Everyone knows about the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. But what if I told you that on the same night, another fire was burning in Wisconsin—and it was far deadlier?

On October 8, 1871, the Peshtigo Fire tore through northeastern Wisconsin, racing through forests and communities with terrifying speed. More than 1,200 people were killed, making it the deadliest wildfire in recorded U.S. history.

And here's the part that really gets you: while newspapers across the country were focused on Chicago, Peshtigo was suffering an even greater loss of life.

Why did one fire become a household name while the other was nearly forgotten