Great Fires of New York Facts & Worksheets

New York City experienced three fire incidents that shattered many people and destroyed several establishments. These fire incidents, later known as the Great Fires of New York, happened in 1776, 1835, and 1845.

See the fact file below for more information on the Great Fires of New York, or you can download our 29-page Great Fires of New York worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

GREAT FIRE OF NEW YORK 1776

• The West Side of what was then known as New York City, located near the southern tip of the island of Manhattan, was devastated by the Great Fire of New York, which raged through the night of September 20, 1776, and into the morning of September 21, 1776.
• The American Revolutionary War’s military control of the city by British soldiers at the time led to its outbreak.
• In April 1775, the American Revolutionary War got underway. New York City had not yet expanded into a vast metropolis but was already a significant business hub. 
• It had a population of roughly 25,000 and barely took up the lower half of the island of Manhattan.
• The Province of New York was politically divided before the war, with Loyalist colonial assemblies and active Patriot organizations.
• Following the battles of Lexington and Concord, the Patriots took control of the city and started detaining and expelling Loyalists.
• British General William Howe launched a campaign to seize possession of the city and its strategically significant harbor early in the summer of 1776 while the war was still in its infancy. 
• He successfully attacked Long Island in late August after taking over Staten Island in July with the aid of naval forces commanded by his brother, Admiral Lord Richard Howe.
• Howe’s British army landed in Manhattan on September 15, 1776. The next day, some British soldiers marched toward Harlem, where the two troops fought again, while others entered the city.
• The civilian departure from the city had started before the British fleet showed up in the harbor. Some residents, including patriots and loyalists targeted explicitly by the army, packed up their belongings and left the city when the first Continental Army troops entered the previous February.
• John Joseph Henry, an American prisoner on board HMS Pearl, saw the fire start in the Fighting Cocks Tavern close to Whitehall Slip. The flames quickly spread north and west through densely populated homes and businesses, helped by the dry weather and high winds. 
• People flooded the streets, grabbed what they could carry, and took cover on the green town commons. At present, the place is known as City Hall Park).
• Most of the city was destroyed between Broadway and the Hudson River after the fire crossed Broadway near Beaver Street.
• Changes in wind direction and the acts of some of the populace and British marines dispatched to assist the locals helped extinguish the fire that raged into the dawn hours.
• Many Americans also believed that the fire was started intentionally by the Patriots. 
• According to stories by John Joseph Henry, when marines returned to the Pearl after putting out the fire, some of the troops were caught in the act of firing the houses.
• Some Americans claimed that the British started the fire so that they might plunder the city. According to a Hessian major, some firefighters could “pay themselves well by plundering other nearby houses that were not on fire.”
• No arson claim has stood up to investigation, claims historian Barnet Schecter. 
• The fact that the fire appeared to start in several locations provides the most vital circumstantial support for allegations involving intentional arson.
• Contemporary reports, however, describe that the fire was spread by burning wood from the roof shingles. 
• More than 200 people were questioned by the British, but no charges were ever brought. Coincidentally, Nathan Hale, an American captain working as a spy for Washington, was captured in Queens the day the fire began. 
• There is nothing to suggest that he was detained for a crime other than espionage, despite rumors linking him to the fires.

GREAT FIRE OF NEW YORK 1835

• One of three fires that caused significant damage to New York City in the 18th and 19th centuries was the Great Fire of New York in 1835. 
• Amid an economic boom, a fire spread across 17 city blocks, claimed two lives, destroyed hundreds of structures, and caused an estimated $20 million in property damage, equivalent to $566 million in 2022.
• By 1835, the New York metropolis had eclipsed Boston and Philadelphia as the most prosperous metropolis in America. 
• The Erie Canal’s construction ten years earlier gave New York access to the Midwest’s raw materials and business interests. It helped the city become well-known as a market hub.
• The fire was a big concern as the city grew to the north and its economic significance grew. Insurance companies were concerned that a significant fire may deplete their funds. 
• Many fire insurance companies had shares in them, or the mayor and common council members served on their boards. City officials attempted to increase the number of watchtowers and watchmen.
• In the 1820s and 1830s, the fire department did not expand at the same rate as the city. In the past ten years, the city’s population had increased by 145,000 more people, but the fire service had only added roughly 300 more firefighters. 
• To adequately defend the city, a staff of 1,500 firemen, 55 engines, six ladder companies, and five hose carts were deemed insufficient.
• At the junction of Hanover Street and Wall Street, at 25 Merchant Street, today known as Beaver Street, the fire broke out on the evening of December 16, 1835. 
• Gale-force winds blowing towards the from the northwest spread the fire as it grew.
• Major waterways, including the East River and the Hudson River, were frozen in temperatures as low as 17 °F (27 °C). To get to the water, firefighters had to punch holes through the ice, which then refroze around the hoses and pipelines.
• There were attempts to utilize the nearby buildings as demolition charges to remove fuel from the fire, but there was not enough gunpowder in Manhattan. 
• At three in the morning, marines and sailors arrived with gunpowder from the Brooklyn Navy Yard and started blowing up structures in the path of the fire.
• The fire consumed 530 and 700 buildings over 13 acres (53,000 m2) in 17 city blocks. 
• The area between the East River and Maiden Lane in the north and William Street in the west is today referred to as Coenties Slip.
• Improvements to buildings would be necessary to finance the recovery. 
• Fast-moving negotiations were conducted, and banks’ assistance was essential in averting a financial crisis.

GREAT FIRE OF NEW YORK 1845

• On July 19, 1845, Lower Manhattan, New York City, experienced the Great New York City Fire. 
• The fire swiftly spread to neighboring wooden structures after starting in a factory that produced whale oil and candles.
• The fire began at about 2:30AM, on the third level of J.L. Van Doren, Oil Merchant and Stearin Candle Manufacturer on a Saturday, July 19, 1845. The alarm of the City Hall began to ring at 3:00AM, signalling the firefighters to go to the place.  
• The fire from the building swiftly extended to nearby structures. At around three in the morning, the City Hall alarm bell started to ring, alerting firefighters.
• Under the direction of Chief Engineer Cornelius Anderson, firefighters from the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), which was at the time a volunteer organization, arrived. 
• Retired fire chiefs from the city and teams from Brooklyn, Newark, and Williamsburg joined the FDNY members as the fire spread.
• In the first two hours of the fire, it made its way to a sizable multi-story warehouse on Broad Street owned by Crocker & Warren, where a significant amount of combustible saltpeter was kept.
• When it arrived, Engine Co. 22 was instructed to pump water over the warehouse.
• Firefighters from the company went inside the warehouse and pulled a hose up a flight of stairs to spray water onto the fourth story. Foreman Garrett B. Lane told his crew to leave when thick, black smoke poured down the stairway.
• In the days immediately following the fire, there was discussion on what caused the explosion. Crocker and Warren, living in the warehouse, were taken into custody due to public rumors.
• According to The Daily-Tribune, the explosions would not have been possible without saltpeter and gunpowder. Therefore they were suspected of having it, which may have resulted in a murder prosecution.
• The core of Manhattan was struck by three exceptionally destructive fires, the other two happening in 1776 and 1835; the Great New York City Fire of 1845 was the last of these. 
• The 1845 fire, however extremely damaging, proved the usefulness of building standards prohibiting wood-frame construction.

IMPACT OF THE THREE GREAT FIRES

• The Great Fires of New York changed the economic paradigm of the city. As businesses grew, employees looking for work and immigrants looking for a new home were attracted to the area.
• Pedestrians, newsboys, housewives, businessmen, clerks, merchants, and consumers crowded the streets as stores, restaurants, and hotels opened. With so much activity came hazards in addition to congestion.
• New York’s population increased dramatically, doubling from 268,089 in 1835 to 813,669 in 1860. The construction of an aqueduct that delivered a plentiful water supply to the city to quench its thirst, put out fires, and power the industry, change accelerated quickly. Gas lighting, transportation, heating, cooking stoves, and ice boxes became commonplace.
• Residents included authors like Edgar Allan Poe, scientists like Samuel F.B. Morse, and designers like Richard Upjohn. 
• P.T Barnum, a famous showman, founded the American Museum and invited famous performers such as New York Philharmonic.
• While the rising working class frequented bars, music halls, and oyster taverns, the wealthy supported cultural institutions like the Astor Place Opera House, shopped in lavish stores, went to upscale theaters, and dined at great restaurants.
• Additionally, and perhaps more significantly, such developments prepared far more significant ones to occur 50 years later. Plans were made to settle the area of northern Manhattan that was still undeveloped. 
• The region was planned, building work sped up the island, and officials began to take notice of the surroundings.

Great Fires of New York Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Great Fires of New York across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Great Fires of New York. The Great Fires of New York, happened in 1776, 1835, and 1845.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Great Fires of New York Facts
2. Building Vocabulary
3. Cause & Effect
4. Map it Out
5. Impact of Fire
6. Stop the Fire
7. Myth
8. Fire Profile
9. Beware
10. Saving My Home
11. Assessing

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the three great fires of New York?

The three great fires of New York refer to the Great Fires of 1776, 1835, and 1845.

When did the Great Fire of 1776 occur in New York?

The Great Fire of 1776 in New York happened on September 21, 1776.

What caused the Great Fire of 1776 in New York?

The Great Fire of 1776 was started by a series of coinciding events during the British occupation of New York City during the American Revolutionary War. The fire began in a tavern and quickly spread due to strong winds and the wooden construction of the city.

When did the Great Fire of 1845 occur in New York?

The Great Fire of 1845 in New York took place on July 19, 1845.

What caused the Great Fire of 1845 in New York?

The Great Fire of 1845 was caused by a series of fires that broke out in several warehouses along the East River. The fire quickly spread due to strong winds and the lack of an organized firefighting system, resulting in significant destruction of buildings and properties in the area.

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