Question

in early october of 1871, wildfires raged for three days across the upper midwest, causing massive destruction. the most well - known of these fires swept through the city of chicago. the fire spread quickly, fueled by the citys many wooden structures that had been dried out by the extraordinary heat of the preceding months. the great chicago fire destroyed more than seventeen thousand buildings, claimed lives, and left one - third of chicagoans without homes. in the wake of this destruction, the city passed laws to regulate construction. these new requirements called for the use of materials like brick and stone, which are more expensive than wood but also more durable and fire - resistant. thanks to the changes made during its reconstruction, chicago eventually became one of the countrys most fireproof cities. because the season had been especially hot and dry, random fires began to erupt all across chicago during october of 1871. though many fires spread throughout the upper midwest in 1871, the great chicago fire caused the most damage to any city. before the great chicago fire in 1871, construction companies used wood instead of fire - resistant materials to limit their costs. after the great chicago fire caused widespread devastation in 1871, the city ordered the use of more fireproof building materials. what is the main, or central, idea of the passage?

Explanation:

The passage details the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, its causes like dry conditions and wooden structures, and how the city regulated construction with fire - resistant materials after the disaster.

Answer:

To limit future fire damage, the city ordered the use of more fireproof building materials after the Great Chicago Fire.