To prevent the fire from moving towards the south side of the city, the firefighters blew up the houses and helped the residents of that area flee towards Lincoln Park, where they spent the night.

It had completely destroyed many parts of the city, caused 100,000 to become homeless, and killed about 300 people, with many reported missing.

After the fire, the people of Chicago began to rebuild the city and received aid from other states.

Before the great fire that devastated it, Chicago was known as the Queen City of the West and the Gem of the Prairie.

[2] Reviewer Erin Whalen described the novel as having "vivid description" that "makes it easy for students to imagine being at the event and to feel what the victims of the fire went through.

"[4] Other critics described the novel as a book that sparks excitement and interest in the fire that occurred in Chicago.

[5] Critics from the Horn Book described the novel as having "vivid first-hand descriptions by persons who lived through the 1871 Chicago fire are woven into a gripping account and absorbing the riveting reading".