The Crystal Palace had its own fire station situated on the parade, with staff employed by the Crystal Palace Company.

Because of the difficulty in getting water to the top of Sydenham Hill, the site was thought to have been at especial risk from fire.

This proved to be true when, in 1866, the north transept burned down and was never rebuilt.

The famous fire of 1936 took the rest of the building, both fires having started at about the same spot.

The second was more serious as the wind was from the north rather than the south.