The Peshtigo Fire, which occurred on October 8, 1871, is the deadliest wildfire in American history, claiming an estimated 1,500 to 2,500 lives. Despite its catastrophic scale, the fire has often been overshadowed by the Great Chicago Fire, which occurred on the same day. However, the Peshtigo Fire’s ferocity, speed, and devastation left a profound mark on the northern Wisconsin landscape and its history.
