 The Tooley Street fire of 1861 | |
| Date | 22 June 1861 |
|---|---|
| Duration | Two weeks |
| Location | Tooley Street, London |
| Also known as | Great Fire of Tooley Street |
| Type | Fire |
| Cause | Spontaneous combustion |
| Deaths | 2+ |
| Property damage | £2 million |
The 1861 Tooley Street fire, also called the Great Fire of Tooley Street, started in Cotton's Wharf on Tooley Street, London, England, on 22 June 1861. The fire lasted for two weeks, and caused £2 million worth of damage. During the fire, James Braidwood, superintendent of the London Fire Engine Establishment, was killed. House of Commons reports cited multiple failures in fire prevention, and the fire led to the 1865 Metropolitan Fire Brigade Act, which established the London Fire Brigade.