Are those sirens?
That bushfire down the road is a little bit worrying. Sure, it’s a few kms away and headed in the opposite direction. But it’s just down the road.
Action stations… I’m going to pack a few bags, just in case.
Later… 22.52
Well, I never thought we’d have to flee and luckily I was right. The fire never made it up the hill. I admit I did get a bit nervy though when the choppers flew directly overhead with their payload of water, and the warnings on TV were flashing up the names of streets we take every day on our way to and from the city.
I loaded all the photos into a suitcase and threw some clothes together for all of us. I took the side off the PC as well and had a screwdriver ready to take out the hard drive because that’s where most of my photos are (not to mention a lot of my life).
C came home early just in case, and we even warned Mum and Dad that if there was a freak wind change we might come down for a visit.
Oh, and I rang the insurance company and upped the value of the house and contents just to be on the safe side.
I was up in the hills then and spent the whole night patrolling Brownhill Sector (up on the ridge). Man I was so tired but the best part was when a lady walking her dog in the morning gave us a thermos of coffee and said just leave it on the front porch when we’ve finished.
It was a really long night but that simple gesture made the world of difference.
Drew, here’s an easy rule of thumb about bushfires.
You’re not under threat until the smoke comes your way. So when you see that the sky above you is obscured by smoke, panic. And when the smoke is all around you, and making your eyes sting – shit yourself.