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Click on the links to read about fires which have occurred throughout history.

Rome, Italy (64)
Legend says that Emperor Nero played his violin as the entire city burned. Actually, the city of Rome was already a mess at the time. Nero had plans to rebuild it with better construction and plumbing. Some historians say he was trying to clear land for a more modern city when the blaze got out of control.

London, England (1666)
The fire started in a small house on Pudding Lane where homes were build tightly together. Five days later, 13,200 houses, 87 churches, several hospitals, libraries, and a prison had burned to the ground. Even 100,000 boast and barges in the river caught fire. More than 200,000 were left homeless and the entire city was destroyed.

Western Victoria, Australia (1851, February 6)
On February 6, 1851, temperatures exceed 117ºF in Melbourne, Australia. Western Victoria had scorched under weeks of hot sun, its vegetation dry and ideal as tinder. By afternoon on “Black Thursday,” almost the entire state was on fire. Flames swept across the grass faster than galloping horses, flying along treetops and crashing through tangled undergrowth.

Chicago, Illinois, USA (1871, October 8)
Rumor says that this fire was started by Mrs. O’Leary’s unhappy cow, who knocked over a lantern and started one of the worst fires in American history. The city had not seen rain for weeks, and strong winds spread the blaze until 2,000 acres were on fire. Almost 90,000 were left homeless, and 300 lost their lives. 18,000 buildings - most of the city - lay in ashes.

San Francisco, California, USA (1906, April 18)
This fire was caused by the great 1906 earthquake that shook the city and broke gas pipes. Upset fireplaces started a blaze that burned wildly for two days. By the time the last flames died, 4.7 square miles of the city was completely destroyed, with 700 lives and 25,000 buildings lost.

Victoria, South Australia (1983, February)
On “Ash Wednesday,” 180 fires broke out after temperatures rose to 104ºF (40ºC). Winds spread the flames, letting ten wildfires rage unchecked. They consumed almost 900,000 acres of land, taking 72 lives and dislocating 8,000 as well. One fire tornado was measured at 1250 feet high.

Southern California, USA (1993)
After weeks of rainless skies, Los Angeles was threatened by a fire that seemed unstoppable. More than 6,500 firefighters were called in to battle the blaze. Helicopters hauled in water from the Pacific Ocean, but the fire continued to rage for two weeks, destroying over 1,000 homes and causing billions of dollars in damage.

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