At 2 a.m. , security guards detected a small fire ; faulty electrical wiring had ignited storage materials in one exhibitor 's booth on the upper-level main exhibit area . The flames spread rapidly through flammable exhibit walls and materials , and although firefighters responded within 10 minutes , the mammoth building 's roof collapsed in less than one hour . By the time the fires was declared extinguished at 9:46 a.m. , the country 's largest exposition hall was a total loss . In dollar value , the fire was more costly than the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 . Only one person perished in this tragedy
Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
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