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The Peshtigo Fire of 1871 — still the…

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Scott Thomas fishes along the eastern shore of the Peshtigo River on Sept. 1, 2021, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. It was on this same shore that residents of the town plunged into the river to save their own lives during a devastating fire on Oct. 8, 1871, the same night as the Great Chicago Fire.
Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune
Scott Thomas fishes along the eastern shore of the Peshtigo River on Sept. 1, 2021, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. It was on this same shore that residents of the town plunged into the river to save their own lives during a devastating fire on Oct. 8, 1871, the same night as the Great Chicago Fire.

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The Peshtigo Fire of 1871 — still the deadliest fire in United States history

By | swescott@chicagotribune.com | Chicago Tribune
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Scott Thomas fishes along the eastern shore of the Peshtigo River on Sept. 1, 2021, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. It was on this same shore that residents of the town plunged into the river to save their own lives during a devastating fire on Oct. 8, 1871, the same night as the Great Chicago Fire.
Scott Thomas fishes along the eastern shore of the Peshtigo River on Sept. 1, 2021, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. It was on this same shore that residents of the town plunged into the river to save their own lives during a devastating fire on Oct. 8, 1871, the same night as the Great Chicago Fire.
Crossing guard Barbara Kuckuk stops traffic so that Alayna Malke, 7, can scooter along French Street on her way to school on Sept. 2, 2021, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin
Crossing guard Barbara Kuckuk stops traffic so that Alayna Malke, 7, can scooter along French Street on her way to school on Sept. 2, 2021, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin
Cubby Couvillion, 95, sits near the mass grave in the Peshtigo Fire Cemetery on Sept. 1, 2021, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. Couvillion is a local historian and past president of the Peshtigo Fire Museum.
Cubby Couvillion, 95, sits near the mass grave in the Peshtigo Fire Cemetery on Sept. 1, 2021, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. Couvillion is a local historian and past president of the Peshtigo Fire Museum.
An arrow points toward a mass grave, while in the background Kevin Matson and Linda Wabanimkee study headstones in the Peshtigo Fire Cemetery on Sept. 1, 2021.
An arrow points toward a mass grave, while in the background Kevin Matson and Linda Wabanimkee study headstones in the Peshtigo Fire Cemetery on Sept. 1, 2021.
Cubby Couvillion, 95, walks down the aisle of the Peshtigo Fire Museum on Sept. 1, 2021, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. Couvillion is a local historian and past president of the Peshtigo Fire Museum.
Cubby Couvillion, 95, walks down the aisle of the Peshtigo Fire Museum on Sept. 1, 2021, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. Couvillion is a local historian and past president of the Peshtigo Fire Museum.
Burned pages of a bible and broken china are some remnants found on display at the Peshtigo Fire Museum on Sept. 1, 2021, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin.
Burned pages of a bible and broken china are some remnants found on display at the Peshtigo Fire Museum on Sept. 1, 2021, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin.
A boy rides his bike across the bridge over the Peshtigo River on Sept. 1, 2021, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. It was on this same shore that residents of the town plunged into the river to save their own lives during the Peshtigo Fire in 1871.
A boy rides his bike across the bridge over the Peshtigo River on Sept. 1, 2021, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. It was on this same shore that residents of the town plunged into the river to save their own lives during the Peshtigo Fire in 1871.
Fire chief Mike Folgert, shown Sept. 1, 2021, has volunteered with the Peshtigo Fire Department for 35 years.
Fire chief Mike Folgert, shown Sept. 1, 2021, has volunteered with the Peshtigo Fire Department for 35 years.
The Peshtigo Fire Museum in downtown Peshtigo, Wisconsin, on Sept. 1, 2021.
The Peshtigo Fire Museum in downtown Peshtigo, Wisconsin, on Sept. 1, 2021.
Carl Hanson walks his dog, Whaya, near the shore of the Peshtigo River on Sept. 1, 2021, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. It was on this same shore that residents of the town plunged into the river to save their own lives during the 1871 fire.
Carl Hanson walks his dog, Whaya, near the shore of the Peshtigo River on Sept. 1, 2021, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. It was on this same shore that residents of the town plunged into the river to save their own lives during the 1871 fire.
A Smokey the Bear fire alert sign sits on the roadside in Peshtigo, Wisconsin.
A Smokey the Bear fire alert sign sits on the roadside in Peshtigo, Wisconsin.
Scott Thomas fishes along the eastern shore of the Peshtigo River on Sept. 1, 2021, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin.
Scott Thomas fishes along the eastern shore of the Peshtigo River on Sept. 1, 2021, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin.

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