1728

1728 - The great fires of Copenhagen

Following a plague in 1711, Copenhagen was hit by further disasters in the 18th Century in the shape of two fires that ravaged the city in 1728 and 1795.

The first started in a candle maker's shop in Nørreport and went on to destroy 1,700 houses as well as the original town hall and the old University building.

The fire was exacerbated by the ineptitude of the fire brigade who were drunk on the money they had received for carrying out fire drills, and by a local brewer who in his rush to help put out the fire left an oil lamp burning in his stable and started another.

The story of the 1795 fire is similarly unfortunate: the firemen could not find the keys to the pump house, and because of the spreading fire, the spire of St Nikolaj Church toppled down on the surrounding houses.

However, the fires did give the town an opportunity to rebuild, replacing the low-rise wooden housing with grander stone buildings.



Basic facts Practical information City maps History Great Danes - past Great Danes - present Historic events The Little Mermaid Tourist > About Copenhagen > History > Historic events > 1728 1728 1728 - The great fires of Copenhagen Following a plague in 1711, Copenhagen was hit by further disasters in the 18th Century in the shape of two fires that ravaged the city in 1728 and 1795. The first started in a candle maker's shop in Nørreport and went on to destroy 1,700 houses as well as the original town hall and the old University building. The fire was exacerbated by the ineptitude of the fire brigade who were drunk on the money they had received for carrying out fire drills, and by a local brewer who in his rush to help put out the fire left an oil lamp burning in his stable and started another. The story of the 1795 fire is similarly unfortunate: the firemen could not find the keys to the pump house, and because of the spreading fire, the spire of St Nikolaj Church toppled down on the surrounding houses. However, the fires did give the town an opportunity to rebuild, replacing the low-rise wooden housing with grander stone buildings.