The Great Fire of Thessaloniki: A Devastating Blaze in 1917

It all started with a tiny spark in a refugee’s kitchen.

A gust of wind, some bad luck, and boom—Thessaloniki was on fire!

With no water pressure and wooden houses packed like sardines, the flames spread faster than gossip in a

small town.

In just 32 hours, two-thirds of the city was reduced to ashes.

Talk about a bad weekend!

Firefighters?

Oh, they tried.

But with horse-drawn water carts and a city built like a tinderbox, they didn’t stand a chance.

The fire raged through markets, homes, and even the post office—so if you were waiting for a letter,

bad news.

Over 70,000 people lost their homes, and the city’s skyline was forever changed.

No insurance could fix this mess!

The fire didn’t just destroy buildings—it wiped out history.

Ancient churches, synagogues, and Ottoman-era landmarks?

Gone.

The Jewish community, which made up a huge part of the city, was hit hardest, losing homes, businesses,

and priceless records.

Thessaloniki had to rebuild from scratch, but the scars of 1917 still linger.

Some say you can still smell the smoke on windy days!

Rebuilding Thessaloniki was no small task.

French urban planners stepped in, redesigning the city with wider streets and modern infrastructure—goodbye, fire hazards!

But the fire also reshaped its identity, pushing it toward a more European-style city.

So, while 1917 was a disaster, it also sparked a new era.

Talk about a literal case of ‘rising from the ashes’!