London's Great Fire

Disaster: One of the World's biggest cities is nearly destroyed by fire.

Date: Sept. 2 - 6, 1666
Deaths: 16
Damage: More than four-fifths of the city burned down.

Interesting Fact: The fire could be seen 30 miles away.

Lesson Learned: Don't have narrow streets or alleyways and construct buildings of brick or stone (not timber.)

   On the evening of September 1, King Charles II's baker, Thomas Farrior, did not distinguish his oven correctly. Around midnight (claims History) a spark landed some wood outside the oven catching fire. The fire quickly grew in size, but Farrior, his family and a servant escaped. Sadly, the baker assistant did not make it out.

   From the baker shop "on Pudding Lane near the London bridge" the fire spread from house to house which many of them were close together and made of timber. Citizens tried to put out the fire with water buckets and taring down buildings, but the fire keep raging on. Finally, the people gave up and ran to their homes to evacuated their family and processions.

   In all, only 16 people "were known to have died" despite the fact that the streets were crowded and narrow (History). History.com estimates that 13,000 houses burned down along with 90 churches.

Not long after the disaster, King Charles II ordered for the rebuilding of the city. A famous architect by the name of Sir Christopher Wren was hired by the King for the new layout of the city. In the design, streets would be wider, houses farther apart, narrow allies "forbidden" and many buildings made of brick or stone.

Firefighters were not a big part of society at this time. In fact, fire departments would not be established until the 18th century (History). Until then people resorted to buckets of water.


Photo from: http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/TheGreatFireOfLondon.asp

Info from: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/great-fire-of-london-begins

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

Disaster: Factory catches fire trapping workers. (Pre-image of 9/11.)
Date: March 25,1911
Deaths: 145
Lesson Learned: 1. Owners must take responsibility for their workers.
                              2. All buildings have to meet fire regulations.

Interesting Fact: "Within 18 minutes, 145 lay dead" (History.com)

In the early 20th century in New York City, rights for workers were very few. Many factory employees were young women and children working long hours in bad conditions and with little pay. History Channel claims that each worker would receive $15 per week after working 12 hours everyday. Due to the bad conditions many people (especially women) protested for workers rights. In order to prevent protests managers locked doors at work. Including the Triangle Factory.

On a Saturday afternoon just before the work day was over, a cigarette or pipe was tossed in a rag bin catching fire. A manager, notified by one of the 600 workers, threw a pail of water over the bin, but the fire had already gotten out of control. Panicked workers (on the eighth floor) ran for the exits leaving the building. A lady on the eighth floor called up to the tenth floor yelling "Fire! Fire!" The operator quickly went to notify the tenth floor never giving the news to the ninth floor.

Exits were limited with doors either locked or impassable, a fire escape and one operational elevator. Some women took the fire escape which collapsed under their weight killing a dozen women. Others went down a staircase that proved to be impassable trapping them. All 49 women in the stair case were buried alive. Not long after, the fire reached the elevator (on the fourth trip) closing the last possibility for escape. Women started jumping when then knew their sentence was death. Three people at a time jumped from the ninth floor making a big thud sound as they hit the ground. They were killed instantly.

The whole event took less than one hour.

The owner Max Blanck was questioned and ordered to spend five days in the slammer or pay $20. The article 100 Years Ago: Triangle Shirtwaist Fire describes Blanck's reaction. “He smiled, pulled out a ‘roll’ of money as thick as his arm, peeled off a $20 bill and walked off.”

History.com sums up the whole disaster in the following sentence "The tragedy brought widespread attention to the dangerous sweatshop conditions of factories, and led to the development of a series of laws and regulations that better protected the safety of workers."

Pre-Image of 9/11
The reason why this fire was a pre-image of 9/11 is because many workers on high floors were trapped as the fire spread throughout the building. Firefighter ladders could not reach the floor and finally people started jumping as their last option. This event also occurred in New York City. Due to the disaster being on a Saturday afternoon people were out strolling enjoying the outdoors when they witnessed the horror.

Info from:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/triangle-shirtwaist-fire-in-new-york-city
http://www.history.com/news/2011/03/24/100-years-ago-the-triangle-shirtwaist-fire/

The Great Chicago Fire

Disaster: City catches fire
Date: Oct. 8-10, 1871
Deaths: Over 300
Buildings destroyed: 17,450
Homeless: Over 100,000
Photo from: http://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/history-of-illinois3.htm



The Chicago fire is considered to be the worst fire in America's history. Beginning on the west side in a barn, the blaze quickly grew out of control. On the night of Oct. 8 people ran for their lives as the city lit up the night sky. Many buildings where made of wood and therefore consumed by the fire. Even brick buildings were affected by the fire because they exploded with flames. About a third of the city burned to the ground. Nearly 3.5 square miles lost.

The fire did not stop until it rained on Oct. 10. In addition, empty lots (that had not yet been built on)and a lake that was near by, prevented the fire from spreading further. Not long after, the process of cleaning up began.The aftermath was devastating. More than 300 people dead, 17,450 buildings destroyed and over 100,000 homeless. Also $200 million dollars in damage.

The exact cause of the fire is still unknown, but history.com tells of a unlikely rumor that a cow started it. (Maybe the cow knocked over a lamp?) Other ideas have surfaced like a drunken neighbor or vandals, but nobody knows what happened in the barn.

Fires in the past were not uncommon. In fact they were frequent. The reason why the fire of Oct 8, 1871 is famous is because it nearly took out the city.

For more info visit http://www.history.com/topics/great-chicago-fire