Causes of the Great Fire of London (1666)

The Great Fire of London (Sept 2–6, 1666) destroyed 13,200 houses, 87 churches, St. Paul's Cathedral, and 436 acres — but killed only 6 verified people. Six factors created the firestorm:

1. Timber Construction: 90%+ buildings wood-framed, jettied upper floors nearly touching across streets. Continuous fuel ladder.
2. Narrow, Winding Streets: Medieval layout — alleys 6–10 ft wide. Fire engines (hand-pumped) couldn't reach; no firebreaks.
3. Strong Easterly Wind: Blew flames westward from Pudding Lane across the City. Gusts 30+ mph fanned conflagration.
4. No Fire Service: Parish "trained bands" with leather buckets, hooks, ladders, hand-squirts. No coordination, no water mains (wooden pipes, few hydrants).
5. Delayed Response: Lord Mayor Thomas Bludworth hesitated ("Pish! A woman might piss it out"). Critical 3–4 hrs lost before demolition (firebreaks) ordered.
6. Drought Summer: 1666 exceptionally dry — timber tinder-dry, water reserves low.

Aftermath: Rebuilding & Reform

• Rebuilding Act 1667: Brick/stone mandatory; street widening; party walls; no jetties.
• Fire Insurance: Nicholas Barbon's "Fire Office" (1667) → first fire brigades (private, insurance-company)
• London Building Acts: Evolved into modern codes.
• Wren's Plan: Grand grid rejected; property rights prevailed. But St. Paul's, 51 churches rebuilt.

The fire was catastrophe — and catalyst for modern London.