In October 1871, a small fire on the southwest side of Chicago exploded into one of the most destructive urban disasters in modern history. Over three days, flames consumed entire neighbourhoods, killed hundreds, and left more than 100,000 people homeless.

In this episode of Compact Disasters, we explore how the fire spread so rapidly, why the city was so vulnerable, the myths that grew in the ashes, and how the catastrophe reshaped Chicago forever, from building codes to firefighting and urban planning.

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