Introduction[edit]

On May 11, 1862, a fire started in Troy, NY, which burnt and damaged hundreds of buildings in the downtown area of the city. Over 3 million dollars in damage was caused by the fire in over 500 buildings. This is measured in dollars at the time of 1862. In modern dollars the repairs to the city would cost approximately 7 billion dollars. The fire covered 75 acres during its peak, before it was extinguished 6 hours after igniting.

Ignition and Spread[edit]

A train in downtown Troy left the Troy Union Depot during midday of May 11, 1862. Sparks of the train's engine while passing through the Green Island Bridge caught on the wooden structure of the bridge, lighting the initial fire. The bridge burnt and crumbled into the Hudson River, eventually carrying the fire to stationary boats further along the shore. From this state, heavy winds caused the fire to spread onto land and into the downtown of Troy. Within one and a half hours, the fire reached its peak size of over 75 acres of land coverage. The buildings of the downtown area were largely made of lumber and thus the fire spread faster and caused more damage to each building it reached.

Damages and Outcome[edit]

Many of the buildings destroyed were homes, and at least 8 people died due to the fire. Notably, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute campus burned down. At the time, the campus entailed the "infant school" building, which was destroyed in the fire. Following the fire, the Institute declined an offer to join Colombia University in New York City. The campus made its return further up the hill to the East of the Hudson in 1864. Many of the other buildings in downtown Troy were rebuilt in the following six months after the fire, likely caused by a need to have cohesive production of goods for the American Civil War.

The Fire in Retrospect[edit]

Looking back at the event, the initial spread of the fire as well as its extent 6 hours after ignition were heavily influenced by the technology of Troy in 1862. The architecture of the downtown area of Troy was mainly constructed with lumber, allowing the fire to spread quicker and cover more area. The flat terrain of the downtown area along with the heavy winds spread the fire between buildings rapidly, but the use of modern fire fighting technology of the time allowed the fire to be controlled earlier. The main factor of this technology was the use of steam-powered fire trucks, which were more efficient than any other fire suppressant method at the time.

RPI Involvement[edit]

The Great Fire of 1862 was a devastating event that impacted the city of Troy, New York, including the campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

The fire broke out on May 10, 1862, in a stable on the corner of Congress and Third Streets, near the heart of Troy's business district. High winds and dry weather conditions quickly spread the flames, which soon engulfed much of the city's downtown area.

As the fire approached RPI's campus, students and faculty worked together to save the Institute's buildings and equipment. They formed bucket brigades and used hoses to douse the flames as they approached the campus. Despite their efforts, several buildings on the edge of the campus were destroyed, including the Machine Shop, the Foundry, and the Carpenter Shop.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the fire, and the damage to RPI's campus was relatively minor compared to the devastation that was wrought on the rest of the city. However, the fire had a lasting impact on the Institute and the city of Troy. In response to the disaster, RPI and other local institutions began to emphasize the importance of fire safety, and new regulations were put in place to prevent similar disasters from occurring in the future.

Today, the Great Fire of 1862 is remembered as a pivotal event in the history of RPI and the city of Troy. It serves as a reminder of the importance of disaster preparedness and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.