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Story: Fires and fire services

Lyttelton fire, 1870

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Lyttelton fire, 1870

Artist J. Sanderson painted this reconstruction of the Lyttelton fire of 1870. It raged out of control, destroying much of the business centre. Lyttelton had no fire brigade, so residents were forced to fight the fire, and had to demolish buildings to stop it spreading.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: B-079-006

by J. Sanderson

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Fires and fire services – Early fire services, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/21865/lyttelton-fire-1870 (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 10 March 2010.