A fire in my neighborhood
What an exciting time we had a last night! I had hardly gone to bed, when I was awakened by the loud cries of `Fire!’ going up to the roof, I saw in the distance a red glow in the sky. It was a mighty conflagration.
I hurried out of the house and was soon on the road. There I found crowds of people, hurrying to the scene.
After winding along through a number of by –roads, we at last reached the place. It was the house of a rich merchant that was fire, and the blaze was tremendous. It was a vey crowded locality and hence the people feared that the fire might spread to the adjoin houses.
It was a terrible sight to watch. The heat of the flames was intense and did not allow us to come near the fire. The hot blat seemed to burn our very faces. The huge lames, dazzling bright, leaped up to the clouds. The air was thick with smoke and pungent with the fumes of the burning timber.
The whole house was full of noise. Babies were screaming, women crying and men shouting for help. People were throwing buckets of sand and water on the flames. Boy –scouts and seva samiti volunteers were rescuing household goods and furniture from the flames. Every one seemed to be busy.
Now the fire-brigade arrived. At once the brave firemen leapt into the fire and began to battle with flames. It was a wonderful sight to see the in their shining helmets, playing streams of water on the shooting flames with their long hose-pipes.
Suddenly the roofs fell with a thunderous crash and the flames leapt up miles high. The burning sparks of fire danced all round. It was a terrible sight.
But the brave firemen went on fighting against the flames. For full one hour the fire raged, but at last it was brought under control.
One of the firemen displayed unusual bravery and heroism on this occasion. In the midst of confusion thee lady of the house had left her six –year old child sleeping in room on the upper storey. Fire had reached that room. One could clearly see through the window the tongues of flames licking the ceiling. No one dared to risk his life. The woman was crying piteously. The brave firemen came forward ad ordered a ladder to be placed against the window. Straight he climbed up the ladder, entered the room full of smoke and fire, and soon returned with the child in his arms. He had hardly laded on the ground, when the roof fell down with a crash.
Happily no lives were lost, though some of the firemen were badly burnt. But there was a tremendous loss of property. It was estimated that property worth lacks of rupees was burnt to ashes.
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