1. Murphy claims that early writings about the Great Fire are both inaccurate and biased. In his bibliography, he includes several nineteenth-century accounts of the fire. Choose one of these accounts and identify the inaccuracies Murphy highlights. Does this account show the same prejudice against the poor and lower-middle-class individuals that Murphy suggests?

2. Towards the end of The Great Fire, Claire Innes finds herself trapped in an alley, surrounded by flames. What do safety experts recommend for surviving such a situation? Did Claire Innes make the most effective decisions to ensure her survival?

3. Murphy notes that the Chicago fire department in 1871 was nearly state-of-the-art. What kind of equipment did the department possess? How were its stations structured?

4. Describe in detail one piece of firefighting equipment that would have been used during The Great Fire. Who manufactured it? What was its intended purpose? How effective was it? Is there a modern equivalent?

5. The Great Fire also discusses the ships that caught fire in Chicago. Provide more details about these ships. Which ships were destroyed, and what efforts were made to save them?

6. Who founded the city of Chicago? Why was its location considered ideal for shipping? How did cross-country trade contribute to the city's expansion up until 1871?

7. Following The Great Fire, how was the rebuilding process organized? Was there a leader in charge? How did the new structures differ from the old ones? Who occupied these new buildings?

8. What happened to the roughly one hundred thousand individuals who lost their homes? Did they rebuild in Chicago? Were any permanently displaced? Where did they all end up?

9. Disasters like The Great Fire often lead to medical crises. What were the medical needs of Chicago's citizens after the fire, and how were these needs addressed?

10. Claire Innes's vivid recounting of her experiences is a highlight of The Great Fire. What would the daily life of a twelve-year-old in 1870s Chicago have been like? What activities would the child have enjoyed? What chores were expected? What kind of clothing would they have worn, and what societal expectations were placed on them?

11. Murphy remarks on large water pumps that were disabled by the fire. Where were these pumps located? Who manufactured them? What were their capabilities, and what safety measures did they include?