Springwood/Winmalee Fires

As many of you know I live in the beautiful Blue Mountains, right in the middle of the recent bush fires.

Thursday started as a normal day, but not long after lunch things changed and they changed fast. In no time there was smoke and sirens everywhere. I looked out to the backyard. It didn't look good.



I wanted to get to my kids from school and went off to get them but I was quickly blocked off from getting to them. The road was closed and I was on the other side.


This is what I had to get past to get to the kids. There was no way they where letting anyone past.

 
 I rang Dave to let him know something was happening up here and this was his view from the city where he works.


There where sirens, Fire trucks, helicopters everywhere. But the scariest noise was a deep bellowing sound going through the trees as the fire go closer, loud crackling noises and banging noises as gas pipes and windows exploded.

Fire Trucks past the front of our house

 These guys are fantastic they fly back and forth picking up water as fast as they could. It was amazing to watch.





My father in Law was able to get to the kids from the other side and so picked them up. Once I knew they where safe and out of the area I packed some things. As I was leaving I said good bye to the house. I was sure it wasn't going to be here when I got back. It is just a little timber home surrounded by trees.

It was so nice to see it still standing there, when we came back the next day. I am sure this old house has been through many of these fires.

The fire did get to our backyard and put out by some amazing fire-fighters.





Many families around us where deeply affected. and sooooo many homes where destroyed in this fire. It is quite sad as I now drive around Winmalee and see some of the homes and some of them are friends and many of the homes are my kids friends from school. It has brought me to tears on a number of occasions.






 The photo below was taken by a resident from Katoomba. Imagine driving down the road and seeing this in front of you. It looks like the end of the world.


Well the fires have been going for a week now and I have evacuated twice with the kids. Feeling a bit like a yoyo. But I don't want to be here with 4 scared kids. The weather today is much cooler and hope that the fire fighters get some relief soon. The support and generosity I have seen from my community to those affected has been amazing. Even though we live with the threat of bush fires every summer I would not want to live anywhere else.

Filomena xx

Comments

  1. It has been an unimaginable week, hasn't it? I don't think it is over yet. So glad you are all safe!

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    1. It has been a week we won't forget for a long time. Stay safe xx

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  2. Filomena I'm so glad to hear you're all okay :) Your pictures are amazing but frightening at the same time. You're one brave lady... I can't even begin to fathom the devastation some people have experienced. You are right... We all need to take our hats off to the amazing men and women who work hard to keep us safe :)

    Sophie xo

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    1. Thanks Sophie, yes we are all ok, which is the important thing. Some families I know have had it really tough, they where already having a tough year and now have this on top to deal with. The firefighters are amazing, while everyone is running away from it they are going towards it. We are lucky to have so many of them near us.

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  3. I am so glad that you are safe and that your home is also okay! My heart leaps and I hold my breath every time I hear the fire updates. What wonderful firefighters we have in Australia.

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  4. Jeneta, thank you yes we where very lucky that our house was not affected as it roared through the back of our block. I'm sure my hearts skips a beat every time I hear a siren go past. We have some of the best fire fighters....
    Filomena xx

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