There had been little rain that year, and various other fires occurred. More than 600 fires occurred in 1870, and 27 in the first week of October alone. Most of theses fires originated in barns because of the highly flammable hay located there. Lanterns would be knocked over, and flames would catch the hay causing fire to break out.

The evening of October 8, 1871 was unusually warm. There had been a strong wind coming off the prairie all day. Chicago had also been going through a drought that made grasses, wood, and everything else in the city extremely dry. These conditions were just right for a fire. Little did people know, that the wind and drought were going to help destroy their magnificent city.

Moreover, Chicago in 1871 was a city ready to burn. The city boasted having 59,500 buildings, many of them-- such as the courthouse and the tribune building-- large and intricately decorated. The trouble was that about two-thirds of all these structures were made entirely

Now, the scene of confusion had reached its height. Wagons were rushing through the streets filled with stocks of goods, books, valuable papers, boxes of money, and everything conceivable. Men were dragging trunks frantically along sidewalks, knocking down women and children.

Eventually, in remembrance of the fatal fire, George Fredrick Root, the city's and the nation's leading popular composer, wrote a song called, "From the Ruins Our City Shall Rise!" The song remarked that Chicago was the "Queen of the West once more!"

At once, people attempted to get the message out with the fire alarm system, the courthouse bell, and even telegrams. Telegrams were sent out to various cities, and one was sent to Milwaukee reading, "CHICAGO IS IN FLAMES, SEND YOUR WHOLE DEPARTMENT TO HELP US!"

The firefighters fell back to establish a new line against the advancing fire. By this time, a number of police officers had arrived, and they joined firemen and citizen volunteers in ripping down fences and sheds. Embers of fire were falling everywhere. Some landed on St. Paul's Church four blocks behind the firefighters. They realized that if this fire established itself on top of the steeple, the wind would spread the fire over an even larger area.

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