A mishap in the restaurant we ate at the foot of 慕田峪

Hi I'm Melissa from Anglican.

Today, we went to a restaurant nearby for lunch after climbing th great wall of china. It was touted as the best in the area and was known for its wonderful decor which we had no questions about. As we were about to finish our meal, the smell of burning wood wafted into our noses and I heard murmuring around me, finally catching the word, fire.

I spun around to see flames shoot up a nearby fake tree. Waiters rushed to the tree, carrying mops and pails of water in an attempt to douse the flames. I had my bag and winter jacket in hand, ready to make a run for it had the fire spread. Danger screamed at me from the back of my head but as the fire came under control, I turned around to find other students furiously snapping photos.

It was a shock to me that they had probably not known the danger the fire would have caused had it not been placed under control. I believe that not everyone would be able to make their escape had the fire spread as there were many plants and wooden fences around and most of their furniture being wooden as well.

PS：Miss Cheong adds...
There are three versions to how the fire started.
Version A from a teacher who sat near the area: The waitress was holding onto the hotpot of soup with the fire still inside the container. Somehow somebody knocked her accidentally and then the container with the fire in it was kicked by another person. The fire let loose and went up the artificial tree which was covered by some coconut husk layering. The fire was put out very quickly though and ashes covered the food of the tables around the area. But don't worry, it was towards the end of the lunch already. We were ready to go to 红螺寺。

Verson B by the tour guide: The waitress was bringing the hotpot with the fire under the pot to the kitchen. The pot was so hot, the waitress dropped the pot and then the area caught fire. Fire was put out quickly and then the ashes pervaded the tables.

Version C by Seow Yongzhi: Some students were cooking something in the pot and the waitress quickly came to take the pot away because it was burning. Somehow the waitress dropped the pot and then there was the fire.

I am not sure what happened because we were seated away from the area. But for sure the fire was put out quickly. For sure we went to the next sightseeing area in one complete piece.