Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the initial assessment of the fire's location by Mathias Schafer, the fire department watchman?
What was the initial assessment of the fire's location by Mathias Schafer, the fire department watchman?
- He initially misidentified the location, calling out box 342. (correct)
- He delayed the alarm, causing confusion.
- He relied solely on William Brown's judgment.
- He correctly identified the location immediately.
William Brown immediately followed Mathias Schafer's instruction to strike box 319 after the initial alarm.
William Brown immediately followed Mathias Schafer's instruction to strike box 319 after the initial alarm.
False (B)
What crucial element exacerbated the spread of the Great Chicago Fire due to weather conditions?
What crucial element exacerbated the spread of the Great Chicago Fire due to weather conditions?
Hot winds
The Great Chicago Fire started around 11 o'clock on the evening of October 8, ______.
The Great Chicago Fire started around 11 o'clock on the evening of October 8, ______.
Match the individual with their roles during the initial phase of the Great Chicago Fire:
Match the individual with their roles during the initial phase of the Great Chicago Fire:
What contributed to the rapid spread of the Great Chicago Fire, based on the materials used in the city's construction?
What contributed to the rapid spread of the Great Chicago Fire, based on the materials used in the city's construction?
The fire department was well-equipped and prepared on the night the Great Chicago Fire started.
The fire department was well-equipped and prepared on the night the Great Chicago Fire started.
Name the physical landmark to which people fled seeking safety from the Great Chicago Fire.
Name the physical landmark to which people fled seeking safety from the Great Chicago Fire.
The fire department watchman, ______ Schafer, first spotted the fire from the courthouse tower.
The fire department watchman, ______ Schafer, first spotted the fire from the courthouse tower.
How did the residents initially react to the Great Chicago Fire?
How did the residents initially react to the Great Chicago Fire?
The unusually cold autumn weather in 1871 helped to contain the spread of the Great Chicago Fire.
The unusually cold autumn weather in 1871 helped to contain the spread of the Great Chicago Fire.
What specific technological device did Mathias Schafer use to communicate the fire's location to William Brown?
What specific technological device did Mathias Schafer use to communicate the fire's location to William Brown?
The confusion regarding the fire's location resulted in approximately a ______-hour delay in the firefighters getting to the scene.
The confusion regarding the fire's location resulted in approximately a ______-hour delay in the firefighters getting to the scene.
What was William Brown's role in the fire alarm system?
What was William Brown's role in the fire alarm system?
The fire department's hoses were in excellent condition and provided ample water supply during the Great Chicago Fire.
The fire department's hoses were in excellent condition and provided ample water supply during the Great Chicago Fire.
What specific structure did Mathias Shafer sit atop to scan the city for fires?
What specific structure did Mathias Shafer sit atop to scan the city for fires?
The fire started on the evening of ______ 8, 1871.
The fire started on the evening of ______ 8, 1871.
What caused mass panic among the residents of Chicago?
What caused mass panic among the residents of Chicago?
The firemen promptly went to Box 319, after Mathias corrected his initial assessment.
The firemen promptly went to Box 319, after Mathias corrected his initial assessment.
What did the striking of the fire alarm box cause to occur throughout the city?
What did the striking of the fire alarm box cause to occur throughout the city?
Flashcards
Start of Great Chicago Fire
Start of Great Chicago Fire
The Great Chicago Fire started around 11 p.m. on October 8, 1871.
1871 Autumn Weather
1871 Autumn Weather
The autumn of 1871 was very hot and windy, which made the fire spread quickly.
Mathias Schafer
Mathias Schafer
Mathias Schafer was the fire department watchman sitting in the courthouse tower.
William Brown's role
William Brown's role
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Original alarm box
Original alarm box
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Firefighter Challenges in 1871
Firefighter Challenges in 1871
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Chicago's construction
Chicago's construction
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Resident reaction
Resident reaction
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Study Notes
The Great Chicago Fire
- The Great Chicago Fire started around 11 pm on October 8, 1871.
- The autumn of 1871 had unusually hot and windy weather, causing the flames to spread fast.
- Fire department systems were very different in 1871 than in modern times.
- Mathias Schafer, the fire department watchman, sat up on the cupola in the courthouse tower.
- He spotted a glowing light in the southwest part of the city while scanning for fires.
- Via a voice tube, he called down to night operator William Brown to strike the fire alarm box.
- Striking the alarm box would ring the courthouse bell, along with bells in the fire department houses around the city.
- At the Chicago Fire on October 8, 1871, Schafer instructed Brown to strike box 342, approximately one mile away from where the fire originated.
- After inspecting the fire, Schafer realized that he had made a mistake, so he called Brown to strike box 319 instead.
- Brown refused, saying the firemen would see the real fire location because they were already heading that way.
- Firefighters were exhausted from fighting another large fire at the mill all of the previous night.
- The fire hoses were in poor condition, and the water supply in their trucks was low.
- The confusion on the fire's location caused about a half-hour delay in getting to the scene.
- The fire became out of control by the time firefighters arrived.
- Wood structures comprised most of Chicago at the time, and the fire spread quickly from building to building.
- Wooden sidewalks and roads, sheds full of firewood, coal yards, and lumber yards helped intensify the fire.
- Hot winds from the south whipped up sparks, turning Chicago into a fiery inferno.
- Initially, citizens underestimated the danger and watched firefighters from their homes.
- As the disaster became clear, mass panic ensued, and people sought refuge in the Chicago River.
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