"'Fire, fire,' I heard the cry, from every breeze that passes by;
All the world was one sad cry of pity.
Strong men in anguish prayed, and calling
loud to heaven for aid,
While the fire in ruin was layin' fair Baltimore,
the beautiful city." - Charlie Poole
ThesisOn February 7, 1904, the city of Baltimore, Maryland was forever changed by the Great Baltimore Fire. Started by unknown causes, the fire began in the John E. Hurst and Company building and from there, spread to the rest of the city. The fire blazed for over thirty-one hours, engulfing an eighty block downtown area. The Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 was the most destructive fire in the United States since the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Even though the fire was a tragic event, it acted as a turning point for the city, leading to the modernization of Baltimore by improving Baltimore’s fire department and rebuilding the infrastructure of the city. Not only was the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 a turning point for Baltimore, but it served as a turning point for the entire United States. The fire caused the United States to realize the imporance of standardizing hose couplings and other firefighting equipment to allow fire departments from different areas to fight fires more effectively and efficiently.
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