great new york city fire broke july fire started whale oil manufacturing establishment quickly spread wooden structures neighborhood reached warehouse broad street stored caused massive explosion spread fire farther subdued fire destroyed buildings southern new_york_city caused million million damage killing firefighters civilians fire great fires affected heart manhattan including fires fire destructive affected older wood frame construction confined section city proved fire resistant building practices come play surrounding areas city previous decades fire fire started saturday july story oil merchant new street manhattan known seller whale oil fire spread quickly adjoining buildings alarm bell began ring firefighters firefighters time volunteer organization arrived command chief engineer anderson fire grew personnel joined retired fire chiefs city crews brooklyn newark battling blaze aided water flowing completed fire weakened intensity subdued firefighters day half hours burned fire destroyed buildings broad street wall street stone street street fire killed firefighters civilians buildings reported destroyed broadway broad street exchange place beaver street street street told fire destroyed buildings property damage estimated time million million today currency damages million million multiple reports looting fire aftermath businesses private residences elderly women reported approached young men offered help belongings damaged buildings stolen warehouse explosion hours fire spread reached large multi story warehouse occupied broad street large quantity stored arrived ordered pump water warehouse company firefighters entered warehouse dragged staircase direct water fourth floor heavy black smoke began coming ordered evacuate trying collect trapped fled roof escaped neighboring minutes evacuated building exploded explosion flattened buildings blew fronts opposite houses broad street doors buildings distance immediate area explosion propelled bricks missiles air threw people gone far beaver street spread fire far wide neighborhood set explosion shattered windows mile away heard far away new_jersey vehicle blown broad street vehicle eventually burned members company injured hart thrown explosion rooftop received minor ankle injury engine throwing water adjacent building second explosion occurred warehouse explosion threw street killed body found company continued search body amid rubble days appears memorial new_york volunteer firefighters died line duty cause explosion debated days immediately following fire public speculation led arrest warren occupants warehouse reported explosions occurred presence gunpowder addition suspected possessing gunpowder led murder charge later inquiry released warren charges evidence gunpowder discovered speculation explosion caused gas light house chief engineer anderson released statement day fire stating explosion occurred flames reached gas house effect new york city fire code practices great new york city fire particularly devastating fires affected heart manhattan occurring destructive fire confirmed value building codes restricting wood frame construction city officials banned new construction wood frame structures areas city fire demonstrated restrictions progress fire checked spread areas rebuilt fire materials stone masonry iron roofs spite general improvements fire prompted public calls stance fire prevention strengthen city capabilities city established reserve unit called called exempt militia jury duty company led veteran helped stop great fire crossing wall street
Great New York City Fire of 1845