Write ONE paragraph summary about Chicago Fire
The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was a transformative disaster that burned from October 8 to October 10, killing approximately 300 people and leaving more than 100,000 residents nearly a third of the city's population homeless. Sparking in or near the O’Leary family barn on
DeKoven Street
The flames spread rapidly through the city’s predominantly wooden infrastructure, fueled by a severe drought and high winds. The inferno decimated over 17,000 structures across three square miles, including the central business district, resulting in an estimated $200 million in damages. Despite the devastation, the tragedy paved the way for Chicago’s legendary "phoenix-like" rise, leading to stricter fire safety codes, a massive population boom, and a revolution in urban architecture that birthed the modern skyscraper.