On 4 July 1866, a fire (possibly caused by a firecracker or a cigar ash) ignited in a boat house on Commercial Street in Portland, Maine. The fire spread to a lumber yard and continued spreading across a significant portion of the city, eventually burning out on Munjoy Hill in the city's east end.
In this fire, which became known as the Great Fire of Portland, two people died in the fire and another 10,000 were made homeless. Over 1,500 buildings (including three fire stations) were destroyed – this was about a third of the city at the time. Mutual aid was received from as far away as Boston. Up until that time, this was the greatest fire striking an American city.
For more information about the Great Fire of Portland, please visit:
GenDisasters: Portland, ME Fire, Jul 1866 - Terrible Conflagration
Maine Memory Network: Great fire of Portland 1866
Wikipedia: 1866 Great Fire of Portland, Maine
Vintage Maine Images: Great Fire of Portland (Me.)--Disasters
connect.in.com: Photos: 1866 Great Fire Of Portland, Maine
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