The Great Boston Fire of 1760 destroys 349 buildings.

The Great Boston Fire of 1760 was a devastating blaze that tore through the city on March 20, 1760, destroying a significant portion of Boston’s commercial district. The fire began in a shop near the southern end of Cornhill (now Washington Street) and quickly spread due to strong winds and the city’s densely packed wooden buildings. Within hours, it consumed over 349 buildings, leaving more than a thousand people homeless. Despite efforts to contain it, the lack of an organized fire department and the limited availability of water made suppression difficult. The fire caused immense economic damage, destroying warehouses, homes, and businesses, dealing a heavy blow to Boston’s economy. In response, the city implemented stricter building regulations, encouraging the use of brick structures to prevent future disasters. This fire, though overshadowed by the later Great Boston Fire of 1872, was one of the most destructive in colonial American history, highlighting the vulnerabilities of early urban infrastructure.