The city possessed comparatively advanced fire-fighting arrangements, but much of the manpower behind them was civilian. Evacuation had a grim double effect: it protected many inhabitants from bombardment while leaving fewer people available to contain the fires. Once incendiaries took hold, the undermanned response could not prevent extensive damage across the wooden city. Evacuation saved lives while weakening the systems needed to limit property damage.
Notable Point · 7:43-8:14
Evacuation and Copenhagen's civilian fire response
Copenhagen's advanced fire measures depended on civilians who had been allowed to leave before the bombardment.