Great Boston Fire of 1872

The Great Boston Fire of 1872 was a massive blaze that ignited on November 9th in Boston’s downtown district. It destroyed about 65 acres of the city, including 776 buildings like warehouses, shops, and offices. The fire started accidentally in a warehouse and quickly spread due to dry conditions, wooden structures, and strong winds. Firefighters fought for over 12 hours to contain it, but the destruction caused significant economic loss and upheaval. The fire prompted major changes in building codes and fire safety measures to prevent future disasters of this scale.