| This thesis concerns the influence of fire on urban growth in the Pacific Northwest, specifically in the cities of Seattle, Tacoma, Bellingham and Port Townsend. Rapid urban expansion and reliance on wood frame construction were associated with fire losses greatly exceeding those of Europe. In the Northwest, spectacular conflagrations regularly destroyed parts of most cities. Existing studies fail to consider the impact of this destruction on urban morphology, particularly the evolution of building forms, street patterns and land use.; The thesis to be examined is that destruction by fire and cognizance of a continuing fire hazard led to significant changes in urban morphology. These included the transition from wood to brick and concrete/steel construction, widening and grading of streets, and development of building codes and zoning laws to segregate high fire risk areas. Fire is postulated to have played a major role in the urban transition from "cities of kindling" to modern fire-resistant urban cores of steel and masonry that had effectively occurred before 1920.; The thesis is primarily based on analysis of detailed fire insurance surveys carried out by the National Board of Fire Underwriters and the Washington Insurance Surveyor's Office, as well as Sanborn fire insurance plans and related publications. These are used to construct a longitudinal analysis of geographical change, resulting in detailed examinations of the effect of fire on urban growth, and establishing connections with industrial and commercial development, transportation and firefighting technology.; Part One of the thesis introduces the concept of fire in urban historical geography and the evolution of distinctly North American forms of building and firefighting. Preparations for and experience with fire in the study cities before 1900 is the subject of the second part, while the third illustrates the role of external forces, especially fire insurance companies, in physically reshaping these cities.; The thesis concludes that fire's major influence was in the insurance-inspired transition to concrete and steel after 1910, the earliest zoning laws and improvements in urban access for firefighting. |
