The excellent American History Tellers podcast has just done a three-part series on the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. If you haven't listened to the show before, this is not a dry recitation of history. The host places the listener in the scene being described and relays the story of what happened from the viewpoints of people who were there.
The Chicago fire series barely mentions insurance, but it's a good reminder of why we have building and fire safety codes. In the fall of 1871, Chicago had all the key ingredients for a fire disaster:
- Thousands of wood frame buildings
- A drought
- High winds
The 30-hour fire that resulted devastated one of the country's largest cities. If, like your humble insurance geek, you find insurance history interesting, you might want to give these a listen. Each episode is between 35 and 45 minutes, making them the perfect length for a drive or a long dog walk.
Part 1: We Are Going to Have a Burn
Part 2: Fleeing the Flames
Part 3: The Great Rebuilding
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