Читать книгу The Worst World Disasters of All Time - Kevin Baker - Страница 19

Image author Royalbroil- Lumber that survived the Peshtigo fire.

Date: 8^th October, 1871.

Location: Peshtigo, Wisconsin.

Disaster Type: Forest fire.

Fatalities: An estimated 2,500 deaths.

Resulting Damage: 1.2 million acres of land destroyed by a firestorm.

On October 8th, 1871 the worst recorded wildfire disaster in North American history occurred, which killed around 2,500 people and burnt 1.2 million acres of land. This fire is not well known, because the 'Great Chicago Fire', which was not as deadly, but received more press coverage, took place on the same day. The reason why the Peshtigo fire did not receive as much press coverage was because the Great Chicago Fire had more of an economic impact.

The cause of the fire has never been determined, but at that time there had been a prolonged drought and high temperatures, setting the perfect conditions for a major fire. Steam engines constantly kicked out sparks that regularly ignited surrounding brush or grass. There was also slash and burn pine forests which provided dry timber for forest fires to consume. There were also many wooden buildings, sawdust floors and board walks.

High winds resulting from a cold front that was moving in from the west created a firestorm. Survivors described a fiery tornado that lifted cars and houses into the air. One account describes the firestorm as being a mile high wall of flame, five miles wide and travelling at 100 miles per hour. There was nothing to stand in its way. The Peshtigo Company had a horse drawn steam pump, and that was about it in regards to fire fighting defences at that time. The fire was so incredibly intense that it jumped over the Peshtigo River and several miles over the Green Bay waters. The vortex sucked up the smoke high into the air, so the flames were clearly visible.

Some people who were taking refuge in the river were caught in the centre of the flame tornado and had to duck under the water as their hair would spontaneously burst into flames otherwise.

Not every victim died of fire burns, some people who had jumped into rivers or wells died of hypothermia and some drowned. When the storm was over, 350 bodies were buried in a mass grave which was partly due to the victims being unidentifiable.

The fire didn't stop raging until it had burnt everything in Peshtigo, until there were no more trees to burn. When the town was rebuilt afterwards it wasn't booming as a mill town anymore, as it had been in the past, as all the trees had gone.

Today there is a Peshtigo Fire Museum and a dedicated graveyard for victims of the disaster. On the 8th of October every year, the Peshtigo Historical Society holds a candlelit service in memory of the horrifying event.

This firestorm interested the U.S. military and they began to study the event, as they wanted to know how to create such conditions on enemy soil during World War II.