October 3-9 is Fire Prevention Week. Yes, there’ll be fire drills on campus. The intent is to remind everyone of the importance of fire prevention and safety.
The National Fire Protection Association provides a lot of information, including a history of Fire Prevention Week, which was established to commemorate the famous Chicago fire that started on Oct. 8, 1871. The fire that destroyed Peshtigo, WI, which began on the same day, was actually “the most devastating forest fire in American history.” In fact, Wisconsin Statutes 995.225 officially designates this week to commemorate both fires.
Read more about these famous fires in newspaper articles written at the time (historians would call them primary sources). Search the Chicago Tribune Historical Newspapers database or ACCESS NewspaperARCHIVE (part of the statewide BadgerLink database suite). Ask a librarian for assistance if needed.
