The significant event also known as the Great Fire of London occurred in September 1666. Beginning on September 2 and lasting for four days, the fire devastated a large part of the City of London, destroying thousands of homes, St. Paul's Cathedral, and numerous other structures. It started in a bakery on Pudding Lane and rapidly spread due to wooden buildings and a lack of effective firefighting resources. The Great Fire led to significant changes in urban planning, building regulations, and fire safety practices in London. Despite the destruction, it ultimately encouraged the reconstruction of a modernized city.