The Venetians took a section of the wall of about 25 towers, while the Varangian Guard held off the Crusaders[7] on the land wall. The Varangians shifted to meet the new threat, and the Venetians retreated under the screen of fire. The fire lasted for 3 days and destroyed about 440 acres (1.8 km2) of the city, leaving 20,000 people homeless.[8][9]