BAKERSFIELD,Calif -- The “Great Fire” of 1889 is known for the utter destruction it caused to the downtown business community.

Flames consumed the business district on July 7, 1889, following a cooking accident from Kelsey Home. With many of buildings at the time in the downtown area built from wood, and insufficient fire department techniques, the inferno raged.

For modern day reference the fire started on 20th and I streets and torched the block until it sizzled to a halt on Chester and 19th streets. Despite losing the entire business district, many of the residents were spared according to records at the Kern County Museum.

In addition, Jeff Nickel of the Kern County museum went on to add that, “ the rules and regulations for building codes were very unrestricted at the time allowing mass building to happen at in a short period of time.”