List of historic fires 251349 226179231 2008-07-17T04:59:18Z CalendarWatcher 2292203 Reverted 1 edit by [[Special:Contributions/221.255.58.10|221.255.58.10]]; Remove unsourced events. ([[WP:TW|TW]]) This is a '''list of historic fires'''. Before the 20th century, [[fire]]s were a major hazard to urban areas and the cause of massive amounts of damage to cities. While a few of the most important wildfires or forest fires are included, this list is not the primary resource to refer to for the most severe wildfires, which is summarized in the [[List of forest fires]]. ==Building or structure fires== * 586 BC - [[Temple in Jerusalem]] the first at [[Jerusalem]] burned by [[Nebuchadnezzar]] king of the [[Babylonians]] * 356 BC - [[Temple of Artemis]] at [[Ephesus]] burned by [[arson]] * c. 50 BC - [[Library of Alexandria]] burned during siege (possibly accidental) * 70 - [[Temple in Jerusalem]] the second at [[Jerusalem]] burned by [[Roman Empire]] troops under general [[Titus]] * 272 - Library of Alexandria possibly burned during occupation of Alexandria * 391 - Library of Alexandria possibly burned by order of Roman Emperor [[Theodosius I]] * 640 - Library of Alexandria possibly burned by order of Caliph [[Umar ibn al-Khattab|Umar I]] :''Note: evidence is scant for all four fires, but the library was eventually destroyed'' * 1190 - Fire at [[Clifford's Tower]], [[York]], [[England]] kills at least 150 Jews * 1608 - First settlement in Jamestown burns * 1613 - [[Globe Theatre]], [[London]] burned due to mishap * 1652 - Town hall of [[Amsterdam]] burnt down. Treasures and important historical charters were destroyed. * 1666 - The [[Great Fire of London]], which originated in a baker's shop on Pudding Lane and destroyed much of London. *1697 - The medieval [[Tre Kronor (castle)|"Tre Kronor" Royal Castle in Stockholm]] burned down and was eventually replaced by the present palace. * 1727 - Fire during puppet show in barn at [[Burwell, Cambridgeshire]], [[England]], killed 78 (including 51 children) * 1794 - [[Christiansborg Palace]], [[Copenhagen]] * 1811 - Richmond Theatre Fire, [[Richmond, VA]]. 72 dead. * 1814 - The [[White House]] and [[U.S. Capitol]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] burned by the [[United Kingdom|British]] :''Note: The White House was already named before the fire, not because scorch marks were painted over'' * 1823 - [[Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls]], [[Rome]] * 1834 - [[Palace of Westminster]], home to [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] * 1844 - St. Michael's & St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Churches [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] (reportedly due to arson) * 1845 - Theatre fire in [[Guangzhou|Canton]], [[China]] killed 1670 * 1846 - [[Nantucket]] [[July 13]] * 1849 - [[Great St. Louis Fire (1849)]] * 1863 - [[Church of the Company Fire]] in [[Santiago, Chile]]; killed over 2500 * 1866 - [[The Great Fire]] in [[Portland, Maine]] on [[July 4]] * 1871 - [[Port Huron Fire of 1871]] killed over 200 people in [[Port Huron, Michigan]] on [[October 8]]. * 1876 - Brooklyn Theater Fire, killed 295 in [[Brooklyn, NY]]. * 1878 - The [[Eldkvarn]] flour mill in [[Stockholm]]. * 1878 - The [[Washburn "A" Mill]] flour mill explosion and fire in [[Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]] * 1881 - Ring Theater Fire, killed 850 in [[Vienna]] * 1881 - [[The Great Michigan Fire]], killed over 200 in [[Michigan]] * 1884 - Christiansborg Palace, [[Copenhagen]] * 1887 - Paris Opéra Fire on [[May 25]] killed 200 * 1887 - [[Theatre Royal, Exeter]] Fire, [[England]] on [[September 5]] killed 186 * 1895 - [[The Rotunda (University of Virginia)|The Rotunda]], [[University of Virginia]], in [[Charlottesville, Virginia]] * 1897 - [[Paris Bazaar Fire]] on [[May 4]] killed 150 * 1897 - Great Windsor Fire, [[Windsor, Nova Scotia]] Canada, destroyed 80% of the town * 1899 - Windsor Hotel East 47th Street/5th Avenue [[Manhattan]], [[New York]] - at least 33 and 45 people killed (estimates vary) * 1900 - [[Hoboken Docks Fire]] on [[June 30]] killed 326 * 1902 - [[Birmingham Church Fire]] on [[September 20]] killed 115 * 1903 - [[Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum]] fire, [[London]], killed 51 on January 27 * 1903 - [[Iroquois Theater Fire]], [[Chicago]], at least 600 died * 1904 - [[Great Toronto Fire]], [[Toronto]] * 1905 - Lodging House fire in [[Glasgow]] killed 39 * 1908 - [[Rhoads Opera House|Rhoads Theater Fire]], [[Boyertown, PA]] killed 170 * 1908 - [[Collinwood School Fire]], [[Cleveland, Ohio]] killed 175 on [[March 4]] * 1909 - Flores Theater fire, [[Acapulco]], [[Guerrero]], [[Mexico]] on February 15, killing 250. * 1910 - Friedlander Leather Remnants factory fire, [[Philadelphia, PA]]. 11 firemen lost their lives in two separate collapses. * 1911 - [[Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire]], [[New York City]] * 1916 - Centre Block of the [[Parliament of Canada]] in [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]] * 1918 - [[Norman State Hospital Fire]], [[Norman, OK]] * 1919 - [[Mayaguez Theater Fire]], [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]] * 1921 - [[Oppau explosion]] near [[Ludwigshafen]], [[Germany]] killing 500–600 on [[September 21]] * 1923 - Cleveland School Fire, [[Camden, South Carolina]], killed 77 on [[May 16]] * 1924 - [[Babbs Switch Fire|Babbs Switch Schoolhouse Fire]], [[Oklahoma]], killed 36 on [[December 24]] * 1925 - [[Madame Tussauds]] [[wax museum]] in [[London]] * 1927 - [[Laurier Palace Theatre Fire]], [[Montreal]], killed 77 children on [[January 9]] * 1928 - ''Teatro de Novedades'' theater fire killed 68 or maybe 110, [[Madrid]], [[Spain]] on [[22 September]] * 1929 - Glen Cinema disaster, [[Paisley]], [[Scotland]] killed 71 on [[December 31]] [http://www.glencinema.org.uk/] * 1929 - [[Cleveland Clinic]] fire, [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]] killed 123 * 1930 - Jinhae Primary School fire, [[Jinhae]], [[Gyeongsangnamdo]], [[South Korea]], killed 104 on [[March 10]] * 1930 - [[Ohio Penitentiary]] fire, [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]] killed 322 * 1931 - [[Glaspalast (Munich)]] fire on [[July 6]] * 1931 - [[Pittsburgh Nursing Home Fire]] * 1933 - [[Reichstag fire]] in [[Berlin]], caused by arson * 1934 - [[Hotel Kerns Fire]] in [[Lansing, MI]] * 1937 - [[Hindenburg disaster]] near [[Lakehurst, New Jersey]] * 1937 - South Tomita Primary School fire, [[Shirahama]], [[Wakayama]], [[Japan]], killed 81 on [[20 December]] * 1938 - [[Terminal Hotel Fire]] in [[Atlanta, GA]] * 1938 - [[Nouvelles Galeries]] department store fire, [[Marseille]], [[France]], killed 73 on [[October 28]] * 1940 - [[Rhythm Night Club Fire]], [[Natchez, MS]] killed 209 on April 23 * 1941 - [[Great fire of Santander]], [[Santander,Cantabria]], Spain * 1941 - Booth's clothing factory fire in [[Huddersfield]], [[England]] killed 49 on [[October 31]] [http://ichuddersfield.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0330features/tm_headline=booth-s-inferno-remembered&method=full&objectid=17958411&siteid=50060-name_page.html] * 1942 - Knights Of Columbus hostel fire in [[St. John's]], [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]], kills 99 * 1942 - [[Cocoanut Grove fire]] in [[Boston, Massachusetts]] kills 492 * 1943 - [[Cavan Orphanage Fire]], [[Ireland]], kills 36 on 23 February * 1943 - Gulf Hotel Fire in [[Houston, TX]] kills 55 * 1943 - [[Hoteiza Theater Fire]] in [[Kucchan]], [[Hokkaidō]], [[Japan]], killed 205 on [[March 6]] * 1944 - [[Hartford Circus Fire]] in [[Hartford, Connecticut]] killed 168 on July 6 * 1945 - The [[Empire State Building]] in [[New York City, New York]] is set on fire by a [[B-25 Mitchell]] that crashed into the building, killing 14 on [[July 28]] * 1946 - Loebel club fire in [[Berlin]], [[Germany]], killed 89 on [[February 8]] * 1946 - LaSalle Hotel Fire in [[Chicago]] kills 61 * 1946 - [[Winecoff Hotel#Fire|Winecoff Hotel Fire]] in [[Atlanta, GA]], killed 119 on [[December 7]] * 1947 - Le Select Cinema fire in [[Rueil-Malmaison]], [[France]], killed 87 on [[August 30]] * 1947 - [[Ballantyne's store disaster|Ballantyne's Department Store]] fire, [[Christchurch]], [[New Zealand]], killed 41 on 18 November * 1948 - Explosion at [[BASF]] production site in [[Ludwigshafen]], [[Germany]] killing 207 on [[July 28]] * 1949 - [[St. Anthony's Hospital Fire]] in [[Effingham, IL]] killed 70 on April 5 * 1950 - Mercy Hospital fire, [[Davenport, Iowa]], killed 41 on [[January 7]] * 1950 - [[Kinkakuji]] Fire by arsonist in [[Kyoto]], [[Japan]] on [[July 2]] * 1953 - [[Littlefield Nursing Home Fire]] in [[Largo, FL]] * 1954 - [[Larkin Building Fire]] in [[Buffalo, New York]] First fire in Buffalo's history to go to a general alarm * 1955 - Elderly home for Catholic church fire in [[Yokohama]], [[Japan]] killed 100 on [[February 16]] * 1957 - [[Warrenton Nursing Home Fire]] in [[Warrenton, MO]] * 1958 - [[Our Lady of the Angels School Fire]], [[Chicago]] killed 95 on [[December 1]] * 1958 - [[Vida Store Fire]] in [[Bogotá]] * 1959 - Stalheim Hotel fire, [[Norway]], killed 34 on [[June 23]] * 1960 - Kukje Rubber Manufacturing plant 2 fire at [[Busan]], [[South Korea]], killing 68, injured 44, on March 2. * 1960 - Cheapside Street whisky bond fire, [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]], killed 19 firefighters on [[March 28]] * 1960 - [[Guatemala Mental Hospital Fire]], killed 225 on [[July 14]] * 1960 - [[Syrian Movie Theater Fire]] in [[Amude]] ([[Syria]]) * 1961 - [[Grand North American Circus arson]] in [[Niterói]] ([[Brazil]]) killed 323 on [[December 17]] * 1963 - Fretz Building, [[Philadelphia, PA]], [[twelve-alarm fire]] was largest in city history. 50 homes and multiple businesses destroyed along with original fire building on [[January 1]]. * 1963 - Le Monde Theater fire at [[Diourbel]], [[Kaolack]], [[Senegal]] on May 4, killing 64 * 1963 - [[Surfside Hotel Fire]] in [[Atlantic City, NJ]] on [[November 18]] * 1963 - [[Golden Age Nursing Home Fire]] in [[Fitchville, OH]] killed 63 on [[November 23]] * 1963 - [[Hotel Roosevelt fire]] in [[Jacksonville, FL]] killed 22 on [[December 29]] * 1967 - [[1967 Tasmanian fires]] in [[Tasmania]], [[Australia]] * 1967 - [[Apollo 1]] burned during ground tests at [[Cape Canaveral]] * 1967 - [[L'Innovation Department Store Fire]], in [[Brussels]] killed 322 on [[May 22]] * 1967 - [[Florida State Prison Fire]], in [[Jay, FL]] killed 37 on [[July 16]] * 1968 - Ikenobo Mangetsujyo Hotel fire at [[Arima Spa]], [[Kobe, Hyogo]], [[Japan]], killing 30 and injuring 44 on November 2 * 1968 - Stern's upholstery factory fire in [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]], killed 24 on [[November 18]] * 1968 - Knitting factory fire in [[Hong Kong]], killed 19 including those who lived in apartment above the factory where the fire spread to on [[February 12]]. <ref>[http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=1352&itemID=30955&URL=Research%20&%20Reports/Fire%20statistics/Key%20dates%20in%20fire%20history&cookie%5Ftest=1 NFPA :: Research & Reports :: Fire statistics :: Key dates in fire history<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> * 1969 - Bandai Atami International Sightseeing Hotel fire, in [[Koriyama]], [[Japan]], kills 31 on 5 February. * 1970 - Club Cinq-Sept fire in [[Saint-Laurent-du-Pont]], [[France]], killed 146 on [[November 1]] * 1970 - Pioneer Hotel fire, [[Tucson, Arizona]], killed 29 on [[December 20]] * 1971 - Under construction [[Jumbo Kingdom]] industrial fire in [[Aberdeen Harbour]], [[Hong Kong]], killing up to 34 workers on [[October 30]].<ref>NFPA.org. "[http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=1352&itemID=30955&URL=Research%20&%20Reports/Fire%20statistics/Key%20dates%20in%20fire%20history&cookie%5Ftest=1 NFPA.org]." ''Key dates in fire history.'' Retrieved on [[2008-02-21]].</ref><ref>England, Vaudine. [1998] (1998). The Quest of Noel Croucher: Hong Kong's Quiet Philanthropist Hong Kong University Press. Hong Kong (China). ISBN 9622094732. p 237.</ref> * 1971 - Taeyunkak Hotel Fire in [[Seoul, South Korea]] on [[December 25]] * 1972 - [[Hotel Vendome Fire]] in [[Boston]], 9 firefighters killed on [[June 17]] * 1972 - Sennichi Department Store Fire in [[Osaka]], [[Japan]], killed 118 on [[May 13]] * 1972 - Coldharbour Hospital fire in [[Sherborne]], [[England]], killed 30 on [[July 5]] * 1972 - Robinson Department Store fire, killing twelve and 114-years old landmark building in [[Singapore]] on November 21. * 1973 - [[National Archives Fire]] in [[St. Louis, Missouri]] * 1973 - [[Summerland disaster]] in [[Douglas, Isle of Man]] killed 51 on [[August 2]] * 1973 - Hotel Hafnia fire, [[Copenhagen]], [[Denmark]], 35 killed on [[September 1]] * 1973 - Taiyo Department Store Fire in [[Kumamoto]], [[Kyūshū]], [[Japan]], killed 104 on [[November 29]] * 1974 - [[Joelma Fire]] kills 188 in [[São Paulo]] on [[February 1]]. * 1974 - Pui Lai Win Hotel with night club and other facilities fire, [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]], 89 killed on [[November 3]] * 1975 - Gulf Refinery Fire, [[Philadelphia, PA]]. Eight firemen lost their lives in the inferno. [[August 17]]. * 1977 - [[Rossiya Hotel]] fire in [[Moscow]], [[Russia]], 45 killed on [[February 25]] * 1977 - Hotel Polen fire in [[Amsterdam]], [[Netherlands]] kills 33 * 1977 - [[Beverly Hills Supper Club fire]] kills 165 in [[Southgate, Kentucky]]. * 1978 - [[The Cinema Rex Fire]] kills 438 in [[Abadan]], [[Khuzestan]], [[Iran]]. * 1979 - [[Hotel Corona de Aragon]] Fire in [[Zaragoza]], [[Aragon]], Spain, kills 80 * 1979 - Lakshimki Talkies cinema fire, in [[Tuticorin]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]], kills 73 on July 29. * 1979 - Hotel Am Augarten fire in [[Vienna]], [[Austria]], kills 25 * 1979 - Opémiska Community Hall fire, [[Chapais]], [[Canada]], killed 48 on 31 December * 1980 - A fire in the [[Eventide Home for the Aged]] in [[Kingston, Jamaica]] kills 157 on [[May 20]] * 1980 - Nightclub fire kills 37 in [[London]] on 16 August * 1980 - [[MGM Grand fire]] in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]] kills 87 * 1980 - [[Prince Hotel]] of Kawaji Fire in [[Kinugawa]], [[Japan, kills 45 * 1981 - Nilkanth Mahaden temple fire, [[Asarwa]], [[Gujarat]], [[India]], 49 killed on December 6 * 1981 - [[Keansburg Boarding Home fire]] in [[Keansburg, New Jersey]] kills 30 * 1981 - [[New Cross Fire]], [[London]], killed 13 on January 18 * 1981 - [[Stardust Disaster]], discotheque fire in [[Dublin]] kills 44 * 1981 - [[1981 Bangalore circus fire]], circus fire in [[Bangalore]], [[India]], kills 66 * 1982 - Hotel New Japan fire, downtown of [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]], kills 33 on 8 February * 1982 - [[Connecticut Street Armory Fire]] in [[Buffalo, NY]] * 1982 - [[Salang tunnel fire]] kills between 150 and 1,000 people in [[Afghanistan]]'s only road tunnel * 1982 - [[Caldecott Tunnel fire]] kills 6 and severely damages major road tunnel in [[Oakland, California]] * 1982 - [[Minneapolis Thanksgiving Day Fire]] destroys the Northwestern National Bank building and former [[Donaldson's]] flagship store. * 1983 - [[Turin Movie Theater fire]] in [[Turin, Italy|Turin]] kills 64 * 1983 - Alcala 20 Discotheque fire in [[Madrid]] kills 83 * 1984 - [[Summit tunnel fire]] in [[West Yorkshire]], England * 1985 - [[Bradford City disaster|Valley Parade Ground Stadium fire]] in [[Bradford]], England, 56 die * 1985 - [[Saavedra]] Phychiatic Hospital fire in [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]], kills 79, injures 247. * 1986 - A fire at [[Sandoz]] in the ''Schweizerhalle'' industrial area near [[Basel]], [[Switzerland]] caused heavy pollution problems in the river [[Rhine]] in November [[1986]] * 1986 - [[Dupont Plaza Hotel fire]], set by disgruntled employees, kills 97 in [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]] * 1987 - A fuel [[tanker truck]] ran into an ice cream parlour and exploded in [[Herborn]], [[Germany]], setting 12 houses on fire, killing 6 on [[July 7]] * 1987 - [[King's Cross fire]] in the [[London Underground]] killed 31 on [[November 18]] * 1988 - A fire at ''Hotel International'' in [[Oerlikon (Zürich)]] kills 6 on [[February 14]] * 1988 - [[Piper Alpha]] disaster, [[North Sea]] on [[July 6]] * 1988 - A fire in [[Lisbon]], [[Portugal]] destroyed 7 blocks of houses (7,500 m²) on [[August 25]] * 1989 - Premier Studio of Mysore fire, [[Mysore]], [[Karnataka]], [[India]], 62 killed on [[February 8]] * 1990 - Flying discotheque fire at [[Zaragoza]], [[Aragon]], [[Spain]], 43 killed on [[January 14]]. * 1990 - [[Happy Land Fire]] (arson) in [[the Bronx]], [[New York City]], kills 87 on [[March 25]] * 1990 - [[1991 Hamlet chicken plant fire]] kills 25 people * 1991 - [[Meridian Plaza]] 22nd Fl. fire caused by oil-soaked rags, [[Philadelphia]] * 1992 - [[Windsor Castle fire, 1992|Windsor Castle, England]] * 1992 - A part of the roof and the upper floor of the [[Hofburg Imperial Palace]] in [[Vienna]], [[Austria]] burned down on [[November 26]] * 1993 - a ten-story of Hsinhua building fire, [[Taipei]], [[Taiwan]], 34 killed on January 18 * 1993 - Linxi department store fire, [[Tangshan]], [[Hebei]], [[China]], 79 killed, 51 injured on [[14 February]] * 1993 - [[Branch Davidians|Branch Davidian]] church in [[Waco, Texas]], about 80 killed * 1993 - [[Kader Toy Factory]] fire, [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]], 189 killed on [[May 10]] * 1993 - Madimak Hotel fire, [[Sivas]], [[Turkey]], killing 35, on July 2. * 1993 - Zhili Toy Factory fire, [[Kuiyong]], [[Shenzhen]], [[China]], 87 killed on [[November 20]] * 1993 - Gaofu Textile Factory fire, [[Fuzhou]], [[Fujian]], [[China]], 61 killed on [[December 13]] * 1993 - Fireworks factory fire, [[Hong Kong]], 27 killed on [[August 29]] * 1994 - 1994 Karamay theater fire, [[Karamay]], [[Xinjiang]] [[Uygur]], [[China]], 324 killed on [[December 10]] * 1994 - Fuxin Discotheque fire at [[Fuxin]], [[Liaoning]], [[China]], 234 killed on [[November 27]] * 1995 - [[衛爾康餐廳]][[Wei Er Kang Restaurant]] at [[Taichung]], [[Taiwan]] killing 64 * 1995 - Gyeonni Women Technical School fire, [[Yongin]], [[Gyeonggi]], [[South Korea]], killing 38. * 1995 - [[Dayananda Anglo Vedic]] private school fire, [[Mandi Dabwali]], [[Haryana]], [[India]], 538 killed on [[December 23]] * 1996 - Teatro [[La Fenice]] in [[Venice]] * 1996 - [[Ozone Disco Club fire]], [[Quezon City]], [[Philippines]], 162 killed, 95 injured on [[March 18]] * 1996 - Kebon Kembang shoppong mall fire, [[Bogor]], [[Jawa Barat]], [[Indonesia]], 78 killed on [[March 28]] * 1996 - [[Düsseldorf International Airport]] fire killing 17 on [[April 11]] * 1996 - [[Channel Tunnel fire]] between France and England on [[November 18]] * 1996 - [[Garley Building#The Garley Building Fire|The Garley Building fire]], [[Hong Kong]], 40 killed on [[November 20]] * 1997 - Top One Karaoke Fire, [[Tsim Sha Tsui]], [[Hong Kong]], 17 killed in arson attack on, [[January 25]] )<ref>[http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewContentItem.do?contentType=Article&hdAction=lnkhtml&contentId=844352&history=false Emerald: Article Request - Fire safety facilities assessment for karaokes<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> * 1997 - [[Brihadiswara]] temple fire by visitor using firecracker, at [[Thanjavur]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]], 60 killed, 200 injured on June 8 * 1997 - Uphaar cinema fire, [[Green Park]], [[New Delhi]], 59 killed on June 13 * 1997 - [[Pattaya Royal Resort Hotel]] fire, in [[Thailand]], killing 88, on [[July 11]] * 1998 - Bombolulu Girls High School of domitory fire, [[Mombasa]], [[Kenya]], 24 killed on [[March 25]] * 1998 - [[Gothenburg nightclub fire]] in [[Gothenburg]], [[Sweden]], killing 63 on [[October 30]] * 1998 - Orphanage fire in [[Manila]], [[Philippines]], kills 28 on [[December 3]] * 1999 - [[Mont Blanc Tunnel]] fire between [[France]] and [[Italy]], 39 killed * 1999 - [[Worcester Cold Storage Fire|The Worcester Cold Storage]] fire, 6 firefighters killed * 1999 - Two-story buildings with cinema complex fire at [[Yogyakarta]], [[Central Java]], [[Indonesia]], killing 75 on September 24 * 1999 - Four-story complex buildings with Sun-Hun Choe karaoke room fire at [[Incheon]], [[South Korea]], killing 54, injuring 70 on October 31 * 2000 - Tiantang cinema fire in [[Jiaozuo]], [[Henan]], [[China]], killing 74 on [[March 29]] * 2000 - December 25, [[Dongdu Commercial shopping center fire]] in [[Luoyang]], [[Henan]], [[China]], killing 309 * 2001 - On January 3, the largest loss of life ever recorded in a single family dwelling occurs in [[Oak Orchard, Delaware]] when a pot of grease left unattended on a kitchen stove leads to the loss of 11 family members. * 2001 - Kyanguli Secondary school fire, [[Machakos]], [[Eastern]], [[Kenya]], 68 killed on [[March 26]] * 2001 - Ramanathapuram Badasha mental Home fire, [[Erwadi]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]], 25 killed on August 13 * 2001 - Manor Hotel fire, [[Quezon City]], [[Philippines]], 75 killed on [[August 17]] * 2001 - [[Myojo 56 building fire]], [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]], 44 killed on September 1. * 2001 - [[September 11 Terrorist Attacks]] - two planes deliberately flown into the [[World Trade Center]] Twin Towers in [[New York City]], sparked fires on multiple floors. The Twin Towers both completely collapsed 56 and 103 minutes later. Debris from the collapse of the North Tower sparked fires on multiple floors of World Trade Center [[Building 7]], which also completely collapsed later in the day. A third plane crashed into [[the Pentagon]], starting fires in that building. * 2001 - [[Edam-Volendam|Volendam]], fire in a bar/discoteque; killing 14, injuring 180 (many with lasting [[scar]]s) * 2001 - [[Fan Lin school explosion]], fire breaks out in firework store, resultant explosion kills 41 children. * 2001 - [[Mesa Redonda]] shopping center fire, [[Lima]], [[Peru]], 291 killed on [[December 29]] * 2002 - Shree Lee International footwear factory fire, [[Agra]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]], 42 killed on June 26 * 2002 - Heppi Karaoke bar fire, [[Palembang]], [[South Sumatra]], [[Indonesia]], 42 killed on July 9 * 2002 - [[Ho Chi Minh City ITC Inferno]], [[Vietnam]], over 60 killed, over 100 missing and 500 injured in a luxurious department store fire and collapse * 2002 - Sidi Moussa prison fire, [[El Jadida]], [[Morocco]], killing 50, on [[November 2]] * 2002 - La Coajira nightclub fire at [[Caracas]], [[Venezuela]], 47 killed on [[December 1]] * 2003 - [[Daegu subway fire]] in [[Daegu]] ([[South Korea]]) * 2003 - [[The Station nightclub fire]] 96 died at the scene; 4 died from injuries at local hospitals in [[West Warwick, Rhode Island]] * 2003 - [[Patrice Lumumba University|Patrice Lumumba People's Friendship University]], [[Moscow]] * 2004 - [[Zhongbai Commercial Plaza]] fire, [[Jilin]], northeastern [[China]], killed 53 on [[February 16]] * 2004 - [[Sri Krishna Aided Higher Secondary School]] fire, [[Kumbakonam]], [[Tamil-Nadu]], [[India]], killed 94 on [[July 16]] * 2004 - [[Paraguay supermarket fire|Ycuá Bolaños]] supermarket fire, [[Asuncion]], [[Paraguay]], kills 370, injures 500 on [[August 1]]. * 2004 - [[República Cromagnon nightclub fire]] in [[Buenos Aires]] kills 194, injures 714 on [[December 30]]. * 2005 - The [[Windsor Tower]] Building Fire ([[Spain]]), February 14-15 [http://www.elmundo.es/documentos/2005/02/windsor/index.html][http://www.concretecentre.com/main.asp?page=1205] * 2005 - 11 die at a fire in the detention center of [[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]] on [[October 27]]. * 2005 - [[2005 Hertfordshire Oil Storage Terminal fire|Hertfordshire Oil Storage Terminal fire]], a major explosion at [[Hertfordshire Oil Storage Terminal]] in [[Hemel Hempstead]], [[United Kingdom]] injures 43 on [[December 11]]. * 2005 - Liaoyang City Central Hospital fire, [[Liaoyang]], [[Jilin]], China, 39 killed on [[December 12]]. * 2006 - KTS Composite Textile factory fire, at [[Chittagong]], [[Bangladesh]], 65 killed, 100 injured on [[February 24]]. * 2006 - [[2006 Kolkata leather factory fire|Kolkata leather factory fire]] kills at least nine people in [[India]] on [[November 22]]. * 2006 - [[2006 Moscow hospital fire|Moscow hospital fire]] kills 45 drug addicts in a rehabilitation centre on [[December 9]]. * 2006 - Fire at store in [[Ormoc City]], [[Philippines]] kills 24 [http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/12/25/philippines.fire.ap/] * 2007 - Nursing home fire at [[Kamyshevatskaya]], [[Krasnodar]], southern [[Russia]], killed 63 on [[March 19]] * 2007 - Warehouse fire in [[Charleston, SC]]; 9 firefighters were killed battling the blaze. * 2007 - Warehouse fire in [[Atherstone-on-Stour]], [[Warwickshire]] when four firefighters were killed * 2007 - Warehouse fire in Mexico City, [[Mexico]] where five people were killed * 2008 - 12-story retail and office building fire kills 3 firefighters in [[Ürümqi]] (China) on [[January 2]] [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/03/content_7359146.htm] * 2008 - Under constructing Korea 2000 refrigerated warehouse fire, [[Icheon]], [[Gyeonggi-do]], [[South Korea]], 40 killed, on [[January 7]]. * 2008 - [[2008 Namdaemun fire|Namdaemun fire]] with collapse at [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]] on [[February 10]]. * 2008 - Quebec City Armoury fire, [[Quebec]], Canada, on [[April 4]] * 2008 - four-story Rosamor Furniture ameublements plant fire, Lissasfa, [[Casablanca]], [[Morocco]], killing 55 on [[April 25]] *2008-Texas Governor's Mansion heavily damaged during an extensive renovation; thought to be arson ==City or area fires== [[Image:Great Fire London.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Great Fire of London]], 1666.]] * 64 - [[Great Fire of Rome]] * 847 - [[Borgo (rione of Rome)|Borgo]], the area around [[Saint Peter's Basilica]] in [[Rome]] * 1204 - [[Constantinople]] burned three times during the [[Fourth Crusade]] * 1421 - First Great Fire of [[Amsterdam]] * 1452 - Second Great Fire of [[Amsterdam]], three quarters of the city destroyed * 1547 - [[Fire of Moscow (1547)|Moscow fire]] which sparked a rebellion * 1571 - [[Fire of Moscow (1571)|Moscow fire]] occurred when the forces of the [[Crimean]] [[Khan (title)|khan]] [[Devlet I Giray]] raided the [[Moscow|city]] * 1657 - [[Great Fire of Meireki]] - [[Edo]] (modern-day [[Tokyo]]) * 1666 - [[Great Fire of London]] * 1676 - [[Jamestown, Virginia]] Nathanial Bacon and his followers burned Jamestown to prevent Governor Berkley from using it as a base. * 1694 - the [[Great Fire of Warwick]] * 1696 - [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's, Newfoundland]] and 35 other settlements burned by French forces under [[Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville]] * 1702 - [[Uppsala]], [[Sweden]], large parts of the city devastated and the [[Uppsala Cathedral|cathedral]] and [[Uppsala Castle]] severely damaged. * 1728 - [[Copenhagen Fire of 1728]], two-fifths of the city burned down during three days. 3,650 families became homeless. * 1734 - [[Marie-Joseph Angélique|Montreal, New France]] * [[1752]] - June 6 - Fire destroys 18,000 houses in [[Moscow]]. * 1776 - [[Great Fire of New York (1776)|First Great Fire of New York City]] * 1788 - [[Great New Orleans Fire]] * 1788 - Great Fire of Tenmei - Kyoto, Japan, 150 killed, 37,000 houses burned, on January 30 * 1794 - [[New Orleans]] * 1795 - [[Copenhagen fire of 1795]] * 1805 - [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]] * 1811 - [[1811 Great fire of Podil]] * 1812 - [[Fire of Moscow (1812)|Moscow]], to deny shelter to [[Napoleon Bonaparte|Napoleon]] * 1812 - [[Buffalo, New York]] burned during the [[War of 1812]] * 1813 - [[Portsmouth, New Hampshire]] * 1813 - [[York, Upper Canada|York]], [[Upper Canada]] burned during the [[War of 1812]] * 1814 - [[Burning of Washington]] during the [[War of 1812]] * 1817 - [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's, Newfoundland]] * 1821 - [[Paramaribo]] ([[Suriname]]) over 400 houses destroyed * 1827 - [[Great Fire of Turku]] * 1835 - [[Great Fire of New York (1835)|Second Great Fire of New York City]] * 1845 - [[Great Fire of Pittsburgh]] destroyed over 1000 buildings * 1846 - [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's, Newfoundland]] * 1849 - [[St. Louis Fire (1849)|St. Louis Fire]], first US firefighter killed in the line of duty * 1849 - [[Toronto, Ontario]] * 1850 - [[Kraków]], Poland, 10% of the city area * 1852 - [[Vaasa]], Finland * 1854 - [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] and [[Gateshead]]: a spectacular explosion leads to the [[great fire of Newcastle and Gateshead]], killing 53 and levelling substantial property in both towns. * 1862 - [[Troy, New York]], over 500 buildings destroyed * 1864 - [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]] burned after time given for evacuation of citizens by order of [[William Tecumseh Sherman]] * 1865 - [[Columbia, South Carolina]] burned while being occupied by troops commanded by [[William Tecumseh Sherman]] * 1865 - [[Richmond, Virginia]] burned by retreating Confederates. * 1871 - [[Great Chicago Fire]], destroyed the downtown on [[October 8]] * 1871 - [[Peshtigo Fire|Peshtigo, Wisconsin Fire]], several towns destroyed in a firestorm, 1500-2500 dead, same day as Chicago Fire * 1872 - [[Great Boston Fire of 1872]], destroyed 776 buildings and killed at least 20 people. * 1877 - [[Saint John, New Brunswick]] Fire destroyed 1600 buildings * 1883 - [[Ponce, Puerto Rico]] * 1886 - [[Great Vancouver Fire]], [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], 1886. * 1889 - [[Great Seattle Fire]] * 1892 - [[Great Fire of 1892|St. John's, Newfoundland]] * 1894 - Great Fire in [[Shanghai]]; over 1,000 buildings are destroyed [[Image:Cnsphoto0501010.jpg|right|thumb|200px|City of [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's]] after the [[Great Fire of 1892]]]] * 1901 - [[Great Fire of 1901]], [[Jacksonville, Florida]] * 1904 - [[Great Baltimore Fire]] * 1904 - [[Great Toronto Fire]] * 1904 - [[Ålesund Fire]] * 1906 - [[San Francisco earthquake of 1906|San Francisco earthquake and fire]] * 1910 - [[Great Fire of 1910]] (aka Big Blowup; Big Burn), [[Washington]], [[Idaho]] and [[Montana]], over 3 million acres (12,000 km²), at least 85 dead. This fire set new policies, and created new organizations for fighting [[wildfires]]. * 1910 - [[Ököritófülpös]], [[Hungary]], fire in a barn during a dancing-party killed 312 people. * 1914 - [[Great Salem Fire of 1914]] * 1916 - [[Matheson Fire]], [[Matheson, Ontario]] * 1917 - The [[Halifax Explosion]], largest man-made explosion before the atomic bomb * 1917 - Over 300 acres (1.2 km²) (73 blocks) destroyed in [[Great Atlanta fire of 1917]] * 1917 - [[Great Thessaloniki Fire of 1917|Great Fire of 1917]], [[Thessaloniki]], [[Greece]] * 1921 - [[Tulsa Race Riot]], 35 city blocks; 1,256 residences were destroyed by arson * 1922 - The Great Fire of [[Smyrna]], [[Izmir]], [[Turkey]] * 1923 - [[Tokyo]] following the [[Great Kantō earthquake]] * 1933 - [[Tillamook Burn]] * 1934 - Great Hakodate Fire, [[Hakodate]], [[Hokkaidō]], [[Japan]], killed 2,166 * 1938 - [[1938 Changsha Fire]], 56,000 buildings burned by the Chinese army during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]] to prevent the Japanese from getting resources from the city, 3,000 civilians killed on [[November 13]]. * 1940 - [[The Second Great Fire of London]], one of the most destructive air raids of the [[London]] [[The Blitz|Blitz]]. * 1941 - [[Santander, Cantabria]] * 1945 - [[Bombing of Dresden in World War II]], which caused a [[firestorm]] * 1945 - [[Bombing of Tokyo in World War II]], causing the largest urban conflagration in history. * 1945 - [[Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki]], causing two large city fires, one in [[Hiroshima]] and one in [[Nagasaki, Nagasaki|Nagasaki]] * 1947 - [[Texas City Disaster]], two ships explode, igniting chemical works, 460 - 600 killed * 1948 - [[Fukui]] earthquake with fire, 46,000 buildings and houses lost on July * 1949 - [[Mann Gulch fire]] * 1949 - [[Landes]] Mountain forest fire, 256,000 acres lost, 240 killed, include 82 firefighters, on August. * 1951 - [[Tung Tau fire]], fire in a squatter area in Hong Kong, up to 25,000 homeless, led to the Comfort Mission riot * 1953 - [[Shek Kip Mei Fire]], fire in a squatter area in Hong Kong, 58,000 homeless * 1961 - [[Bukit Ho Swee Fire]], flames erupt in a [[squatter]] settlement in [[Singapore]], making 16,000 homeless * 1963 - [[Paraná (state)|Paraná]] forest fire, 2 million hectares lost, killing at least 110, with 5,000 houses burned on September. * 1966 - [[Serra de Sintra]] forest fire,outskirt of [[Lisbon]], [[Portugal]], 2,660 hectares lost, killing 26. * 1971 - 1971 Kure forest fire, [[Kure, Hiroshima|Kure]], western [[Honshu]], [[Japan]], 18 firefighters killed on April 27 * 1981 - Arson fire in [[Lynn, Massachusetts]] levels downtown factory area under redevelopment; no conviction; $80 million damage estimate[http://www.thedailyitemoflynn.com/news/view.bg?articleid=13753] * 1983 - [[North Division Street explosion]] in [[Buffalo, New York]] kills 5 firefighters and 2civilians and destroys millions in property. * 1985 - [[Isabella]] Island forest fire, [[Galapagos]] Island, [[Ecuador]], 62,500 acres lost on March. * 1985 - Annanar forest fire, [[Portugal]], 150,000 hectares lost, killing 14. * 1987 - [[Greater Hinggan]] forest fire, [[Heilongjiang]], [[China]], 19 million acres lost, 213 killed on April * 1988 - [[Yellowstone fires of 1988]] largest, most expensive wildfire in the history of the National Park Service, at the world's first National Park * 1988 - Great Lashio Fire, [[Lashio]], [[Myanmar]], killed 134, 2000 building destroy. * 1991 - [[Kuwaiti oil fires]] following the [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]] * 1991 - [[Oakland Hills firestorm]] kills 25 and destroys 3469 homes and apartments * 1993 - tsunami hit with fire at [[Okushiri Island]], Japan by 1993 quake, 645 houses lost, 202 killed on July. * 1994 - Isabella Island forest fire, Galapagos Island, Ecuador, 1,200 hectares lost on April. * 1994 - [[South Canyon Fire]] on [[Storm King Mt.]] near [[Glenwood Springs, Colorado]] kills fourteen firefighters on July 6. * 1995 - [[Great Hanshin Earthquake]] with fire, [[Kobe]], [[Japan]] * 2000 - [[Jasper Fire]] in The [[Black Hills]] of [[South Dakota]] burns 93,000+ acres (380 km²), the largest fire in [[Black Hills]] history * 2002 - [[Lagos armoury explosion]] causes fire which destroys half of [[Lagos]] and killed 1,100 people * 2002 - [[Edinburgh Cowgate fire, 2002|Edinburgh Cowgate fire]] * 2002 - [[Rodeo-Chediski fire]] * 2003 - [[Canberra bushfires]] fire that killed 4 and destroyed over 500 homes * 2003 - [[Ceder fires]] fire that destroyed over 550 homes and many acres of land * 2006 - [[Day Fire]], Los Angeles and Ventura counties in California. * 2007 - [[2007 Greek forest fires]] large fire in Greece * 2007 - [[October 2007 California wildfires]] Fires in California * 2008 - [[Camden Market Fire]], which caused severe damage to one of North London's most famous shopping districts. == Ship fires == ''See also: [[List of disasters#Ship and ferry disasters|List of ship and ferry disasters]]'' * 1800 - British warship ''Queen Charlotte'' &mdash; 700 deaths * 1840 - Steamship ''[[Steamship Lexington|Lexington]]'' in [[Long Island Sound]] &mdash; 139 deaths * 1893 - Freighter ''[[Cabo Machichaco]]'' in [[Santander, Cantabria|Santander]], [[Spain]] &mdash; 500 deaths . * 1904 - Steamship ''[[General Slocum]]'' in [[New York City]] &mdash; 1,021 deaths * 1917 - Munitions ship [[French ship Mont-Blanc|''Mont-Blanc'']] burned, drifted and detonated in the [[Halifax Explosion]] &mdash; roughly 2,000 deaths * 1934 - ''[[SS Morro Castle]]'' off [[Asbury Park, New Jersey|Asbury Park]], [[New Jersey]] &mdash; 137 deaths, ship gutted and beached * 1941 - [[Attack on Pearl Harbor]], sinking ''[[USS Arizona]]'' and several other ships; extensive fires generated aboard and around ships * 1941 - ''[[SS Normandie]]'' in [[New York City]], ship capsized and sank at pier * 1949 - ''[[SS Noronic]]'' in [[Toronto, Canada|Toronto]], [[Canada]] &mdash; 118 to 139 deaths * 1963 - ''[[TSMS Lakonia|Lakonia]]'' near [[Madeira]] &mdash; 128 deaths * 1965 - ''[[SS Yarmouth Castle]]'' near [[Nassau, Bahamas]] &mdash; 90 deaths * 1972 - ''[[RMS Queen Elizabeth]]'' in [[Hong Kong]], ship sank in harbour * 1987 - ''[[Doña Paz]]'' in the [[Philippines]] &mdash; an estimated 4,000 deaths * 1990 - ''[[M/S Scandinavian Star]]'' off [[Norway]] &mdash; 159 deaths * 1994 - ''[[Achille Lauro]]'' near [[Somalia]] * 2006 - ''[[Star Princess]]'' in the [[Caribbean]] &mdash; 1 death * 2007 - ''[[Cutty Sark]]'', 19th-century [[clipper]] in dry dock as a museum ship in [[Greenwich]], [[London]] extensively damaged while undergoing restoration on [[May 21]] == Other fires == * 1903 - [[Paris Métro train fire]] kills 84 * 1913 - [[Ais Gill rail crash (1913)|Ais Gill rail crash]] in [[England]] kills 14 chiefly through fire on [[September 1]] * 1915 - [[Quintinshill rail crash]] in [[Scotland]] kills 227 chiefly through fire on [[May 22]] * 1916 - [[Black Tom explosion]] (fires led to the explosion) * 1951 - [[Sakuragicho]] commuter train fire, [[Yokohama]], [[Japan]], 106 killed. * 1962 - [[Centralia, Pennsylvania]] mine fire begins * 1967 - [[Apollo 1]] [[Cape Canaveral, Florida]] * 1972 - Hokuriku railroad tunnel fire, [[Tsuruga]], [[Japan]], 31 killed, 637 injured. * 1975 - Tent site at [[Mina]], [[Saudi Arabia]], 138 killed * 1978 - [[Taunton train fire]] on [[British Rail]] kills 12 on [[July 6]] * 1978 - [[Los Alfaques Disaster]] kills 217 on a campsite near [[Tarragona]], in [[Spain]] on [[July 11]] * 1986 - [[General Mining Union]] [[Kinross]] gold mine fire, [[Transvaal]], [[South Africa]], 177 killed, 230 injured on September 16. * 1992 - [[Chien-Kang Bus Fire]] (健康幼稚園火燒車事件) one bus carrying 50 kindergarten students, teachers, and parents caught fire at [[Taoyuan]] on their way to the [[Leofoo Amusement Park]] killing 23 and injuring 9. * 1998 - [[Yaounde train explosion]] fuel train explosion, kills 120 people. * 2000 - [[Ibadan tanker truck explosion]] multiple car pile-up explodes 100-200 killed. * 2000 - [[Kaprun disaster]], [[Austria]]n [[funicular]] [[train]] fire, kills 155 people * 2002 - [[Al Ayatt train disaster]], [[Egypt]] * 2003 - [[Ladhowal train fire]], [[India]] * 2003 - [[Chun-Lung Bus Fire]] (尊龍客運高速公路火燒車事故) - a charter bus caught fire at [[Taipei County]] killing 6 and injuring 4. * 2006 - Brand India Fair at Meerut Victoria Park fire, [[Meerut]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]], 100 killed on April 10. == References == <references/> == See also == * [[List of accidents and disasters by death toll]] {{Fire fighting}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Fires}} [[Category:Timelines by event type]] [[Category:Event lists]] [[Category:Firefighting]] [[Category:Fires|*]] [[Category:Disaster lists]] [[da:Danske brandkatastrofer]] [[fr:Chronologie des grands incendies]] [[is:Stórbruni]] [[ja:火災の年表]] [[pl:Wielkie pożary]]