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N0KFQ > TODAY 09.11.15 17:03l 50 Lines 2169 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 73671_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Nov 9
Path: IW8PGT<CX2SA<N0KFQ
Sent: 151109/1502Z 73671@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.4.65
1872
Fire rips through Boston
On this day in 1872, a fire in Boston destroys hundreds of
buildings and kills 14 people. In the aftermath, the city
established an entirely new system of firefighting and
prevention. The fire also led to the creation of Boston's
financial district.
The fire began in the basement of a warehouse at the corner of
Kingston and Summer streets. At the time, this area of the city
contained a mix of residences and light industry. Its buildings
and most area roofs were made mainly of wood, allowing the blaze
to spread quickly as the wind blew red hot embers from rooftop to
rooftop. In addition, as Boston streets were narrow, large flames
from one structure could literally leap across them to nearby
buildings.
Firefighting units from Maine to New Haven, Connecticut, arrived
to help, but efforts to fight the fire were plagued by
difficulties. There was not enough water on hand to get the fire
under control; the hydrant system did not work well because much
of the equipment was not standardized; and even when firefighters
got their hands on an adequate supply of water, the height of the
buildings and the narrowness of the streets made it difficult to
direct the water at the blaze from the optimum angle. Because a
local equine epidemic had struck the city fire department's
horses, it was difficult to get the fire engines to the correct
locations at the right times. In addition, some of the efforts
were counter-productive. Explosions were used to attempt fire
breaks, but this high-risk strategy was not executed with enough
precision and served only to further spread the fire.
The fire was finally stopped at the doors of Fanueil Hall the
following morning, but it had already destroyed much of the
downtown area. Boston's officials realized that their
fire-prevention efforts had been ineffective and, in the
aftermath of the disaster, began to revise and strengthen all of
the city's fire laws and regulations. An inspection system was
instituted and the local fire departments began to coordinate
their efforts.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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