I knew this fire wouldn't be put out anytime soon. It would only go out on its own once all the bodies and souls had burned away. Ordinary water couldn't stop it from continuing to burn.
The firefighters seemed troubled by it too. A few of them had gathered around the fire truck, discussing the situation and occasionally communicating with other firefighters over their radios.
My parents stood quietly beside me without saying a word. The middle-aged woman seemed unable to contain herself. After asking a few bystanders what was going on, she started making a fuss again, trying to get past the police line.
A police officer immediately stepped forward to stop her.
"Officer, we live in this building. Right downstairs from this apartment. What's going on now? Could the fire spread to other places?"
"The firefighters are still working on putting it out. Even if it spreads, you can't go in there. What matters most is that you're safe," the officer patiently advised.
"There are so many things in the house." The woman still wanted to say more.
"Never mind. As long as everyone's safe, that's what matters. They're trying to figure something out," Mom said, stopping her.
"If you can't go home today, you'll have to stay in a hotel. Don't you need your ID to check in?" The woman started worrying about our family again.
"We brought our IDs. It's fine," Mom said.
"Oh... Shouldn't they arrange somewhere temporary for us to stay?" The woman turned and asked the officer.
"Our superiors are coordinating with the relevant parties. If necessary, we'll help you get in touch with nearby hotels." As he spoke, he seemed to remember something. "You live downstairs from them, right? Do you know what their family situation is? Did you see anyone before