— The Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 brought destruction and mayhem to the Maryland city on a cold February day, but it also initiated recreation and had a major influence on fire safety precautions. We’re going to walk readers through how it started, what was destroyed, and how the fire would impact Baltimore for years to come.
How Did The Great Baltimore Fire Start?
The Great Baltimore Fire began at about 9:45 a.m. on Feb. 7, 1904, and lasted for around 30 hours, destroying hundreds of buildings in total. More than 140 acres of downtown Baltimore were destroyed, which required many millions of dollars to rebuild.
The 1904 fire likely started due to a discarded cigarette or other similarly lit item, though it is unknown to this day what definitively caused it. Due to the size of the fire, once it had spread, fire departments from nearby cities like Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia came to support Baltimore in its time of need.
First reports of the Great Baltimore Fire were at the John Hurst and Company Building, located on West German Street. It then continued to spread for hours, creating the biggest fire in Baltimore’s history…