THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON 1666The Great Fire of London 1666, started by Thomas Farrinor's bakery, caused the destruction of 80% of London and led to the creation of insurance and fire companies. The fire marked a moment of rebirth for the British capital as the city had to rebuild itself entirely. The fire was a pretty interesting event because it caused such an extreme amount of destruction and only took the lives of six people. Londoners remember the 17th century as a time of desolation, but the events that occurred have had an impact on the world today. With the creation of insurance and fire services, not only people are protected, but also their properties. Typically, builders in seventeenth-century London constructed houses of wood and pitch. Pitch is a sticky substance produced from tar and black in color. The strength of the field held the building materials together. The pitch also acted as a waterproof coating for the wood, keeping moisture out and preventing damage to the wood. The builders formed the roofs of the houses with straw. It was not uncommon to see fires in London because not only were the houses highly flammable, but because the open flames heated the houses. London was extremely crowded; since the houses were built next to each other, the fire could easily spread from house to house and become a fire that was difficult to contain (Alagna 12). Firefighting consisted of very simple techniques before the Great Fire. In the event of a fire, designated workers would knock down houses with hooks to form a fire barrier that would prevent the fire from spreading further. In addition to the tools used to demolish the houses, no other fire-fighting means actually existed (Alagna 13-14). Also on September night......middle card......ent is a 28 foot square pedestal with Latin inscriptions on each side. One inscription describes London before the fire, while the other inscription describes London after the fire. A black marble staircase containing 345 steps leading to a balcony runs through the core of the structure. Today the structure stands in central London as a symbol of the strength and determination of London and its people (Alagna 40). In conclusion, the Great Fire of London destroyed 80% of London and led to the creation of insurance and fire companies. While the vast majority of the city was destroyed, the fire gave London the opportunity to rebuild and become a better city. To consecrate the desolation, an architect designed and built a monument simply called the Monument. The Great Fire of London changed the world by setting an example of resilience.