incident in a gambling chat.

_{In 1871, the fate of the Chicago City Fireworks on the cover of the popular Harper magazine and the fictional of the Mrs. O'Leary's Cottage house. image credit: Wikimedia Commons_ source: Harper's Magazine, 1871, Author: Anonymous_ CC0 Public Domain}

Others peoples say this incident happened took place due to the blaze of meteor flames who flying from the sky. Later, experts analyzed the matter. According to them, as a result of burning flames, the temperature decreases with water vapor and soil exposure. Because of this meteorite, it is not possible to make such a big fire in the city of Chicago. Despite the many searches, the real cause of the fire is still not found. But whatever the reason for the fire, the devastating fire, completely burnt to ash of the city's about 9 square kilometers area.

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The reason for the spread of the fire in Chicago city

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It was a dry season. In that year, the entire Chicago and its surrounding areas were very hot. The temperature was rising. There was no apprehension of rainfall in the city. In the region from July to October, there was very little rainfall. From the old records of the local weather office, it is known that only 3 inches of rainfall occurred during this time. Due to the lack of rainfall, the environment around the city was dry and rough. As a result, the fire spread rapidly due to dry weather.

_{Chicago city before the nineteenth century, image credit: Wikimedia Commons_ Author: W. Flint_ CC0 Public Domain}

In the nineteenth century, the city of Chicago was full of greenery. There were millions of trees and forest-Banani across the city. It seemed as if people were living in Swapnipuri by building a dream house in the vast forest. Due to the absence of dry weather and rainfall, the trees were remained dry and faded. As a result, the fire was spreading around the city. At that time most of the houses in the city were made of wood.

The poor inhabitants of different parts of the city lived in a large part of the city. The majority of them lived together and built houses of wood with a low amount of money. There was no security arrangement in these houses. After the blaze took place, Chicago's popular magazine 'Chicago Tribune' published in September has come out in detail about the issue.

_{After the fire spread, the people of Chicago, image credit: Wikimedia Commons_ Author: John R. Chapin_ CC0 Public Domain}

In the nineteenth century, there was no impression of specific plans in the construction of buildings in Chicago and its surrounding towns. That time the buildings in Chicago city all the rules of the fire extinguishment would not have been properly accepted. As a result, most of the houses were built in unplanned. Also, Government supervision was too weak to obey these rules. This is also thought to be a reason behind the spread of the fire so rapidly in Chicago city.

_{People escaping the Chicago Fire fleeing into Lincoln park in 1871, image credit: Wikimedia Commons_ Author: victorgrigas_ CC0 Public Domain}

Moreover, fireworks management in the city of Chicago was not modern. In addition, after a long period of the fire incident, the firefighters heard the news of the fire being. Despite getting the news of the fire, the firefighters went wrongfully to another place without reaching the fireplace. As a result, it was too late to take the necessary steps for fire extinguishing. After the misunderstanding, the firefighters to return to their correct address. This time the fire spread so much that, it was not possible for the firefighters to extinguish the fire. Eventually, the rain started on Tuesday morning and the situation of the fire was prevented.

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The amount of damage in the accident

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In this tragic fire, the Chicago city becomes rubble city. The black smoke and the ash bursts all around the city. It was also difficult to determine the extent of the damage. A few months after this incident a report from the local administration of Chicago was published, where the amount of damage was shown, approximately 190 million US dollars.

_{Pictures of the ruins of the city of Chicago, image credit: Wikimedia Commons_ Author: Unidentified photographer, printer or publisher_ CC0 Public Domain}

More than 300 people died alive in this incident. Of these, 120 bodies were recovered. Over 1,000 homesteads, business establishments, shops, hotels, government-owned offices are completely burned from the fire. The city's resident was 3 million In it, one million people became homeless. Many important documents are burnt to ashes in the fire. Among those important documents were some of the important letters of the US Presidency Abraham Lincoln and the famous Chicago-based photographer Alexander Hessler's, some of the rare images of Lincoln, which were completely destroyed.

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Rebuilding Chicago City

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In the 19th century, one of the biggest disasters in the United States was The Chicago Fire. After the devastating fire, the City of Chicago's administrative and law enforcement systems were completely broken. The US government then entrusts the whole city to the military. Martial law was issued to bring the law and order to the city under control.

US President Ulysses S. Grant initially arranged to provide help for victims from his personal fund. The work of sending help from the neighboring states of Chicago begins. Then the city reconstruction work started. Conditions for fire extinguishers were made more stringent and the people of the city were strictly supervised whether they were following it properly or not.

In spite of the fierce fires of Chicago, the city's infrastructure, transportation, and communication remain almost intact so that the city reconstruction work can be started quickly. Extensive economic activity begins. With the help of architects, all modern facilities of modern urbanization were arranged. Large high-rise building was being built at this time. After a tireless year, Chicago became a modern city. The city's population was increased a huge amount. In nine years, Chicago's population grew to five million.

In 1890, the city of Chicago became the economic center of millions of people. The city is known as the main hub of the transport sector. With it, the city became the center of tourist attraction. Later, a Fire Department Training Academy was formed here. Coincidentally, it was built next to O'Leary's homestead, and many Chicagoans still remember the place where the Great Chicago Fire has started.

Image sources AND LICENCES:

All the images which I used in this post, they are free for commercial use and royalty free. Original images links also provided under them.

If You Want To Further Reading About This Article Don't Forget To Checkout These REFERENCES:

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