Sentence:  a dozen houses were quickly blazing, including those of Sir John Fielding and two other justices, and four in Holborn – one of the greatest <WSD>thoroughfares</WSD> in London – which were all burning at the same time, and burned until they went out of themselves, for the people cut the engine hose, and would not suffer the firemen to play upon the flames. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A road open at both ends or connecting one area with another; a highway or main street.