Great Fire Of London Research Paper

The Great Fire of London is often praised as one of the worst fires in human history. Burning nearly the entire city to the ground, The Great Fire of London was one of the most influential events that changed the course of London for the rest of history. The fire destroyed 85% of the city, wiped out nearly 13,200 houses, and caused ten million dollars in damage. Although the fire caused considerable damage, the city was also able to rebuild incredibly quickly ("Facing up to Catastrophe"). The quick rebuild was crucial to the innovation of fire prevention in urban cities. It also supported advancement in the development of many new ideas and inventions. Paving the way for the modern era of London, The Great Fire of London played a significant role …show more content…
One night in the summer of 1666, Farynor failed to properly extinguish the fire in his oven, which led to a stray spark igniting nearby wood. After the flames consumed his house, the fire spread across town. At the time, London was exceptionally vulnerable to fire. It was a town of tightly packed wooden buildings on a narrow, bustling street ("Facing up to Catastrophe"). London as a city was also very crowded before the fire even began. Additionally, world trade was accelerating rapidly. This meant the population of London was growing at a rapid pace as well. ("The Great Fire of London"). Despite the immense efforts from the civilians of London to create firebreaks, which involved tearing down houses, the fire continued to spread over several days, tearing down buildings in its path. Due to the narrow streets, the inadequate firefighting equipment did little to control the fire. As the fire spread, civilians began to panic. Streets were filled with fleeing civilians and confused families, while the fire continued to consume iconic buildings such as St. Paul’s Cathedral. Several days later, the fire finally stopped when the wind changed directions ("The Great Fire of