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The fire spread quickly by a brisk wind, sweeping down [[Palafox Street|Palafox]] from [[Romana Street|Romana]] to [[Government Street]]s. Reaction to the fire was slow, as the only steam-powered fire engine in town was at a machinist's shop being repaired, but eventually citizens formed a bucket brigade. The fire was stopped at the [[City Hotel]] near [[Tarragona Street]] to the east, and behind the [[Old Customs House|Customs House]] to the west.
Damages were estimated between $500,000 to over $1 million. Two lives were lost.<ref>Hoskins, Frank W. (1928). ''[http://fulltext10.fcla.edu/DLData/WF/WF00000044/file19.pdf The History of Methodism in Pensacola, Florida: Its Rise and Progress]''. Cokesbury Press. p. 79.</ref> Over 100 buildings and businesses were razed by the fire, including:
*The [[Old Customs House|U.S. Customs House]] and all its records
*The [[Escambia County Tax Collector]]'s office
Many of the businesses had just received their Fall stocks. Insurance coverage was initially estimated at $250,000.
The [[Escambia County Clerk of Court|County Clerk]], [[Felo Filomeno de la Rua]], rescued the important records from his office at the cost of his own residence, which was also destroyed by the fire.
==References==
*"Fire and Disaster." ''Boston Daily Globe'', December 12, 1880.
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[[Category:Fires]]
