The Great Fire of London

The Great Fire of London began in September 1666, when a bakery on Pudding Lane in London caught fire. It was an accident that changed the way London looked forever.

The fire spread quickly and burnt for four days. Incredibly, only six people are believed to have died, but over 13,000 houses were destroyed.

There were several reasons why the fire spread so quickly. The houses in London were built of wood and straw and were very close to each other. There had just been a long, hot summer with very little rain. This meant the wooden houses were especially dry, which meant they burnt quicker. There was also a strong wind, which fanned the flames and blew the flames from house to house.