Comments on: History of the World: Famous Fires

By: PointSpecial

PointSpecial — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:33:52 +0000

I think the Peshtigo and Chicago fires should definitely be covered… seeing as they happened on the same night (and there were 2-3 other major fires in Michigan that night too).

There’s a theory that a meteor shower caused all of these fires, of which the Peshtigo is the deadliest fire in U.S. history and the Chicago fire perhaps the most famous.

By: G

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:32:05 +0000

I do hope you have more fires listed in the book not to sound US centric but when I think of Famous Fires I think of the Great Chicago Fire and the 1906 Great Fire in San Francisco which was due to the Great Earthquake. The SF city government emphazied the city was destroyed due to the fire since they wanted to rebuild the city. More people would live in a city destroyed by a fire (which can happen anywhere) rather than a city in an earthquake area.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:05:55 +0000

I’m hope that the Peshtigo, WI fire of 1871 is covered in the book. It was a doozy.

By: F Fredd

F Fredd — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:44:36 +0000

I studied at the The Globe Theatre during the final phase of its construction, while they were applying the fire-proof plaster made of goat’s hair (remember: it wasn’t the WALLS that burnt, but the thatched roof!)

So I asked “Does it have to be GOAT’S hair?” reply “No…that’s simply the cheapest hair available.”

The next day, I shaved my head (bald…to the scalp!) and took a bag of my own hair to the theatre, where the construction workers allowed me to mix my it into the plaster, and apply it (doing my own labor, thankyouverymuch!) to the walls of The Globe Theatre.

I have the exact location written down somewhere — from 15 years ago — but can’t find it now. Damn…wish I could list it so anyone visiting the theatre could go rub my hair.

By: Megan

Megan — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:36:39 +0000

It’s Fire Prevention Week! How appropriate of this post! Not sure if you planned that or not…

By: Colin GG

Colin GG — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:22:10 +0000

Too true – hopefully this is just an excerpt from a longer piece – interesting though that the Tokyo fires also started on the 2nd of Sept. (which happens to be my birthday – but not in 1923).

By: Doris

Doris — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:57:39 +0000

Many more will ask: Where the heck is the fire in London in 1666? King Charles II himself helped fight the flames in his beloved city. We know that it helped bring the Plague to an end. Thanks for the other four, though!!!