Fire!

As well as disasters such as famine and epidemics, there were other threats for which people in mediaeval towns had to prepare. One major risk was fire, which could rapidly spread from house to house in the often very narrow and densely built-up streets.

Preparations for potential fires were therefore very important. In Regensburg, preparations were the responsibility of the city council, who implemented fire regulations.

One such regulation can be found in the Rotes Stadtbuch (Red City Book) for the year 1450. It precisely defined who was to carry out which tasks in the event of a fire. The Stadtknechte (law officers) and the men of the Watch were responsible for organising fire-fighting. They were to ensure that ladders, axes and buckets of water were brought to the site of the fire. Citizens could be called on to assist, but were otherwise required to keep away from the danger zone. Failure to comply with this rule could even result in jail.

The page we can see here contains specific instructions for the Jews, who were, like other citizens, called on to assist with fire-fighting. In the event of a fire, they were to send at least twenty Jewish men with pumps. They also had to keep water buckets ready at all times and use them at the fire if necessary. Ladders and axes were to be available in the Jewish quarter for the same purpose.