October 8th, 2023 Marks the 153rd Anniversary of the Great Peshtigo Fire
Published 2024-10-03
On October 8, 1871, the most devastating forest fire in American history swept through northeast Wisconsin, claiming 1200 lives. The anniversary of the Peshtigo Fire usually receives little note outside the region because another horrific fire the same night -- the great Chicago Fire -- still seems to hog the headlines.