Fire nearly destroys St. John's, Newfoundland

Background. St. John's is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, situated on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula. The city experienced several major fires throughout the 19th century, including significant events in 1816, 1817, 1819, 1846, and 1892, each destroying a large portion of the urban area.

The Fire of 1816. In 1816, a major fire nearly destroyed St. John's. This incident was one of several catastrophic fires that struck the city during the 19th century. The fire resulted in the destruction of a large part of the city, marking a significant event in the local history.

Subsequent Fires. Following the 1816 fire, St. John's experienced two citywide fires in 1817, known jointly as 'The Great Fire of 1817'. These events, along with fires in 1819, 1846, and 1892, contributed to the repeated destruction of large parts of the city, highlighting the vulnerability of the urban infrastructure.