Church of the Company Fire

Church of the Company Fire
Date8 December 1863 (1863-12-08)
TimeBefore 7 P.M.
LocationSantiago, Chile
Deaths2,000-3,000 dead

The Church of the Society fire (Tuesday, 8 December 1863) is the largest fire ever to have affected the city of Santiago, Chile. Between 2,000 and 3,000 people died, probably the largest number of people to die in an accidental fire in any one building in the world, and even one of the worst building fires of a religious building. The fire originated at the start of a Mass (liturgy) which was being held to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.