The Worst Wildfire in MI’s History Destroyed Over 2,500,000 Acres

Earlier this year, Michigan's Crawford County endured a nasty wildfire that destroyed over 2,400 acres. That is nothing in comparison to The Great Michigan Fire of 1871.

The Great Michigan Fire was the most destructive fire in Michigan's history.

See Also: This is Considered The Worst Small Town in Michigan

When Was Michigan's Worst Wildfire?

The worst wildfire in Michigan's recorded history happened 152 years ago. The Great Michigan Fire was a series of simultaneous forest fires that destroyed millions of acres and everything in its path.

Get our free mobile app

The Great Michigan Fire destroyed over 2.5 million acres in October of 1871. Several cities, towns, and villages, including Alpena, Holland, Manistee, and Port Huron, suffered serious damage or were sadly lost.

Thumb Wind:

Historians have grouped these 37 individual fire areas into five major fires that burned in the Great Lakes region; the Great Chicago Fire, the Great Peshtigo Fire, the Port Huron Fire, Holland Fire, and the Manistee Fire. Collectively all the towns burned down in Michigan are called the Great Michigan Fire of 1871

Did Anyone Die in The Great Michigan Fire?

While it's unclear how many lives in Michigan were lost, a variety of sources claim that over 2,400 lives were lost throughout the entire Midwest during the fires. Getting exact numbers from an incident that took place in the 1800s, is a bit challenging.

What Caused the Great Michigan Fire?

According to the National Weather Service, the actual cause of the fire was never determined, but weather conditions across the entire region during the summer and fall of 1871 produced conditions conducive to large, rapidly spreading fires should one ignite.