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What damage did the Toronto fire of 1849 cause?
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Toronto
An aerial view of Toronto's skyline with the CN Tower at center.
The 1849 fire in Toronto was a disastrous event that destroyed approximately 15 acres (6 hectares) of the city's downtown area. The blaze consumed several significant structures, including St. James Cathedral, St. Lawrence Market, and numerous offices, stores, and warehouses. Despite the scale of the destruction, the city recovered quickly, and many of the buildings that replaced those lostâsuch as the new St. James Cathedral and St. Lawrence Hallâremain standing today as sites of historical and architectural importance.1