Fires have historically held significant importance in Istanbul. With the establishment and subsequent improvement of the modern fire brigade during the late Ottoman and early Republican periods, fires transitioned from catastrophic disasters to manageable incidents. Nevertheless, fire-ravaged areas remained on the agenda for urbanites and decision-makers alike until the second half of the twentieth century. The reconstruction of these spaces, a subject of public discourse and urban planning, also represented a quest for solutions to a social problem. Despite the devastation of fire-damaged areas, these spaces were far from vacant or stagnant. Instead, they were inhabited or temporarily utilized by "undesirable" social groups existing on the fringes of society. Such groups included prostitutes (often indirectly associated with syphilis), beggars, alcoholics, and individuals afflicted with tuberculosis. They were alternately stigmatized by both criminalization and medical marginalization and labeled as degenerates. Their presence in the urban landscape contributed to feelings of fear and unease. Notably, fire-ravaged areas became more active at night, coinciding with disruptions in order and perceived increases in crime rates. Consequently, these urban users were interpreted as social groups requiring control by the authorities. This study explores the everyday lives of the inhabitants in Istanbul's scattered, fire-stricken spaces. It seeks to investigate the dialogues spurred by Istanbul's modernization process, the responses of city dwellers, and the quotidian experiences of the "undesirable" groups, incorporating perspectives from decision-makers and authorities, ordinary citizens, and marginalized groups utilizing these spaces temporarily or long-term.