| Great Miramichi Fire |
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| The largest fire ever in eastern North America |
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| Date: Oct. 7, 1825 |
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| Area: Between one - two million hectares. A number of fires burned a huge triangle of forest - from Belledune - to Richibucto - to Fredericton. |
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| Lives lost: An estimated 280 - 300 lives were lost. Given that an estimated 3 000 lumbermen were in the wilderness at the time, the actual number may have been higher. |
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| Cause: The fire developed from many small settler and logging fires. |
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| Weather: The fire was preceded by a severe summer drought. Winds were strong, according to accounts at the time. |
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| Eye witness account: "About eight o'clock in the afternoon a loud roaring was heard in the woods, and from the burnt substances still continuing to thicken the atmosphere, it was so dark that the flames could not be distinguished though they were more than one mile from the town. Immediately after, the wind blew a hurricane, a roaring noise became more and more tremendous and seemed to the astonished people as if the earth had loosened from its ancient foundation." |
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