[2] The motto of the city, Speramus meliora; resurget cineribus ('We hope for better things; it will rise from the ashes'), was written after this fire.

One of the first buildings that were set alight was a nearby barn, from which the flames were able to easily spread to other flammable wooden structures.

The city at the time was nowhere near its current size, being the home to only about 600 people, thus the settlement lacked adequate firefighting equipment, mainly relying on bucket brigades.

[citation needed] After the fire, territorial judge Augustus Woodward argued that the city was badly planned, and thus should not be rebuilt the same way.

The hexagon-based proposal of Woodward proved to be too complex, however parts of his plan can be seen in the city to this day in the form of Gratiot, Michigan and Grand River Avenue.