Bergen fire of 1916

[3] At five pm on Saturday, January 15, 1916, some workers were taking inventory of stock for the Berstad scrap-iron dealer in a shed at Murallmenningen (Mur Commons).

The wind quickly spread the fire inward along Strandgaten towards Torget (Market Square), and the warehouses burned like tinder.

It was soon realized that Strandgaten could not be saved, and so efforts were made to stop the fire at Torgallmenningen (Market Commons).

To the south, the fire was stopped at the art museum largely due to assistance from the military, which kept the building wet all night using tarpaulins.

To provide housing for many of those left homeless after the fire, the municipality built a shanty town in the Gyldenpris area.

The Stock Exchange Building and Bank Building are examples of architecture from before the 1916 Bergen fire.
The buildings along Strandgaten (Beach Street) were erected after the Bergen fire in 1916. It was then possible to rebuild Bergen's center.