The 2nd of September 1666, at the bakery of Thomas Farener, who was King Charles II’s baker, the oven was left on by accident. At 2 o’clock in the morning when the fire started, Thomas woke up and was shocked by all the fire coming from the bakery at Pudding Lane.

The fire started to spread fast because the houses were made out of wood [except the rich people’s] and they were very close together. Also, there were very strong winds blowing. People escaped through windows and travelled north. Others stayed and tried to put out the fire by pouring buckets filled with water, but it didn’t do much.

At that time there were no firemen and the fire was out of control. It lasted for four days and four nights. They had to pull down houses to make the fire stop spreading.  
In the end the wind changed direction and blew back to the burnt area, and eventually the fire disappeared.

Most of the things we know about the fire of London come from Samuel Pepys’ diary.  He wrote all his life about what happened around him.

The fire of London caused the death of only 5 to 6 people, and the loss of 430 acres of land, 13.000 houses and 89 churches...

... including Saint Paul’s cathedral.

More than 100.000 people were made homeless.

The fire didn’t just destroy.  It also stopped the plague for good by killing the rats.

After the fire...

London was rebuilt differently with buildings made out of bricks...

... wider streets and more space between the houses to prevent more fires. London today is based on that plan.