Title Narrow Streets Allow Fire to Spread Photographer Unknown Description One of the major problems in fighting the fire was the narrow width of downtown streets. Many of the streets were barely 45 feet wide. This allowed the wind-blown fire to easily jump buildings and entire blocks. The spread of the fire became so unpredictable that orders sending firemen and equipment to a given location were often countermanded within minutes of being issued. Contributor Enoch Pratt Free Library