Don't Blame Mrs. O'Leary's Cow Guest: Carl Smith, author of "Chicago’s Great Fire: The Destruction and Resurrection of an Iconic American City," and Professor Emeritus of English and History at Northwestern University The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 displaced thousands. It became a global story with newspapers famously blaming the blaze on Mrs. O’Leary’s cow (or Mrs. O’Leary herself). The story is a little more complicated though—the fire was ultimately fueled by dreams for a new city, hastily built infrastructure, and internal division between the residents. But its resurrection was a global inspiration. How Paradise Went Up in Flames Guest: Alastair Gee and Dani Anguiano, authors of "Fire in Paradise: An American Tragedy" Destroying thousands of homes and claiming the lives of 85 people, the Camp Fire was, by far, the deadliest in California history. Now, two years after the blaze, these reporters have returned to Paradise, California to examine the aftermath of the tragedy.