Great Chicago Fire Festival (12 images)

A mock steamship shoots fire from its smokestack as a house-like sculpture is set on fire as part of the "Grand Spectacle" of the inaugural Great Chicago Fire Festival on October 4, 2014 in Chicago. Thousands of people lined the banks of the Chicago River to watch the event commemorating the Great Chicago Fire, which started on the night of October 8, 1871 and burned for over 24 hours killing over 300 people and destroying more three square miles of the city. Technical problems prevented the houses from becoming totally engulfed as planned. UPI/Brian Kersey

A house-like sculpture is set on fire as part of the "Grand Spectacle" of the inaugural Great Chicago Fire Festival on October 4, 2014 in Chicago. Thousands of people lined the banks of the Chicago River to watch the event commemorating the Great Chicago Fire, which started on the night of October 8, 1871 and burned for over 24 hours killing over 300 people and destroying more three square miles of the city. Technical problems prevented the houses from becoming totally engulfed as planned. UPI/Brian Kersey

A mock steamship shoots fire from its smokestack as a house-like sculpture is set on fire as part of the "Grand Spectacle" of the inaugural Great Chicago Fire Festival on October 4, 2014 in Chicago. Thousands of people lined the banks of the Chicago River to watch the event commemorating the Great Chicago Fire, which started on the night of October 8, 1871 and burned for over 24 hours killing over 300 people and destroying more three square miles of the city. Technical problems prevented the houses from becoming totally engulfed as planned. UPI/Brian Kersey

A house-like sculpture is set on fire as part of the "Grand Spectacle" of the inaugural Great Chicago Fire Festival on October 4, 2014 in Chicago. Thousands of people lined the banks of the Chicago River to watch the event commemorating the Great Chicago Fire, which started on the night of October 8, 1871 and burned for over 24 hours killing over 300 people and destroying more three square miles of the city. Technical problems prevented the houses from becoming totally engulfed as planned. UPI/Brian Kersey