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Penguin Workshop, 2016-25-10

What Was the Great Chicago Fire?

What Was the Great Chicago Fire?

What Was? and What Was...?

Janet B Pascal, Author, Who Hq, Author

Tim Foley, Illustrator

Paperback

SKU:9780399541582

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"On Sunday, October 8, 1871, a fire started on the south side of Chicago. A long drought made the neighborhood go up in flames. And practically everything that could go wrong did. Firemen first went to the wrong location. Fierce winds helped the blaze jump the Chicago River twice. The Chicago Waterworks burned down, making it impossible to fight the fire. Finally after two days, Mother Nature took over, with rain smothering the flames"--
  • Make Way for Books Annotation

More than a tale of destruction, this account reveals resilience, ingenuity, and community in the aftermath of loss. It encourages readers to see history not just as what happened—but how people responded.

Readability • 4.9

Age Range • 8-12

Pages • 112

Subjects • Great Fire • Chicago • Ill. • 1871 • Fires • Illinois • Chicago • History • 19th century • To 1875 • JUVENILE NONFICTION / History / United States • Chicago (Ill.) • JUVENILE NONFICTION / Science & Nature / Disa

Categories • Juvenile Nonfiction | History | United States - 19th Century • Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Disasters

Did the Great Chicago Fire really start after a cow kicked over a lantern in a barn? Find out the truth in this addition to the What Was? series.

On Sunday, October 8, 1871, a fire started on the south side of Chicago. A long drought made the neighborhood go up in flames. And practically everything that could go wrong did. Firemen first went to the wrong location. Fierce winds helped the blaze jump the Chicago River twice. The Chicago Waterworks burned down, making it impossible to fight the fire. Finally after two days, Mother Nature took over, with rain smothering the flames. This overview of a stupendous disaster not only covers the fire but explores the whole history of fire fighting.

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