10/08/2025
October 8, 1871, marks 154 years since the deadliest forest fire in U.S. history tore through Peshtigo, Wisconsin. 🔥
The summer and autumn of sparse rainfall left the forests dangerously dry. When a wildfire ignited, fierce winds carried it through the town and across surrounding counties. In total, the flames consumed 280,000 acres across Oconto, Marinette, Shawano, Brown, Kewaunee, Door, Manitowoc, and Outagamie counties. Around 1,500 lives were lost, 7,500 people were left homeless, and the town of Peshtigo was nearly wiped out.
Though it occurred on the same day as the more widely remembered Chicago Fire, the Peshtigo Fire remains the most destructive forest fire in American history.
Peshtigo Fire Museum, an affiliate of the Wisconsin Historical Society, preserves the story of this tragedy through exhibits, archives, and educational programs. Onsite, the memorial marker at the Peshtigo Fire Cemetery honors the victims and holds the distinction of being Wisconsin’s first official state historical marker, placed by the citizens of Peshtigo in 1951.
📸: Map shows area impacted by fire on Oct. 8, 1871 | WHI Image ID 101577
