August 23, 1994 (Tuesday) There's a strong bush fire. The fire was started from the neighbor at 4:00 in the afternoon. At 6:30 it's already in Macosur's land.
The firemen came for three times. I helped Luis (guard) and Caballero to stop the fire going to Ramirez house. We took photograph behind the fire.
Each winter there will be a bush fire in the wilderness at the North of our factory, but this year of 1994 is the most serious according to the local. This happen to be our first winter in Paraguay (We came at Spring last year after Winter) to witness an exciting bush fire that last for 2 weeks. On 23rd August 1994 night fall the fire reached perilously close almost 50 meters to factory building. This is a dangerous zone.
Louis, the security guide with a gun in the photo, called the other 3 factory staff who live just opposit the factory across the highway and together a team of 6 of us (including me in the picture) tried to cut out a line on the dried grass land to stop the fire from advancing toward the factory.
The most valuable assets of this factory are the wood flooring (property of the Paraguay company) and the 4 sets of wood working machines (belonging to my Taiwanese company)
With the help of wind direction, we managed to preventing the fire from advancing, thought the fire stay strong and continued to burn for the next few days.
Fortunately the fire was brought under control, though not extinguished, before it reached the factory. Thanks to the efforts of the Louis, Kabarello and Nelson and his son. Fortunatly they all live near by.
The next morning, the fire around subsided. (photo above), but at the distand field the small fire continue for the next few days.
Where does the fire came from?
On the north of our factory is a maize field of few acares. Before the farmers start their planting each Spring, local farmers usually deliberately setting small blazes to land-clearing. Strong wind and dry weather promote the fire to cover much greater area.
Spring season came after the fire incident on 23-8-1994 and exactly 1 month later Wong Chun Xing was born on 24-9-1994. We named him CHUN XING means Spring Star. (Should have named him Fire Spring).
Now the above group photos of the smiling faces against a background fierce fire bring back so much warm memories of our exciting days in the far distant country Paraguay.
August 24,1994 (Wednesday) Workers worked outside the factory because of too much smoke from the fire last night. It's painful for the eye.
Luis was absent. Jose was the guard. At night the fire started again going at the back of Machimbradora line. Jose called the firemen again. Sr. Francisco rode in the bulldozer to take some water and trying to stop the fire.
August 25,1994 (Thursday) The workers finished their worked at 2:00. They will go to cemetery.
Francisco , Marcelo and us had a walk to take photo of the burned land.
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