Fire Prevention Week 2012

Yesterday - Monday, October 8, 2012 - marked the beginning of National Fire Prevention Week 2012 in the United States. But, have you ever wondered, how it got started? I did some research and found the answer.

It was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire that broke out on the evening of October 8, 1871 and continue to burn throughout the next day. By the time it was finally extinguished, it had resulted in the deaths of more than 250 people, left 100,000 Chicago residents homeless, destroyed in excess of 17,400 structures, and blackened more than 2,000 acres.

The "moo theory"

Turns out Mrs. O'Leary's cow wasn't to blame.

Popular legend has it that the conflagration was caused by a cow belonging to Mrs. Catherine O'Leary that kicked over a lantern setting the barn on fire. Like any good story, there is some truth to it and that truth is that the blaze most definitely did originate in the area of Mrs. O'Leary's barn. From that point, there are differing theories. One of these suggests that the blaze was caused by several neighborhood boys who were near the barn smoking cigarettes while another theory suggest the fire was caused by one of Mrs. O'Leary's neighbors. Perhaps the most far-fetched, at least to this writer, is the theory that the fire was the result of a fiery meteorite that fell to earth that night and started fires simultaneously in Chicago, Michigan, and  Wisconsin. But, like the "moo theory" significant evidence has never been presented to prove or disprove it.

The biggest fire that week

Although it's hard to believe, the Great Chicago fire was NOT the biggest conflagration to occur that week. That infamous honor belongs to the Peshtigo Fire -- officially the most devastating forest fire in American history (See: Peshtigo firestorm). The fire, which also occurred on October 8, 1871, raced through northeast Wisconsin completely destroying sixteen (16) towns, killing an estimated 1,152 people, and blackening 1.2 million acres.

Like the Great Chicago Fire, there are many theories has to how the fire started. The most plausible of these says that railroad workers clearing land to lay track unintentionally started the blaze that was quickly carried by gusty winds. Described by survivors of that horrendous day, the flames were whipping through the area "like a tornado".

Until next time, stay safe!