<p>On October 8, 1871, two fires were set ablaze. Though one is likely written in your history books and one has been left to the ashes.</p> <p>While the Great Chicago Fire was burning through the Windy City, there was a much more disastrous event happening here at home: The Peshtigo Fire.</p> <p>150 years ago, The Great Fire of 1871 destroyed Peshtigo, burning down all but one building and killing 800 people in the city alone, according to <a href="http://www.peshtigofiremuseum.com/fire/">The Peshtigo Fire Museum</a>.</p> <p>Charlie and Gabriella walk us through what caused this natural disaster — including weather patterns and standard industry practices of the time — as well as why it could never happen again.</p> <p>We also hear from Barb Englebert Chisolm, who does historical reenactments of how her ancestors survived the fire.</p> <p><strong>Additional resources:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.weather.gov/grb/peshtigofire2">The National Weather Service</a> details the large-scale weather patterns that contributed to the fire</li> <li><a href="https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Newspaper/BA13523">Wisconsin Historical Society’s</a> newspaper story about the fire’s history from 1921</li> <li><em>Fire Storm at Peshtigo</em> by Denise Gess and William D. Lutz</li> </ul> <p><strong>WBAY’s coverage of the Peshtigo fire:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.wbay.com/2021/10/06/door-county-belgian-community-commemorate-150th-anniversary-great-fire/">Door County Belgian community to commemorate 150th anniversary of The Great Fire&nbsp;</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wbay.com/2021/09/24/peshtigo-celebrate-rebirth-ashes/">Peshtigo to celebrate “rebirth from the ashes”</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wbay.com/2021/08/25/interview-brown-county-historical-society-publishes-book-fires-1871/">Brown County Historical Society publishes book on fires in 1871</a></li> </ul>