Combustion the gas fire burst into fire,

A common fault a damaged wire.

Cardboard boxes fuelled the flames,

Suffocating smoke trickled through the doorframe.

A pipe white-hot split from the wall,

Spraying igniting gas into a streaming fireball.

Plastic seats blistered and popped,

Puddles had formed from plastic doorstops.

Spreading around like a velvet glove,

The roof collapses a hole evident above.

Flames lick the night sky fuelled by the cold,

Glass splintered turning molten as the fire took hold.

A man had dialled 999 on a mobile phone,

In the distance you could here the sirens drone.

Fire engines arrive the crew jump out,

Fire Chief shouts orders to men rushing about.

Nearby houses glowed crimson, paint blisters and tares,

It was like a delusion flames shot in the air.

Hoses positioned left and right,

Flames laughed back like a fiery kite.

Soon the breadth of the heat cooled down,

Allowing more hoses to be positioned around.

It was conceivable we could enter the place,

Slowly we edged foreword sweat dripping from our face.

The doorknob was tested with the back of the hand,

Heat was excruciating I couldn’t withstand.

We carefully lowered ourselves to the floor,

Gingerly pushing open the glowing door.

As the air rushed in, it mixed with the flame,

We starred in horror as the inferno came.

Back draft exploded through the door,

Our crew lay still pressed to the floor.

The ball of flame was like a sadistic hand,

Grabbing everything that moves or stands.

Slowly the water-cools the place,

Satisfaction evident on the fire chief’s face.

As the men move into the charred black shell,

How much survived is hard to tell.

Inferno caused by faulty wire,

Heat from the boiler started the fire.

Faulty sprinklers some covered in grime,

Impending disaster only needing time.

As for contents all gone up in smoke,

Flames consumed everything like a fiery cloak.

The building will eventually have to be knocked down,

Another replaced for the good of the town.