I don't even know how to articulate this but I'm going to try. We are drained, running on empty.
Yesterday a fire started from a hay stack spontaneously combusting in a town not far from us, called Pinery. It then travelled at horrific speed accross the district with 80+km/hr winds.
We checked the CFS updates constantly and it was predicted to miss our town, to travel a way in front of it.
I don't know what happened, the wind changed, the weather was worse. What ever. But it hit us.
Grant checked the reports and it seemed safe to drive to pick up the boys, but the fire became out of control and as he was driving, the fire surrounded him, jumping all over the place. Thank God there was a water bomber that cleared the road enough for them to pass through. The smoke was thick and black, there was debris in the air. There was confusion and Grant was in a car accident. The car is a mess but it kept him safe. Fortunately he was ok, the car held out just long enough and he managed to get to safety while the fire front passed.
At this same time the sky in Hamley grew pitch black, filled with rancid smoke, ash and embers. I was utterly terrified. I grabbed Henry, grabbed the dogs, loaded them into the little car and drove to the local oval which was a safe zone.
The smoke had cleared by this stage quite a bit....
Fire burned in plain view, perhaps 50m away. I was terrified it was not safe enough, terrified Grant was not safe. My baby was with me and I could do nothing more to protect us.
Phone reception was out, Internet was out. We waited there for what felt like eternity, but I guess was a couple of hours.
The fire past. Houses near us were lost, lives were lost.
Grant got a ride into town, we checked out our house. It is intact, but filled with soot and ash. Power is out, water is out. We have a generator we can use, we will buy water and we are going back in tonight with family to begin the clean up.
Thank god my Grant came home to us. By the grace of God, and by our amazing emergency services he did. Not everyone was so fortunate. There are many houses lost, vehicles burnt on the side of the road, burning trees, injured animals. It looks like a war zone.
But we are safe, our community is rallying. As only rural communities can. Our friends and family are looking after us, the boys, supporting us, praying for us. We are indeed blessed. We are safe.
Much love,
Em
Xx
