1866 great fire of Portland, Maine

The great fire of Portland, Maine, sometimes known as the 1866 great fire of Portland, occurred on July 4, 1866—the second Independence Day after the end of the American Civil War.

It started in a boat house on Commercial Street, likely caused by a firecracker or a cigar ash.

The fire spread to a lumber yard and on to a sugar house, then spread across the city, eventually burning out on Munjoy Hill in the city's east end.

This included the federal Exchange Building by which was replaced with the custom house.

"[1] More than 600 buildings were constructed in four months after the fire.