On this day in history, October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire erupts, killing 300 people
Fox News
On this day in history, Oct. 8, 1871, a terrible fire broke out on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois, killing 300 people and leaving a third of the city's population homeless.
In addition to the loss of life, the fire burned from Oct. 8 to Oct. 10, 1871, destroying thousands of buildings causing an estimated $200 million in damages, according to History.com. The disaster prompted an outbreak of looting and soldiers were summoned to the city to contain the lawlessness. In 1872, the City of Chicago mandated the use of fire-resistant materials, such as bricks, in the use of all buildings. Erica Lamberg is a contributing reporter for Fox News Digital.
Legend has it that a cow kicked over a lantern in a barn owned by the O’Leary Family at 137 DeKoven Street on the southwest side of Chicago.
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