What is the worst US forest fire?

The worst U.S. forest fire in terms of loss of life and destruction was the Peshtigo Fire, which occurred on October 8, 1871, in Wisconsin. It claimed an estimated 1,500 to 2,500 lives and destroyed the town of Peshtigo and surrounding areas, consuming over 1.2 million acres. The fire coincided with the Great Chicago Fire, but the Peshtigo Fire is often overshadowed in historical accounts despite its greater devastation. Its rapid spread was fueled by a combination of dry conditions and strong winds, illustrating the catastrophic potential of wildfires.