The Great Fire of London destroyed most of the city in 1666 but killed only a handful of people.

Over four days in September 1666, the fire tore through the City of London, destroying roughly 13,200 houses, 87 parish churches, and St Paul’s Cathedral. Tens of thousands of people were left homeless. Yet the death toll usually attributed directly to the fire is just six confirmed deaths.

Historians think the true number was likely higher, since deaths among the poor often went unrecorded and the intense heat could have destroyed remains beyond recognition. Still, given the scale of destruction, the survival rate is striking — the fire moved slowly enough that most Londoners had time to flee ahead of it, taking what belongings they could carry.