Model compo: Fire

Model Composition: Fire

Q: You and your father were at a crowded supermarket. When both of you were queuing to pay for your groceries, you heard the fire alarm go off.

The acrid smell of the smoke filled my nostrils. I choked back my tears and informed Dad immediately. Smelling a rat, he glanced around and told me to remain calm. We dropped our basket and stayed alert.

It was a blistering hot Sunday morning. Dad and I had decided to bake a chocolate fudge cake for Mum as it was mother's day. We proceeded to the nearest supermarket, ABC Supermarket to get the necessary ingredients. The supermarket was bustling with shoppers and we made a beeline for the bakery ingredient section to get some flour.

We lifted our heavy basket and proceeded to the counter. While queuing, the shrill sound of fire alarm went off. Everybody was shocked and parents hugged their wailing toddlers.

" There is a case of fire in ABC Supermarket. Please do not panic and proceed to the nearest exits in an orderly manner. Please do not use the lifts. We have already informed the fire brigade." a stern voice bellowed through the PA system.

I could see thick black smoke billowing from one corner of the supermarket. Pandemonium broke out, people dashed off in fear, hoping to escape from the clutches of the raging fire.

The flame was engulfing everything in its path like a swarm of bees that had not eaten for days. Suddenly, something caught my eye when I was about to evacuate. It was a girl about ten years old dressed in a polka dot dress. She looked confused and was bawling. She seemed to have lost her mother. Should I save her? Should I not? Upon seeing the blazing fire inching near her, I was determined to save her. Running towards her, I could feel the heat singe the hair on my skin. As I grabbed her tightly, I could feel an excruciating pain in my leg as I struggled to the exit.

Fire spread itself throughout the whole building like locusts destroying everything in its path. Everywhere, people were taking off in all directions with fear visibly etched on their faces. The fire changed from orange to blue as the temperature rose like the thick black fumes that were stretching skywards.

As I stood opposite the building, I could see thick black smoke rising above the building. The sounds of the sirens indicated the arrival of the ambulance, fire brigade and the police. I heaved a sigh of relief as I handed the girl over to the policemen before getting the paramedics to check me for smoke inhalation. The paramedics checked my leg to make sure it was no big injury and bandaged it for me. They told me that I would be alright in a few days.

The firemen battled furiously to save the burning supermarket, hosing down its walls with water. After fifteen minutes, the fire was finally put out. Debris were all that were left of the supermarket. Policemen took down statements of witnesses and started their investigation.

The next day, when I was flipping through the daily newspaper, I found out that the fire had started because the supermarket did not repair a faulty socket. It became a fire hazard to the public and  the supermarket chain apologized to the shoppers. Luckily, nobody was seriously injured.
After this incident, I learnt an important lesson that we must ensure that all fire are under control in public areas so we will not pose a danger to the public.