Peshtigo fire of 1871 Forest fires that had been burning for several days and destroyed hundreds of square miles of forest and farmland consumed Peshtigo, Wisconsin, on October 8, 1871. In a few hours the city was razed, and about 800 people were killed; with the surrounding areas included, the total number of deaths reached some 1,200–2,400. (more) What Is the Deadliest Wildfire in History? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/What-Is-the-Deadliest-Wildfire-in-History Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Kenny Chmielewski Kenny Chmielewski , Mindy Johnston Mindy Spitzer Johnston is Managing Editor at Encyclopædia Britannica. Mindy Johnston •All Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Sep 5, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is the deadliest wildfire in recorded history? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The Peshtigo Fire of 1871 is the deadliest wildfire in recorded history with an official death toll of 1,152." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What caused the Peshtigo Fire? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "It is widely believed that the Peshtigo Fire was ignited by a brush fire started by railroad workers, but there is no definitive answer to what started the fire." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What makes wildfires difficult to extinguish once they start? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Wildfires are difficult to extinguish once they start because flash fuels like dried grass and leaves kindle quickly, and heavier fuels like tree stumps and heavy limbs are hard to put out once ablaze." } } ] } Top Questions What is the deadliest wildfire in recorded history? The Peshtigo Fire of 1871 is the deadliest wildfire in recorded history with an official death toll of 1,152.

　　What caused the Peshtigo Fire? It is widely believed that the Peshtigo Fire was ignited by a brush fire started by railroad workers, but there is no definitive answer to what started the fire.

　　What makes wildfires difficult to extinguish once they start? Wildfires are difficult to extinguish once they start because flash fuels like dried grass and leaves kindle quickly, and heavier fuels like tree stumps and heavy limbs are hard to put out once ablaze.

　　Wildfires erupt from a deadly confluence of extreme weather conditions and primed fuel sources. Drought, heat, and wind dry out timber and grasses, making them vulnerable to ignition. Once burning begins, those same environmental factors can increase a fire’s intensity and spread it over vast distances. Flash fuels—such as dried grass, leaves, and light branches—kindle readily and spread fire quickly, often generating enough heat to ignite heavier fuels such as tree stumps, heavy limbs, and the organic matter of the forest floor. Once ablaze, these fuels are difficult to extinguish, contributing to sometimes-catastrophic destruction and loss of life when residents ...(100 of 301 words)

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