The Great Fire of 1845 was one of the most devastating events in early London’s history, sweeping through the village just months after the 1844 blaze. Originating in Robinson Hall at Dundas and Ridout, the fire spread rapidly and destroyed nearly 300 wooden buildings, leaving only the Balkwill House standing within the devastated district. This tag gathers articles, images, and archival accounts related to the 1845 fire, including the bucket-brigade era, early fire-prevention by-laws, the purchase—and quick loss—of London’s first fire engine, and the profound impact the disaster had on shaping a more organized and capable fire service in the years that followed.
The Great London Fire
No lives lost. Following a serious downtown fire on October 8, 1844 the town's largest property owner paid for London's first fire engine. Six months later it was one of ...