Great Midwest Fires of 1871

E29320

The Great Midwest Fires of 1871 were a series of devastating wildfires across several Midwestern U.S. states, including the infamous Peshtigo Fire, that caused massive destruction and loss of life in early October 1871.


Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf historical disaster
series of wildfires
aftermath changes in fire safety awareness
increased attention to forest management
cause extreme drought conditions in 1871
slash-and-burn land clearing practices
strong winds
climateCondition prolonged dry weather
coincidesWith Great Chicago Fire
Great Michigan Fire
Peshtigo Fire
country United States of America
deathTollEstimate several thousand people
describedAs one of the deadliest wildfire episodes in U.S. history
documentedIn 19th-century American newspapers
economicImpact severe property damage
hasPart Great Chicago Fire
Great Michigan Fire
Holland Fire
Manistee Fire
Peshtigo Fire
Port Huron Fire
historicalRegionAffected Great Lakes region
locatedIn Illinois
Michigan
Upper Midwest
Wisconsin
location Midwestern United States
mainImpact destruction of millions of acres of forest
destruction of multiple communities
large loss of human life
notableFire Great Chicago Fire
Great Michigan Fire
Peshtigo Fire
notableFor extreme fire behavior
simultaneous large fires across multiple states
partOf environmental history of the United States
history of wildfires in the United States
precededBy summer 1871 drought in the Midwest
relatedTo logging and land-clearing practices in the 19th century Midwest
urban fire safety reforms in Chicago
significantEvent massive destruction of towns and forests
startDate 1871-10-08
studiedIn disaster history
wildfire science
timePeriod October 1871
windCondition gale-force winds in early October 1871

Referenced by (7)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Great Midwest Fires of 1871 ("Great Michigan Fire")
Great Midwest Fires of 1871 ("Manistee Fire")
hasPart
Great Midwest Fires of 1871 ("Great Michigan Fire")
coincidesWith
Peshtigo Fire ("Great Michigan Fire")
concurrentWith
Great Midwest Fires of 1871 ("Great Michigan Fire")
notableFire
Great Holland Fire of 1871 ("1871 Midwest fires")
partOf
Great Holland Fire of 1871
temporalOverlap

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