The Fateful Night: October 8, 1871
On the night of October 8, 1871, a small spark in a barn owned by the O’Leary family in Chicago ignited a blaze that would go down in history as the deadliest fire in American history. It was a dry and windy night, conditions that were perfect for a fire to spread uncontrollably. The fire raged for two days, consuming everything in its path. Hundreds of buildings turned to ash, and the city was left in ruins. It wasn’t just the flames that were deadly, but the chaos that ensued as people frantically tried to escape. The fire claimed the lives of an estimated 300 people, though the exact number remains uncertain. The destruction was not just…..