EPISODE · Apr 12, 2026 · 18 MIN
The Peshtigo Fire of 1871
from HistMuse · host HistMuse
The Peshtigo Fire of 1871: The Deadliest Wildfire in American HistoryOctober 8, 1871. Northeast Wisconsin. Peshtigo and 16 towns burn simultaneously. Fires sparked by clear-cutting + months of drought. Winds hit 80 mph.A "tornado of fire" 100 feet high incinerates 1.2 million acres. 1,200-2,500 dead (exact count unknown). Entire families vaporized. Survivors jump into Peshtigo River, boiled alive by 120°F water.Chicago's famous fire same day overshadows deadliest U.S. wildfire ever. No rain for relief. Marshes explode. Iron bridges melt.HistMuse reveals the forgotten inferno that burned America.
What this episode covers
The Peshtigo Fire of 1871: The Deadliest Wildfire in American HistoryOctober 8, 1871. Northeast Wisconsin. Peshtigo and 16 towns burn simultaneously. Fires sparked by clear-cutting + months of drought. Winds hit 80 mph.A "tornado of fire" 100 feet high incinerates 1.2 million acres. 1,200-2,500 dead (exact count unknown). Entire families vaporized. Survivors jump into Peshtigo River, boiled alive by 120°F water.Chicago's famous fire same day overshadows deadliest U.S. wildfire ever. No rain for relief. Marshes explode. Iron bridges melt.HistMuse reveals the forgotten inferno that burned America.
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The Peshtigo Fire of 1871
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