A severe drought strikes Stockholm in 1759.

As both buildings and vegetation dry out, the fire hazard grows.

In addition, the water supply is on the verge of running dry (except near Mälaren), which means that any fire will be harder to fight.

The drought may also have contributed to fires in the towns of Skövde and (in south-eastern Norway) Halden the same year.

At around 4:15 PM on July 19, the fire breaks out in the Besvärsbackan (literally: Trouble Hill) area.

High (and increasing) winds spread the fire quickly in all directions, but especially to the west and southwest.

About an hour and a half later, the Maria Magdalena Church catches fire.

Panic spreading among the people makes the situation worse.

Attempts to fight the fire are hampered by a lack of available water, and the lines bringing water from Mälaren (one of the few bodies of water not shrunk by the drought) grow longer as the fire advances away from the sea.

Given the inferior equipment available at the time and the difficulties in transporting water, it is probably not possible the extinguish the fire itself.

As the fire crosses the major street (Hornsgatan) in the area, firefighting efforts turn towards the construction of firebreaks well in advance of the fire's spread.

Using some open areas on either side of Hornsgatan, the firebreaks are able to halt the fire's advance, and it burns itself out early on the morning of July 20 (Friday).

The Maria Magdalena Church is severely damaged.

The tower has collapsed, and the interior is burned out.

However, the people demands that the church be restored, and it will be reopened four years later, at the Pentecost of 1763.

After the fire, the city government requires all constructions to consist of brick and stone.

With these regulations in place, the Great Fire of 1759 will be the last on such a scale to strike Stockholm.