The Oconto County Historical Society proudly presents the May book of the month: The Great Peshtigo Fire, Stories and Science from America’s Deadliest Firestorm by author, Scott Knickelbine. This informative and well illustrated book describes the unbelievable horror and tragedy of this epic disaster, and further describes and informs what a firestorm is and how it starts.
On the night of October 8, 1871, an eerie red glow surrounded the town of Peshtigo in Wisconsin’s north woods. Then, suddenly, with a roar as loud as a freight train, a whirlwind of fire swept in from the forest. The air was filled with fire. Balls of fire seemed to fall from the sky causing trees, buildings, and even people to burst into flames. The citizens of Peshtigo thought the end of the world had come. Terrified, they ran toward the river, desperate to save their lives. Many didn’t make it. By the next morning, the town of Peshtigo was completely destroyed by the raging firestorm. The Great Peshtigo Fire was the deadliest forest fire in U.S. history. As many as 2,500 people died and over 1.5 million acres of forest in northeastern Wisconsin were destroyed.
This book explores what happened before, during and after the fire, and what made this fire such a terrible disaster. Stories from adults and children who survived the fire are also shared in this book. Lessons learned from the Great Peshtigo Fire are helping America stay safer from fires today.
Order your copy today by sending a check in the amount of $20 (which includes S&H), along with your return address, to Oconto County Historical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 272, Oconto, WI 54153. Thank you for supporting OCHS and our local talented authors!
