y over the level spaces.
Then it climbed the hills--but returned to ravage the
lower ground again. It outstripped every counter-
measure. The ancient city's narrow winding streets and irregular blocks encouraged its progress.
The narrowness of the streets was probably more important to the actual spread of the fire than their irregularity, though the confused street plan as well as the narrowness of the streets must have hindered both firefighting efforts and escape. The human dimension of the fire's spread is vividly conveyed by Tacitus:
Terrified, shrieking women, helpless old and young,
people intent on their own safety, people unselfishly supporting invalids or waiting for them, fugitives and lingerers alike--all heightened the confusion. When
people looked back, menacing flames sprang up before
them or outflanked them. When they escaped to a
neighboring quarter, the fire followed--even districts believed remote proved to be involved ... Some who had
lost everything--even their food for the day--could have escap
...