Chicago Fire Of 1871 Essay

428 Words2 Pages

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was one of the most fatal and infamous disasters in history, decimating thousands of valuable infrastructures and rapidly displacing the region's populace. However, with the horrors of the fire, it also sparked a newfound realization into the governors of the city. From the vastly terrible infrastructure of the city and the horribly low amount of rainfall, the governors finally realized their mistakes with their running of the city. And with newfound ideals for the city, it began a new era for Chicago. Whilst the fire was devastating to the entire region, many systems still remained. As the fire began in the confinements of a home, much of the infrastructure deemed too valuable to keep in the downtown region, and thus built separately from the area, was left unharmed by the flames. Of this, it included transportation, such as railways and waterways. In the article, 'The Chicago Fire of 1871,' it stated that these systems endured through the fire without as much as an abrasion to their structure. And as such, resources were still able to be transported to the city's usage. And with the fire, came an abundance of donations from other countries. These resources proved invaluable to the city and were an aid in helping the city rebuild from the devastation the fire caused. …show more content…

In 'Rebirth from the Ashes', it stated that the passing laws founded by the governors stated newly constructed buildings had to be created with resistant materials, such as brick, limestone, marble, and stone. In addition, fire-fighting practices were changed in their entirety. Dated equipment was mandated to be switched and the employees were obligated to be on duty at any given moment, in the event of emergency. Innovations for fire alarms were frequent, and an emergency hotline was established in the occurrence of another