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The Importance Of Fire In Chicago

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F or such a popular growing city was if fate for a disaster to occur. The great city of Chicago a fast growing city. Chicago's summer and fall in 1871 were unusually dry, with only one-fourth the normal amount of rain falling between July and October. Many of the city's wooden buildings and sidewalks had dried out in the summer's intense heat. Chicago's summer and fall in 1871 were unusually dry, with only one-fourth the normal amount of rain falling between July and October. Many of the city's wooden buildings and sidewalks had dried out in the summer's intense heat. Pollution in the city was a problem leaving the city river oily. In October 1871, dry weather and an abundance of wooden buildings, streets and sidewalks made Chicago vulnerable to fire. …show more content…

No one really know how or when the fire started but, Legend has it that a cow kicked over a lantern in a barn and started the fire, but other theories hold that humans or even a meteor might have been responsible for the event for one that was a huge problem not knowing how it started but also the fact that no help was sent until after the fire had already started to spread. Neighbors tried contacting the fire department but called the wrong one so no help or warning was made before the disaster. The fire burned wildly throughout the following day, finally coming under control on October 10, when rain gave a needed boost to firefighting efforts. The Great Chicago Fire left an estimated 300 people dead and 100,000 others homeless. More than 17,000 structures were destroyed and damages were estimated at $200

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