There was a house on fire in the middle of a dark forest. The family living there was trapped. The mother was crying for help while the father was desperately trying to find a way out. The children huddled together in fear. As the fire raged, they saw a figure in the flames that looked like a demon. They all perished in the fire, and ever since, people say they can still hear their screams at night when they pass by the charred remains of the house.
One common element is the sense of helplessness. Like the people trapped inside the burning house, they can't easily escape. Another is the mystery of how the fire started. It often adds to the scariness if it's an unexplained origin. Also, the presence of strange noises or apparitions during the fire, like screams that seem otherworldly or shadowy figures in the flames.
Not necessarily. It could be a blend of truth and imagination. Maybe there's a kernel of a real story, but it's been embellished and fictionalized to make it more engaging.
The 'house on fire short story' might be about the chaos and danger that a house on fire brings. It could focus on the people inside trying to escape, their fear and panic. Maybe it also shows the efforts of the firefighters to put out the fire.