NSW Bushfires

[66 Stang]

Hi all,

Looks pretty bad back home, Currently in France, just caught the news and NSW Bushfires were the headline news,

thank God for the RFS volunteers for the work there doing and the risks there taking to protect the communities, sure hope they get they upper hand soon.

Hope every one is safe and well,

Cheers
Keith

[Ash]

These are some shots my wife was sent from yesterday near us. It's Newcastle airport, the Raaf base, and around the Heatherbrae and Raymond Terrace area.

[russ68]

Oh how ironic. NSW bushfire thread posting by ash.

Hoping things don't get worse.

[Ash]

Big change in the weather here today, its much cooler, so lets hope that it helps.

[rocket]

Hi Ash, Glad to know you and family are safe.

Those photos sure are ominous.

Caught the tail end of a report from a fire fighter on abc  news radio this morning. He said........but there was a Mustang sitting in the driveway untouched. Assume he was saying the house burnt down. Bugger!

Rocket.

[Ash]

Appreciate that, Rocket. 
We are not close enough to be at risk. Even though it is very dry here, the fires are far away enough to not be a concern. The only effect we have here is the smoke haze. Here is a shot I just took off my front verandah.
The temp today is in the teens and not the 30's that we had yesterday. The wind is pretty much gone altogether as well.

[malscar]

The worry Ash is what is going to happen over the weekend. Hopefully the areas don't have the winds but it is getting hot again. The vision was reminding me of what we had in 2003. Scary stuff. Glad you are OK.

[Ash]

Thanks, Mal. I'm not sure what the weather will bring over the weekend. I can see now though the wind is picking up slightly. It's still very cool but from what I hear, they are still in trouble down there with many evacuated.

[boss69hogg]

 1 dead and hundreds of homes lost in Catherine Hill Bay (they saved e pub), surrounds and Winmalee in the Blue Mountains.

I worked last night, tonight and then tomorrow night as the Forward Commander in the Blue Montains. Today and tomorrow are trying to get on top as Mondaynis expected to be just like Thursday all over again (35degrees, 80kmph winds).

1 dead is sad but evidence of how far we have come since the Victoria bush fires a few years back where hundreds died. Social media is playing a huge part in that.

[rocket]

David, Good to know you and yours are ok over there. From looking at Google maps I see the Catherine Hill Bay and Wyong fires are only a few k`s from your own property.

We are hearing the Blue Mountains are still in a lot of danger over the next few days so must be quite a challenge for you being in charge. All the best to you and your people there.

Rocket.

[littlejohn]

Ash, i heard today will be the only break in the weather for the next few days,
sadly the winds are gonna give yous serious grief.

devastating.

[Ash]

It's an absolutely beautiful day here today. Have been welding all morning and am now enjoying a few cold beers watching the MotoGP qualifying. I heard the same, that all hell breaks loose again tomorrow. Hopefully they can get a handle on things a bit more before the worst is yet to come.

[boss69hogg]

The RFS spent all last night trying to put in a containment line between Thompson and Chapman St, Winmalee. Concern is that the wind is forecast to be from the north today and then later turning nor west. If the current fire jumps that containment line there is nothing to stop the fire going straight to Springwood town centre. That is the worst case scenario, but is likely with the existing forecast.

If that happens - it could make last week look like a picnic!

[IGALOP]

Good luck, all you north of the borderites! Stay safe.