The Great Fire

Jim Murphy – Fires were common in Chicago, where buildings, roads and sidewalks were made of wood. The fire that started in Patrick O’Leary’s shed on October 8, 1871 was not unusual, but a few fatal errors kept the fire spreading. This engrossing story tells how in 31 hours over 100,000 people had fled and 17,500 buildings were destroyed. R:LG.