Sunday, January 6, 2013

Island on Fire





This is our view from the top of our hill looking North East. The heat of the Summer Sun and lack of rain has changed the landscape dramatically over the last couple of weeks. The grass is long and there are fields of gold as far as the eye can see. The colours at Sunset are stunningly beautiful. I took this photo while on a walk at sunset last week with the words of Dorothea Mackellar ringing in my ears "I love a Sunburnt Country. A land of sweeping plains.....". *

However, this was the view this morning. The smell of smoke thick in the air and covering us like a blanket. 



As you have probably seen on the news, Mother Nature unleashed her fury on our little Island State these last couple of days. Last Thursday we experienced the hottest day on record with temperatures soaring to 41.8 degrees. As fate would have it, the wind was ferocious that day which caused several Bushfires to rage out of control across the state.




Our property was very close to being threatened with a Bushfire in our local village of Richmond breaking out just down the road. This is the view from our hill shortly after the fire broke out. 

I received a call from a friend who lives closer to Richmond saying she was coming over to our place as she could see smoke on the hill across the road from her. I looked out the window and could see a bit of smoke so jumped on the internet to get an update from the Fire Service. There was an "Advice" but no serious alert.



My friend arrived and it wasn't long before an Emergency Warning Advice was issued and all residents from Richmond were evacuated. We were OK to stay where we were for the time being but started getting things in place. These Bushfires are terrifying in their speed and unpredictability. You can see in the picture above how windy it was with the grass and smoke leaning a fair way over to the right. If the wind had changed direction at any moment we would have been in serious trouble.


Shortly after, I look out of the Kitchen window and see another Bushfire resembling an atomic bomb erupt across the river in Forcett.


This one spread so rapidly and we were surprised to receive an Emergency Warning by text message from The Tasmanian Fire Service the following day. There was a fair distance as well as a large body of water between us and the Fire but all we could do was keep an eye on the internet for updates. 



We went up to the top of the hill and watched. The following 3 photos were taken at 7.30pm on Friday 4th of January 2013.




It wasn't until the following morning that we heard of the horror that had taken place overnight - thousands of people evacuated, over 100 homes and buildings destroyed and now the grim task of accounting for the missing. Totally devastating. The Fires, while mostly contained, are still burning and it can take some time for authorities to get in to affected areas to assess the loss and damage. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.

Mel x

PS. Thank you so much for your e-mails and other messages of concern about our safety over the last few days. Really appreciate it.

* "My Country", Dorothea Mackellar 1908




23 comments :

  1. so glad that you are all safe and my heart just aches for the town and folks that have been devastated by the fire...your pictures truely captivate the unpredictability of mother nature. keep safe b x

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  2. Thinking of you and your family. Stay safe xo

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  3. Glad to hear all is well and you are safe. Hopefully it stays that way and the weather cools off this week. I love the new banner picture too.

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  4. So glad you and your family are safe. Frightening! You have captured it well. Thoughts and prayers with all those who have lost so much x

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  5. I am so glad you are all ok. I have been wondering if it was getting closer. My heart goes to everyone who has lost their homes and the people unaccounted for. Stay safe. Xxx

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  6. The fires made it on the news over here in New York. Praying your family stay safe. Thanks for the pictures, It captures it for me. I have never seen nor do I want to see it up close. Stay safe. Hope it all stops soon.

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  7. Lots of love to you and your Tassie neighbours Mel.
    I'm so glad you guys are all safe and sound. xx

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  8. Oh my goodness, I didn't know about the fires, not seen or heard the news for over a week now! I'm so glad you're all ok and safe but nature can be terrifying at times.

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  9. You and your blog have been in my thoughts these last few days - the bush fires have been headline news in the UK. Glad to know you are ok, but how totally awful for those affected.

    Gillian x

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  10. I am so relieved you are all well! You must have had your heart in your mouth for a few tense days, with a baby too! Your pictures are stunning and help bring home to us so far away geographically the extent of Mother Nature's wrath on this beautiful island of yours.

    See you soon,

    Stephanie

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  11. oh gosh i've been worried. glad to see you are ok. i read the news today that property searches have begun. so devestating. x sarah

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  12. Goodness, that smoke looks scary! Please stay safe <3
    ox

    PS love the new header!

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  13. It's terrifying. I really feel for the poor people involved. I remember years ago there was a fire out Acton way which threated the paddock we had animals in. It was horrible not knowing whether to try to move the ponies or if they were safe. All was well. It's terrible to see Dunalley so devastated.
    I noticed the cars are covered in ash this morning, despite the fact we are a long way away. Anyway, I'm glad you were safe :)

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  14. I remember everything vividly, from my previous life as a wildland firefighter - the smell, the weather, the unpredictability. Long days of waiting for the wind to shift so that we could jump in and help. Ash and soot. The helplessness when homes, lives were lost. So glad you are safe, prayers for those not so lucky.

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  15. We were in the Canberra bushfires and remember the day vividly. I am so glad you are safe but grieve for those people not so far away who are in the midst of such terror.

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  16. Glad your family was able to stay put,very eye-opening for the kids. My sister lives on Middle Tea Tree rd and got the message to evacuate,they were able to stay though. Very sad for so many people losing homes and animals.

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  17. I am so relieved that you're all okay, Mel. You had me worried there. J x

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  18. So pleased you're all OK Mel. It must be so terrifying and so heart breaking all at the same time. Stay safe. xx

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  19. It's just horrible, isn't it? So glad you guys are safe, Mel xx

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  20. Amazing photos of the explosive fire. Stay safe

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  21. So glad to hear you are all safe, and it is terribly sad for our fellow Tasmanians who have lost their homes. Let us pray that the weather to come us kinder to everyone.

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  22. Oh Mel, just a hideous natural disaster for poor Tassie. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it on the news. I'm so glad you and your beautiful family are ok, hopefully you have seen the last of bushfires for the season on your lovely island.
    Stunning images by the way, amazing xoxo

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