That was a little too close

[maggies_lens]

Busy day at work, but was going well, until I got a sms from Craig of a huge plume of smoke... I looked closer and felt my heart hit the top of my throat rather hard. It was Lysterfield Lake Park. Where I ride. Which is where my horses are... yeeeeah...(*-*) Kept an eye on it for about 10mins via web site, sms updates and a call to my agistment lady and a friend at Narre Naorth brig. When Gregg rocked up at work and said 'um you may want to go check your horses, I just drove past there and it's very close' I felt my blood thin out and race through my viens :P Quickly called two of the guys who I know where out on the road and live in the front's way and told them get cracking. They thanked me and said they would go right away. I then turned to Adam and without even me needing to ask he said 'go, you need to go now.' Thank god for good bosses. Drove down as fast as I could through peak traffic. The closer I got, the bigger and uglier the smoke cloud got. Finally managed to struggle my way onto the road they live on. Smoke was thick, black and naaasty. Headed for the paddock, before the wind swung around and took it east-wards. Gregg showed up shortly thereafter, then Melissa. I couldn't get over the speed of the front!!!!! Now and then a huge thick extra plume of black joined it and Gregg and I winched; that means it's hit a structure of some sort. For it to produce what it was producing means it hit either sheds, barns, houses or something large like that. I saw what appeared to be Elvis fighting along with another chopper.
I'm watching the news as I type. One house confirmed lost.
Thankfully looks like people are being smart and moving early. Esp if they have kids.
It's in the Birdsland Reserve which borders our riding area.
We watched it race down the valley and up the hill, the flames clearly visible from our paddocks even tho it was a good 5k's away. That means they were freaking HUGE.
*shakes head* We need rain. We need rain urgenty. My poor State :-( Once this place was vibrant green with beautiful temperate growth, our dam's full to the brim, flowers lasted all through summer. Not now.

EDITED TO ADD A COUPLE CRAPPY MOBILE PHONE PICS


Snapped as I made my way through traffic, looked like it was a hell of a lot closer than it actually was, thank god.


View from the car park at my paddocks. Within 5 mins the fire moved from the left most of the screen to the right most, that about 4 or 5 k's. In 5 mins... I was watching with horror. You can see the red of the flames along the ridges.


I think it's at about this point that it hit one of the houses that were damaged We'd get these sudden huge bursts of thinker black smoke, each time I'd be like 'oh shiiiiiiiit....'

Found out myu crew were up there during all this. They were one of the first. All are safe and well. One firie got into an accident on the way to his station but is ok, two more had minor burns to face and hands but they too are alright and were released from hospital that afternoon. This fire is now all but out.

Comments

[madeyemads.livejournal.com]

OMG Thank CHRIST they're okay. I was worried!
Hey, listen, if you want to move them even just because you're worried the fires might hit again just say the word. I KNOW there will be floats there ASAP and they can be taken to Merri Park or to any of the many, many properties that have opened up.
I'm so glad they're okay. GO AWAY FIRES. The state really can't cope with more. The people, the animals or the environment.

[maggies-lens.livejournal.com]

Thanks :-) I'm ok where I am tho, we're pretty well protected here in the 'burbs. It'd have to get across about 1 or 2k's of farm land to reach us and most of that is grazed down fields so by the time it reached us the brigade would have it well under control, or it's just be a small grass fire that would need to leap over Heatherton Rd to get to us. The only danger we have at this time would be emeber attacks on a high wind reaching the trees. And if it did that the horses would have plenty of room to get away from it. Knocing Desi and watching her reactions yesterday she'd probably flounce off, turn around and snort at it and then more than likely lead the other mares on a merry 'oh I'm soooo scared' gallop around her paddock :P On a more serious note if it did hit the trees in my paddock there would be some issues but again the horses back there have plenty of room to get away to ground that has nothing but short dried grass.

[ilikerivers.livejournal.com]

I'm praying for you and danny and desi and all the peoples horses and wildlife in all the affected areas.

[maggies-lens.livejournal.com]

We're fine, it was closer than I like but we're very well protected here. The lack of too many trees, the need for the fire to race across quite a lot of ground with little to burn and Heatherton Rd acting as a fire-break all mean that the only dangers we faced from this one were ember attack or a pyro. The grass is way short and dead at the moment so they wouldn't be in any real danger, and as you know they all have plenty of room to get away from any trees that would catch.
I'd looove to live further out, but some times there are advantages to living in the suburbs.

[http://users.livejournal.com/blitzen_/]

god lj had a spack several times when i tried to comment to you on this last night.

just wanted to say *hugs*

and FCUK. way too close for comfort.

[maggies-lens.livejournal.com]

LOL! Gotta love the spacks :-D
Thanks, yep def too close. We're expecting another high winds and temperatures day tomorrow which is a bit scary. I'm working so no CFA'ing, but yeah....