The fire took place Monday morning, December 20, beginning around 10:30.
I was on my way home from running some errands when our neighbor and church steward Miss Kim called out to me to stop for a moment. As we were talking we heard yelling in the street. Archie Henderson's store was on fire. Kim yelled for me to get all the buckets from the Mission House. Henderson's Store is all of 10' from the Mission House; I went inside the house and closed the windows on that side. I took the buckets around back to the sea where a bucket brigade had already been formed, taking my place in the water. The Utila Lodge water pump was sent for. The fire was burning hot and the smoke black. After several minutes on the bucket brigade the fellow with me in the water said, "Reverend, the store is gone; you'd better see about the Mission House. Get everything important out." Already several men and women, islanders, Spanish (mainlanders) and tourists alike, had joined Jill in moving the contents of the mission house outside to the yard and the empty lot next door. (Not having any medical training, Jill had come home from the clinic when she heard the Mission House was threatened.)
The most badly burned victims were rushed to the airport even as a plane was ordered from La Ceiba. Dr. Cooper was called back from the Keys and began treatment while the plane was on its way. Those with less severe injuries were treated at the clinic by the nurse, Susanna, and later Dr. Cooper. Some of these would also be flown off the island later in the day.
When the fire was no longer a threat to the Mission House we began moving the contents back in. We found that the stove, the two butane tanks, refrigerator and unworking copier machine had all been moved outside, along with TV and VCR, computer, FAX machine, telephone, much clothing, some furniture, and cash and checks. In the haste there was some minor damage. Jill and I are pleased that everything made it back into the house except for some frozen pork chops and chicken which seem to have walked off. We're still putting things back in order and were happy to be offered lunch and supper by the proprietor of the Utila Lodge. (Our stove is still not safe to use; after I hooked it back up and checked it out I realized that one of the butane tanks is leaking at the regulator.) We're mostly thankful still to have a home.
| As seen in this photo, the roof of Henderson's Store is destroyed. The
concrete walls seem to be intact however.
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The interior of the store was totally destroyed. You can still see the shelves of goods on the far wall. (I took this photo from Mission House property; we're that close.) |
| Damage to the Mission House was minor. Melted rain gutters (made of split
4½" PVC pipe, seen drooping in this photo) and blistered paint seems
to be the extent of it.
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Most severely injured is store employee 18 year-old Josue (Joshua in English), nicknamed Pájarito (little bird). As of this writing he is in the hospital in La Ceiba, accompanied by his mother who lives there. He has suffered burns over 95% of his body. He has made it through the first 24 hours and is conscious. The doctors are not optimistic, though plans are being laid for him to move at 72 hours to Tegucigalpa and then on to Houston, Texas for care. Many here and elsewhere are praying for Josue.
Jill and I are concerned about the island's food supply. Henderson's is by far the largest grocery store; there are perhaps half a dozen much smaller stores. There's not been a run on the other stores; we're wondering if that's because many here don't plan far ahead. Today (Tuesday) is the day most of the food usually comes to Utila; since there's now no place to store much of it I'm sure that Archie has canceled his orders. We do find people here to be entrpreneurial and the yacht does come everyday; perhaps we'll see more roadside stalls opening up.
The cause of the fire? There was a gasoline spill in the store. A refrigerator/freezer motor kicked on and ignited the vapors from the spill.
I was pleased to see so many come to the aid of the Hendersons, their injured employees and customers. The bucket brigade was a great show of support, as was the comfort provided by many others. The store is insured but Archie will be liable for the medical care of the victims which will be quite expensive. Funds are already being collected on the island for this purpose.
The municipality did very well with its limited means. The electricity was shut down promptly and restored as soon as the fire was out and the line to the store could be cut. Utila surely could use a fire truck, however. The buildings are so close together and parts of town are so far from the sea that it is easy to imagine a lot of it going up in smoke at one time.
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After bringing stuff back in the Mission House several rooms are in disarray but we're so thankful that the house didn't burn. We are also glad that the Hendersons' house (which sits immediately behind the store) was spared. |
