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Fire Prevention Week has ties to Great Chicago Fire

  • Published
  • 375th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Emergency Services Flight and the National Fire Protection Associ
Scott Air Force Base, Ill. --  Fire Prevention Week has its roots in the Great Chicago Fire, which began Oct. 8, 1871 and continued into Oct. 9 when most of the damage occurred. In just 27 hours, this tragic fire killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. To this date the actual cause of the Great Chicago Fire is unknown.

While the Great Chicago Fire was the best-known blaze to start during this fiery two-day stretch, it wasn't the biggest. That distinction goes to the Peshtigo Fire, the most devastating forest fire in American history. The fire, which also occurred on Oct. 8, 1871, roared through northeast Wisconsin, burning down 16 towns, killing 1,152 people, and scorching 1.2 million acres before it ended.

Historical accounts of the fire indicate the blaze began when several railroad workers clearing land for tracks unintentionally started a brush fire. Before long, the fast-moving flames were whipping through the area 'like a tornado,' some survivors said. The small town of Peshtigo, Wis., suffered the worst damage. Within an hour, the entire town was destroyed.

The Fire Marshals Association of North America, now part of the National Fire Protection Association, was responsible for starting Fire Prevention Day. The day was first proclaimed by President Wilson on the 40th anniversary of the Chicago blaze. In 1925 President Harding was the first to officially proclaim National Fire Prevention Week. Every president of the United States has signed a proclamation proclaiming a national observance for Fire Prevention Week since 1925. According to the National Archives and Records Administration's Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record.

After eight decades the NFPA continues to be the international sponsor of Fire Prevention Week, which covers the entire week Sunday through Saturday that includes Oct. 9, the anniversary date of the Great Chicago Fire. In 1957 NFPA assigned the first theme for Fire Prevention Week "Don't Give Fire a Place to Start," and has provided a theme every year since. This Year's Theme is "Protect Your Family from Fire."