NFPA

Welcome back to my #FireTravels blog series where I combine my passions for fire protection engineering and traveling into one. Beginning our initial descent into London Town… During a recent trip to London, I toured many historic sites! In fact, too many to share in one post, so I’ll be doing a weekly series to share the fire protection facts about one of the oldest cities in the world. Almost 358 years ago to the day, I found myself in Pudding Lane, near the site of the King’s Baker, in which the Great Fire of London began, in September of 1666. This 4-day fire swept through the city of London destroying the medieval city inside the old Roman City Wall, leaving almost 100,000 people homeless. Here are six ways this fire changed London: 1) Building Construction. The 1667 Rebuilding Act intended to reduce or eliminate the contributing factors that allowed the fire to spread. Therefore, wood builds with thatch rooves (tinder) were replaced with brick and stone. In addition, restrictions were made on “jettying” which is a building technique where the upper floors project out beyond the dimensions of the floor below. 2) The Beginnings of a Fire Hydrant System. Not only were homes made of wood, but so was the water supply infrastructure which was destroyed in the fire. As people attempted to break into the wooden pipes to put the fire out, the water supply disappeared, as there was not access points to get the water out without stopping the flow. Actions were taken to make the accessibility to water easier, essentially the infancy stages of a hydrant system. 3) Fire Brigade (or lack thereof).  There was none. After the fire, churches were required to have two fire quirts (think water gun) and leather buckets, fire hooks and some other equipment.  Large buckets on wheels is what was used for fire engines. 4) Insurance Industry. Insurance did not exist at the time of the Great Fire of London. The Fire Court was founded to address property disputes and to determine who should pay. Fire Office, the first insurance company, had its own fire brigade for those who bought insurance and were given fire marks (plaques) to place on the exterior of their homes displaying their policy number, so the brigade knew which fires to put out. 5) St. Paul’s Cathedral. 31 years after the Great Fire destroyed Old St. Paul’s, the new cathedral was dedicated for use. Christopher Wren, who is buried in St. Paul’s cathedral, was hired to rebuild St. Paul’s Cathedral and 51 other churches that were destroyed in the fire. 6) City Planning. The overcrowded cobbled streets and narrow alleys not only contributed to the spread fire but also disease. While many city planners proposed ideas with more parks, open spaces, and grids, the medieval design remains. However, the ideas of accessibility were incorporated.