Video: 'Boston Fire Trail'

(Saturday, November 9, 1872, conflagration began at 7:20 p.m. local time; during the Great Boston Fire of 1872) — The Great Boston Fire of 1872, Boston’s largest fire, and still ranks as one of the most costly fire-related property losses in American history, began tonight in the basement of a commercial warehouse at 83–87 Summer Street.

From the basement, the flames spread to the wooden elevator shaft in the center of the building and moved up the floors, fueled by the flammable fabrics in storage.

Finally, the building’s wooden mansard roof caught on fire and the flames were able to spread from rooftop to rooftop down the street.

Video: 'Boston Fire Trail'