PESHTIGO, Wis. (WFRV) - Tuesday marks the 153rd anniversary of the Great Peshtigo Fire, the deadliest fire in U.S. history, which claimed between 1,200 and 2,500 lives. The Peshtigo Fire Museum held a commemorative event to honor those who perished. The fire devastated 1.2 million acres of land, and the museum continues to preserve its history, shedding light on why this tragedy is often overshadowed by the more famous Chicago Fire, which occurred on the same day. Wisconsin man allegedly driving under the influence for the seventh time kills passenger after major crash "A lot of people are unaware that we had a fire on September 24, two weeks prior to the October 8 fire," Helene McNulty, Peshtigo Fire Museum Curator, said. "In that fire, we lost our telegraph lines, so there was no way to get the word out. Marinette is six miles away, and they had no clue this had happened." The Peshtigo Fire Museum will remain closed until reopening on Memorial Day next year.