3.
Many of the buildings that were labeled fire proof had some form of wooden rafters or boards and were then covered with paper and tar.4 Not only did the houses allow the fire to spread quickly but also the streets. "The pine-block paving of several downtown streets was by no means fireproof, and the sidewalks were an even greater menace. "5 The sidewalks were raised between four and five feet and underneath were supported by thoroughly laid firewood, once these walkways ignited it was as if they were smokestacks and blew up the fire from underneath. The sidewalks and buildings were still not the only contributor to the quickly spreading Chicago fire; fences of pine and hemlock were also placed along streets in between lots.6 These fences were not only extremely flammable but they also blocked access to the fire engines, and often closed off roads turning them into dead ends. Contributing to the issue, property owners felt no need to maintain such streets, believing that were was no point in maintaining streets that did not go anywhere. If just the mere structure and zoning of Chicago were not enough the contents held in certain city buildings made them apt for destruction. Containing combustible materials such as firewood, hay, grain, coal, oil, and lumber, the contents of the buildings fueled the fire.7 With all of the wood building and combustible materials that were produced in Chicago during this time, Chicago was known as the lumber capital of the world.8 In the year 1870 alone, over 600 fires were reported in Chicago and most of them were barn fires. Preventing future fires, a city ordinance banned the use of lamps, candles, and lanterns in any area that contained straw, hay, or any other flammable material.9 However, despite these precautions fires still managed to break out in barns around Chicago. .
On the other hand, the cities highly flammable framework and substances was not the only reason Chicago was so predisposed to fires.