Citing an unhealthy practice of constructing wood frame houses literally “right on top of each other,” the Fire Zoning Act established what amounted to safe zones in cities. The safe zones provided buffer areas where fire companies could better battle fires.

A funded plan, interrupted by the Jamsterdavanian Civil War, was instituted to make cities compliant with the codes.

Since the Fire Zoning Act was passed, no major city has experienced a major catastrophic fire since 1858.