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The Great Fire of London
2 September 1666
The Great Fire of London can be viewed on one of the biggest disasters to hit the City of London. The fire, which started in a bakery in Pudding Lane, spread throughout the city and destroyed most of the medieval buildings, including St Paul’s Cathedral. The fire was so devastating partly because buildings were very close together, and partly because so many were made of wood. In an attempt to contain the fire, firebreaks were created by demolishing the structures in the path of the fire. The fire burned for four days, but finally the firefighting efforts aided by a fortunate change in wind direction halted the blaze. Surprisingly, very few deaths were recording during the fire, although it has been suggested that the intense heat of the flames may have cremated many of the dead. It may also be that a full count of the dead amongst the lower classes was not carried out.