The fire statutes

A popular saying says hindsight is 20-20. It applies perfectly to the history of the so-called fire laws. A huge fire which broke out in Poznań in 1536 destroyed a large part of the city (including the Town Hall and the Royal Castle). The townsmen drew lessons from this tragedy. On May 26, 1544, the city council passed the Fire Order. Drafted in Polish, the document contains fire instructions for the entire city. It includes a detailed description of the steps residents should take to successfully put out a fire. Representatives of various professions are given specific tasks. The original fire statutes are preserved in the State Archives in Poznań. The object on display is a facsimile, i.e. a faithful reproduction of the original.