These are some of the most famous — and most powerful — wildfires in history. Each one taught people something new about how to stay safe!
🇺🇸 The Peshtigo Fire, USA (1871)
The deadliest wildfire in American history happened on the very same night as the famous Great Chicago Fire — October 8, 1871 — so almost nobody remembers it! The town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, was swallowed by a firestorm so fierce that people survived only by jumping into the river. It burned an area more than twice the size of Chicago's fire.
🇦🇺 Black Saturday, Australia (2009)
On February 7, 2009, Australia had its hottest, driest day after years of drought, with temperatures above 46°C and howling winds. Wildfires exploded across the state of Victoria, moving so fast that whole towns were surrounded in minutes. Afterwards, Australia changed its fire warning system and taught families to have a "fire plan."
🇺🇸 The Camp Fire, USA (2018)
In November 2018, a spark from power lines started a fire in windy, dry California. It raced into the town of Paradise so quickly that people escaped with only minutes to spare. It became California's deadliest and most destructive wildfire, and it taught power companies and towns to prepare much better for fire weather.
The town of Paradise, California, months after the Camp Fire burned through it. The town has been rebuilding with fire-resistant roofs and clear spaces around houses. See source ↓
📚 Picture Sources
- Photo 1 — Paradise, California after the Camp Fire, 2019. From Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paradise_after_the_Camp_Fire,_July_2019-7433.jpg
