On October 8, 1871 the small town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin was leveled by an enormous and fast-moving fire. The fire incinerated buildings and people alike, leaving nothing but ash in its wake. So many people were actually cremated that survivors were unable to ascertain an accurate death toll. And while this fire is considered the most deadly fire in American history, few have heard of it simply because it occurred on the same night as the Great Chicago Fire.

I do like reading about small bits of history that somehow managed to escape the mainstream history books and this book fits that bill nicely. The author takes the time to introduce the reader to Peshtigo and the major townspeople before the fire started. He described the horrors of the fire and the landscape that was left behind. This fire was so big that it burned the fertile topsoil, creating more problems for this farming community. When was the last time you heard about a fire burning the dirt? The story wasn't overly long and it didn't get bogged down in minutiae details; it was just right. I liked it.