The Great Fire is believed to have started in the early morning of Sunday, September 2, 1666, at the bakery of Thomas Farriner (sometimes spelled Farynor) on Pudding Lane, near London Bridge. Thomas Farriner was the king’s baker, responsible for baking bread for King Charles II’s household.

According to contemporary accounts, the fire likely ignited when embers in the bakery’s oven were not fully extinguished. The fire quickly spread to neighboring wooden houses. The early signs were overlooked or underestimated; the fire initially remained small and could have been contained, but due to dry weather and strong winds, it rapidly escalated.

Course of the Fire

Once the fire escaped the bakery, it moved swiftly through the tightly packed streets. The buildings of London were primarily constructed from timber with thatched roofs, which ignited easily. The city had experienced a hot, dry summer that year, making the wood dry and highly flammable.

Strong easterly winds propelled the flames westward, sweeping across the city. Firefighters, known as “fire wards,” attempted to tackle the blaze using water buckets and primitive fire hooks to pull down buildings and create firebreaks, but their efforts were insufficient.

One of the critical challenges was the reluctance of city officials to authorize the demolition of buildings to stop the fire’s spread. Creating firebreaks by pulling down houses was a recognized method, but fear of legal repercussions and property loss delayed decisive action.

Over the next four days, the fire consumed approximately 13,200 houses, 87 churches, the Royal Exchange, and numerous other public buildings and institutions. Landmarks such as St. Paul’s Cathedral were engulfed and destroyed in the blaze. shutdown123