Question
You are advised to write between 350 and 500 words on the following topic:
Write a story in which fire plays an essential part.
Model Essay
The scent of smoke was faint at first, barely noticeable against the crisp autumn air. Jamie was stacking firewood by the old barn, a routine task for the approaching winter, when she caught the first whiff. She straightened up, scanning the horizon. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The farm, nestled in a valley surrounded by dense woods, was usually a haven of tranquility. But today, something felt off.
Jamie continued her work, but the unease lingered. It wasn’t until she noticed the flicker of orange through the trees that her heart skipped a beat. Fire. And it was spreading fast.
She dropped the firewood and sprinted towards the house, adrenaline surging. “Mom! Dad!” she shouted, bursting through the front door. Her parents emerged from the kitchen, their faces etched with concern.
“There’s a fire in the woods!” Jamie exclaimed. “It’s coming this way!”
Panic flickered in her parents’ eyes. The woods were dry from weeks of drought, a perfect tinderbox. Her father grabbed the phone to call the fire department, while her mother began gathering essential items—important documents, family photos, and a few changes of clothes.
Jamie ran back outside, her mind racing. The wind had picked up, fanning the flames. She could hear the crackling now, louder and more menacing. Her thoughts turned to the animals. The barn was close to the house, but if the fire reached it, the consequences would be devastating.
She dashed to the barn, flinging open the doors. The horses whinnied in fear, sensing the danger. “Come on, Daisy, come on, Buck,” Jamie coaxed, leading them out one by one. She worked quickly, her movements efficient despite the fear gnawing at her insides. The chickens were next, clucking in distress as she herded them into the coop farthest from the approaching flames.
By the time she finished, the fire was visible over the ridge, an unstoppable wall of heat and destruction. Sirens wailed in the distance, but Jamie knew it would be a while before help arrived. She ran back to the house, where her parents were loading the car with their hastily gathered belongings.
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“We need to leave now,” her father said, his voice tense.
Just as they were about to drive away, Jamie remembered the old family photo album, tucked away in a chest in the attic. Without thinking, she bolted back into the house, ignoring her parents’ frantic calls. The smoke was thicker inside, stinging her eyes and throat as she climbed the stairs. She found the album and clutched it to her chest, then turned to leave.
The fire had reached the back of the house, the heat intense and suffocating. Jamie coughed, struggling to see through the smoke. She stumbled down the stairs, her vision blurring. Just as she reached the front door, a beam collapsed behind her with a deafening crash, showering sparks everywhere. She burst outside, gasping for fresh air.
Her parents enveloped her in a tight embrace, relief mingling with the terror in their eyes. They climbed into the car and sped down the driveway, the flames hot on their heels. As they reached the main road, Jamie looked back to see the fire consuming their home, the life they had built, reduced to ashes in moments.
They watched from a safe distance as firefighters battled the blaze. Hours later, when the fire was finally under control, there was little left of the farm. The barn, the house, the memories—all gone. But as they stood together, soot-streaked and exhausted, Jamie knew they had what mattered most: each other.
In the days that followed, the community rallied around them, offering support and shelter. Jamie realized that while the fire had taken much, it had also revealed the strength and resilience of her family. Together, they would rebuild, rising from the ashes stronger than before.
Word Count: 638