As in every city, fires were always a great danger in London. The Great Fire of 1666, when half the City was destroyed, showed that even a small fire could have devastating consequences. However, it took nearly 200 years before a professional fire service was set up in London.
Many of the most ferocious fires broke out on ships or in the warehouses of the port. As a result, the London fire services developed special facilities to fight blazes on and along the river.
It was mainly in the port that London's Fire Brigade faced its deadliest challenge during World War II, when Hitler's bombers attempted to destroy London's trade and communications.
Designed to deal with peacetime emergencies, London's Fire Brigade met the wartime challenge and ensured that the city was never brought to a standstill.
For more information about the history of the London Fire Brigade:
The Tooley Street fire. © NMM
