The Great Chicago Fire: Less "Great", More "Like, REALLY Not Chill, Dude"
Ah, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. A roaring inferno that turned a bustling metropolis into a smoldering crater. Over 17,000 buildings reduced to ash, folks wandering the streets with singed eyebrows, and a general sense of "welp, that didn't go according to plan." But here's the thing that history lessons often forget to mention: was Chicago, like, super fire-prone in October? Did the universe just have it out for the Windy City that month?
October: Chicago's Fiery Flirting?
Let's be honest, pinpointing the exact number of fires in pre-internet Chicago is about as easy as finding a decent deep-dish pizza outside of Illinois. Fire records back then were more like "scribbles on a bar napkin after a particularly spicy night." However, we do have some clues.
Exhibit A: The Great Chicago Fire itself. Dry summer, strong winds, a city built largely of wood – basically, Chicago was a giant fire waiting to happen. October might have just been the unlucky month it decided to, well, happen.
Exhibit B: "Flashback: 600 fires sprang up in Chicago the year before the Great Fire of 1871." [Chicago Tribune] Seems like Chicago had a bit of a fiery reputation even before the big one.
So, how many fires?
Honestly, we can't say for sure. But judging by the tinderbox conditions and Chicago's apparent history with spontaneous combustion, October was probably NOT the month to leave your curling iron on.
The takeaway? Chicago in October, 1871: Not the greatest time. More like a giant, unfortunate "hold my beer" moment in fire history.
