Great Boston Fire of 1872

About

The Great Boston Fire of 1872 stands as the largest fire in the history of Boston, Massachusetts, and ranks as one of the most costly fire-related property losses in American history. The conflagration began at 7:20 p.m. on November 9, 1872, in the basement of a commercial warehouse at 83–87 Summer Street. The fire was finally contained around midday on November 10, after it had consumed about 65 acres (26 ha) of Boston's downtown, 776 buildings, and much of the financial district. It caused $73.5 million in damage ($1.98 billion in 2025)—buildings losses totaled $13.5 million and the personal property loss was valued at $60 million. The number of fatalities is believed to have been 26 to "at least 30", depending on source, including 11 or 12 firefighters.