Fire

Too close for comfort

The last few weeks have been generally warm and windy and that spells bushfire danger. There have been terrible fires in the north of the state but recently things hit a little closer to home. A house fire near the in-laws' place in the Blue Mountains sparked a full-on bushfire which swept up the gully behind their property.

Maria was evacuated but firefighters were thankfully able to defend the property and the only thing lost was the back fence. We were heading up there the next day anyway and, by the time we arrived about 24 hours later, the fire was out but what had been thickly vegetated bush was now just charred bare earth.

A few thicker tree trunks were still smouldering but the danger had happily passed. There was even a bewildered wallaby wandering about down there - perfectly healthy but somewhat confused. All a little too close for comfort.

Fire opens Banksia cones releasing seeds into the cleared nutrient-rich ground

Fires continue to burn around Sydney and the city is covered in a thick blanket of smoke which you can't escape. Small bits of ash are raining down from the sky which makes a right mess of your car and the smell of smoke is everywhere - even indoors. Rather that than lose your home though.

The sun struggles to shine through the smoke haze