Great Fire of London

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The Great Fire of London occurred from Sunday 2 September to Wednesday 5 September 1666, gutting the medieval City of London inside the old Roman city wall, while also extending past the wall to the west. The death toll is generally thought to have been relatively small, although some historians have challenged this belief. The fire started in a bakery in Pudding Lane shortly after midnight on Sunday 2 September and spread rapidly. The main firefighting technique of the time was the creation of firebreaks by means of removing structures in the fire's path. The Lord Mayor, Sir Thomas Bloodworth, hesitated in giving the order to employ this method. By the time large-scale demolitions were ordered on Sunday night, the wind had already fanned the bakery fire into a firestorm which defeated such measures. The fire pushed north on Monday into the heart of the City. Order in the streets broke down as rumours arose of suspicious foreigners setting fires. The fears of the homeless focused on the...

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