Biga Fires and Disaster Management (1901-1904) Cover Image

Biga Yanginlari Ve Afet Yönetimi (1901-1904)
Biga Fires and Disaster Management (1901-1904)

Author(s): Şerif Korkmaz
Subject(s): Public Administration, Social history, Management and complex organizations, 19th Century, The Ottoman Empire
Published by: Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü
Keywords: Fire; Disaster Management; Public Reliefs; Çanakkale; Biga;

Summary/Abstract: Fire is one of the main disasters that caused severe damage to the Ottoman towns. In this study, two great fire incidents that occurred in the town of Biga in 1901 and 1904, and the relevant disaster management processes have been examined through the archival documents. The economic damage caused by the two fire incidents, the measures taken by the government, public reliefs both in kind and in cash, and also the reconstruction works are the main topics of this study. The wooden and attached buildings, and also narrow streets caused fire to spread rapidly across the town of Biga. Poor firefighting facilities prevented extinguishing fire with ease. Fortunately, there was no casualty in the fire. However, post-fire reconstruction process took a long time. 386 buildings were completely destroyed by the 1901 fire in the Greek quarter of the town, while 1136 buildings remained in rubble in the 1904 fire in the market district of the town.

  • Issue Year: 16/2018
  • Issue No: 01
  • Page Range: 511-537
  • Page Count: 27
  • Language: Turkish