Edited by RPIC Prešov | Presov Region
Most devastating fire in Prešov
Country: Slovakia
Region: Presov Region
Type of inspiration: History
Inspiracja
In the history of Prešov, the city has been hit by several fires, but the most devastating fire with the most dramatic consequences the city has ever experienced was in 1887.
The devastating fire broke out on Friday, May 6, 1887 at 10 a.m. in Hortulanyi's house, which was located on Jarkova Street.
Almost the entire town burnt down in this historic fire. The uncontrollable fire burned some of the streets to the ground. Almost all important buildings and monuments of the town were burnt down, such as: the parish church of St. Nicholas, the Evangelical Church of the Holy Trinity, the Evangelical Collegium, the old town school, today's Black Eagle and PKO, the county house, the Franciscan church with a monastery, the synagogue on Constantine Street and many others. The fire engulfed 191 houses, 49 outbuildings and 5 barns.
The fire also affected the cemetery, where all the crypts and crosses were burned. 16 firefighters from Košice, firefighters from Veľký Šariš and Solivar arrived to help extinguish the huge fire. Troops from Košice, Sabinov and Prešov also helped, trying to locate the fire and helping to remove the debris.
Seven people were killed in the fire, about a hundred were seriously injured. The assessed damage exceeded the value of two million guilders. The devastating fire was also dealt with by the Hungarian Parliament, and collections for relief and reconstruction were organised throughout the country.
According to the local newspaper Eperjesi Lapok, the reason for the enormous damage caused by the fire lay in the lack of firefighters, their poor support, poor technical equipment and a shortage of water. A serious reason was the issue of the construction of the Prešov water pipeline, which was still unresolved at the time.
See the error? Do you know more information? Report it to us.
Write to us.
