F is for Fire
 |
| Fires in Victoria, 2009 (ABC News) |
F is for Fire
If there was one thing I feared most, it would be fire, bushfire. I grew up in country South Australia . . . in the Adelaide Hills, a very fire prone area of the state. As a child, every time I heard the fire siren go off I would become frightened. . . I knew the power of fire, I knew what it could do and I was terrified of it. My dad was part of the volunteer fire brigade and when he hear the siren, off he went and helped out. But one day, the fire came to him and he was alone. The fire was so bad, no fire fighting team could come to his aid . . . and as a result my parents fought this fire alone. I cannot imagine what it must have been like.
On the morning of the 16th of February 1983, a series of bush fires started in both Victoria and South Australia. Within 12 hours, more than 180 fires fanned by winds of up to 110km per hour caused widespread destruction. These were firestorms, no ordinary fires that we had witnessed before.
The conditions were perfect for the worse sort of fire, in both Melbourne and Adelaide the heat quickly rose to above 43C, with humidity plunging to as low as 6%. The first fires was reported at 11:30am, south of Adelaide. Property loss began in the early afternoon, particularly in the Adelaide Hills and the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne. The fire reached my parents home by mid afternoon destroying all in its path.
By dusk, the fires were out . . . but in its wake was something I had never witnessed in my life and is marked firmly in my memory. I can still remember the smell that lingered for weeks and weeks, the smell of a burnt community.
This day of destruction is now known as "Ash Wednesday" and it occurred 29 years today. I still fear fires and that day 29 years ago still brings tears to my eyes . . . I nearly lost my parents and my home on that fateful day, one we should not forget and one we should use as a reminder to be always vigilant in making sure our homes (if we live in fire prone areas) are as safe as possible from fire. Sadly in 2009 we witness another terrible fire in Victoria where 173 died and anther 414 were injured. We still have much to learn about fire and how deadly they are.
 |
| This is the front of our family home a day after the bush fire - the house was damaged, the Lord was good. |
 |
| The garden and tennis court |
 |
| The apple orchard |
 |
| No matter where you looked it was black - not a blade of grass was left. |
~oOo~
This is very personal to me and very moving due to the horrifying fires we had here in Texas last year. My heart goes out to you. Last summer was surely a time of fear and constant vigilance for us.
ReplyDeleteSadly, the weather forecasters are predicting that this summer may be hotter and drier than last - meaning even higher fire risks! This is a frightening thought to me. Not only is it hard to think of losing everything we own, but I do not enjoy living with the constant threat of short notice evacuations, especially as we are on a road with no outlet at one end.
Some of the fires last summer were stared by electrical wires being blown down in a wind storm we had at the beginning of September when fire risks were extremely high. Some of the fires started at that time burned for days or even weeks before they were controlled and then put out. Of course, there were many others over the course of weeks/months that followed. It was a very scary time, and also nerve-wracking both for the danger (we live in an area of highly flammable cedar), and because it was maddening to observe the shocking carelessness of some people.
I can relate to your fear, though of course, you have had a much more direct experience with bush fires (we call them wildfires). My prayer is that the forecasters will be mistaken and that God will bless us with a moist, milder summer - one that gives some much needed growth and restoration to this drought damaged state. Keep us posted if you need prayer regarding bush fires there at any time so that we can pray for you. (Sorry about the long comment.)
I am glad I no longer live in a fire prone area, however in saying that our city was under threat of fire some years ago when fires rush down the mountains straight into the suburbs destroying 500 homes. That was extreme though.
DeleteYou will be in my prayers during those fire prone months. It is frightening time and I understand that completely.
Mother is in what was the local hospital where I took Father that night with burned eyes. We were trying to work out where the old treatment was as the place is renovated into the nursing home. I will never forget that night as we tried to drive out to Gumeracha but could not get there, so had to go another way, and though the actual fire had stopped, the amount of fire burning in trees, fence posts, and the huge trail of sparks as the wind blew, from anything burning was amazing. It took days to get the burning remnants out, and we would go around the garden at night as you could see the glow of embers in the mulch. The CFS came up the road a day or so later with trepidation as they expected to see the house burned down, and find bodies, but were surprised that the house survived (only because the parents stayed and put it out when it caught on fire). I too will never forget.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realise father went to W/side hospital.
DeleteI can't imagine, Jo! I feel blessed to have never been in a fire, and I pray I never have to experience it - nor anyone I love. Fires are a fearful thing.
ReplyDeleteClara, my sentiments exactly!
Delete16th of February -- I remember vividly what I was doing that day and the days following. I can shut my eyes and still smell it!
ReplyDeleteLL
Nick
So can I, it's amazing how those imagines and smells remain.
DeleteSo can I, it's amazing how those imagines and smells remain.
DeleteHow terrible! Floods are the big threat around here, since the elevation of the city is quite low.
ReplyDelete