10 Most Devastating Fires in History

10 Most Devastating Fires in History

Throughout history, fires have led to drastic changes in population patterns, infrastructure, and the course of world events. These fires can arise from entirely natural causes, however, around 85% of all wildfires are either indirectly or directly caused by humans.

These infernos are a sobering reminder of nature’s awesome power. Here are the 10 most devastating fires in History;

1. The Great Fire of London

The Great Fire of London – Wikipedia

The Great Fire of London was a major blaze that swept through the central parts of London from Sunday, 2 September to Thursday, 6 September 1666. The fire started in a bakery shortly after midnight on Sunday, 2 September, and spread rapidly.

The fire destroyed approximately 15 percent of the city’s housing, and the monetary value of the loss was estimated at around 9–10 million pounds. From official records only a few deaths were recorded, however this record has been challenged by many historians as they believe many deaths must have gone unrecorded.

The battle to put out the fire is considered to have been won by two key factors: the strong east wind dropped, and the Tower of London garrison used gunpowder to create effective firebreaks, halting further spread eastward.

2. The Great Fire of New York

Great Fire of New York – Wikipedia

The Great Fire of New York was a major conflagration that burned through the night of September 20, 1776, and into the morning of September 21. It is believed that the fire was deliberately set. British leaders accused revolutionaries acting within the city and state, and many residents assumed that one side or the other had started it.

The fire destroyed about 10 to 25 percent of the buildings in the city. It was stopped by changes in wind direction as much as by the actions of some citizenry and British marines sent, according to John Joseph Henry, an eyewitness.

The fire convinced the British to put the city under martial law rather than returning it to civilian authorities.

3. The Reichstag Fire

The window through which Marinus van der Lubbe supposedly entered the building – Wikipedia

The Reichstag fire was a devastating fire that burned on Monday, 27 February 1933 on the Reichstag building, home of the German parliament in Berlin. The fire was an arson attack by Marinus van der Lubbe, a Dutch “council communist”.

The fire was used to promote the propaganda agenda of Adolf Hitler, who claim that Communists were plotting against the German government. This resulted in President Paul von Hindenburg issuing the Reichstag Fire Decree suspending civil liberties, and pursue a “ruthless confrontation” with the Communists.

This made the fire pivotal in the establishment of Nazi Germany.

4. Indonesian Forest Fires

Satellite image of 2019 Southeast Asian haze in Borneo – Wikipedia

The Indonesian Forest Fires of 1997 to 1998 are collectively not only the second-deadliest wildfire in history, but also one of the longest lasting wildfires of all time. The forest fires were caused by changing land use, which made the tropical forest vulnerable to fire during a drought.

A total of 8 million hectares (20 million acres) of land was destroyed, and 240 people perished in the affected countries of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Due to the heavy smoke caused by the fires. An Airbus A300 operating as Garuda Indonesia Flight 152 crashed on approach to Medan’s Polonia Airport. All 234 people on board died.

To avoid the recurring of the Haze, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) approved the Regional Haze Action Plan (RHAP) in 1998. The system prevents forest fires and the resulting haze through improved management policies and enforcement.

5. Bandipur forest fires

Bandipur fires, 2019 – Wikipedia

The Bandipur forest fires broke out on 21^st February 2019 in numerous parts across the Bandipur National Park of the Karnataka state in India. The fire was started by two shepherds who started the fire to chase away a tiger which was spotted in the area for a month or so.

The fire that destroyed Kundakere Range, spread to Barakatte and Guddakere, then to the Himavathi Gopalaswamy Hills. It also destroyed forests in Jarkal Kere and Gowri Kalu hills.

On 25^th February 2019 Two Mi-17 Indian Air Force helicopters were deployed to douse the fire, which had been raging for three days. A total of 10 sorties were flown, dropping approximately 30,000 litres of water.

6. Black Dragon Fire

Daxing’anling Prefecture, Heilongjiang – Wikipedia

The Black Dragon fire is also known as the 1987 Daxing’anling wildfire. The fire broke out in Daxing’anling Prefecture, Heilongjiang on May 6, 1987, and lasted almost a month, before it stopped on June 2, 1987.

The fire covered about 10,000 km2 (2,500,000 acres) including spreading into the Soviet Union. It destroyed 7.3 million hectares (18 million acres) of forest, about 266 people were wounded and 211 died in the fire, leaving 50,000 homeless. It was the deadliest forest fire in the People’s Republic of China in over 300 years.

China and the Soviet Union responded very differently in putting out the fire. China sent over 60,000 soldiers and workers to try and extinguish the fire, while the Soviet Union let the fire burn out on its side of the border.

7. Black Saturday Bushfires

February 7, Victoria Bushfires – Wikipedia

The Black Saturday bushfires were a series of bushfires that either ignited or were already burning across the Australian state of Victoria on and around Saturday, 7 February 2009. As many as 400 individual fires were recorded. The fires occurred during extreme bushfire weather conditions.

A total of 164 people died in the fires themselves, 12 died later in hospital, and 4 died from other causes including car crashes. A total of 450,000 ha (1,100,000 acres) was many people were left homeless.

Responses to the Black Saturday bushfires included immediate community response, donations, and international aid efforts.

8. Attica Wildfires

Greek Fire aftermath – Flickr

The Attica Wildfires were a series of wildfires in Greece, during the 2018 European heat wave. It began in the coastal areas of Attica on 23^rd July 2018. The fire was started by a 65-year-old man from Penteli through negligence by burning wood in his garden.

As many as 102 people were confirmed dead, 164 adults and 23 children were taken to hospital with injuries, 4,000 homes, and 40,000 pine and olive trees were burned. The fire destroyed Mati and nearby Kokkino Limanaki. The fires were the second-deadliest wildfire event to have occurred worldwide since 2001.

Many countries worldwide helped or offered aid to Greece to put out fires, which died out on 26^th July 2018.

9. The Peshtigo Fire

Peshtigo Fiare Surviving Lumber – Wikipedia

The Peshtigo fire occurred on October 8, 1871 in northeastern Wisconsin, United States. The fire started when strong winds fanned a controlled slash-and-burn land management system out of control.

Peshtigo’s fire did not receive much publicity from the media as it occurred on the same day as the more famous Great Chicago Fire. It is estimated between 1,500 and 2,500 deaths occurred and between 1.2 and 1.5 million acres of land had been burned.

It took days for help to arrive, as most of the officials were focusing on Chicago. By the time aid was arriving all that was left of the Town of Peshtigo was a few buildings and ashes with all personal items being destroyed.

10. Amazon Forest Fires

Aerial view of the Amazon Rainforest – Wikipedia

The 2019 Amazon rainforest wildfires season saw a year-to-year surge in fires occurring in the Amazon rainforest and Amazon biome within Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Peru during that year’s Amazonian tropical dry season. The increased rates of fire can be attributed to the slash-and-burn methods that are used to clear the forest to make way for agriculture, livestock, logging, and mining.

These fires pose great risks as the Amazon rainforest is the world’s largest terrestrial carbon dioxide sink and plays a significant role in mitigating global warming.