Fighting a losing battle |
Map of fire |
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When flames devoured most of London in September 1666, the task of firefighting was left to local militias and able-bodied citizens.
The tower of parish churches were required by law to maintain a supply of firefighting gear, including long ladders, leather buckets, axes and fire hooks.
Rudimentary pumps and building demolition were also employed to halt flames.
It was a thin line of defense though and could do little to save London from the Great Fire of 1666.