In 1871, Chicago, Illinois was not the enormous city it is today. It was a small boomtown, with the population growing larger by the year. The city became the fifth largest in America with all the immigrants pouring in (who often didn’t have enough money to afford fireproof building materials). The city built their homes cheaply with wood frames.
Before The Fire
Fall of 1871, youtube.com, 2022
Chicago firefighters, Firehouse Magazine, 1871
The plethora of wood used in buildings, sidewalks, and streets had a negative effect. There were many fire hazards such as piles of hay and people smoking cigars. These hazards caused the smaller fires to grow much quicker. A long drought, lasting from June until October struck Chicago in 1871 and only one inch and a half of rain fell during those months.