The Tooley Street Fire

The Tooley Street Fire - the dramatic blaze viewed from the north side of the River Thames. Often referred to as the greatest fire since the Great Fire of London, the fire began on the afternoon of Saturday, 22nd June 1861 amongst the warehouses of Cotton's Wharf. The buildings were filled with an array of goods, including jute, hemp, cotton, spices, tea and coffee. Its thought the fire started by spontaneous combustion. The London Fire Engine Establishment (LFEE) attended the fire and by 6pm, 14 fire engines, including a steam fire engine and a floating engine, were all at the scene of the fire. The fire spread quickly throughout the warehouses as the iron fire doors, which separated many of the storage rooms, had been left open. It is believed if they had been closed, as recommended by James Braidwood the Superintendent of the LFEE, the fire may have burnt out, avoiding disaster. Braidwood noticed firefighters tackling the blaze were becoming tired and ordered every firefighter receive a nip of brandy. While he was assisting one of his firefighters, the front section of a warehouse collapsed on top of him, killing him instantly. Date: 1861