We arrived home, last Saturday night, to find our house intact, though inside
it reeked of smoke. Now, some 3 days later, after much airing out, it's
becoming tolerable and we are told the smell will fade, with time.
Sunday morning, I went to the TV station to try to set things right. What I
found was a place covered in fire retardant, from an air drop.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155735425@N05/51400545286/in/dateposted-public/
I am given to understand that after a few days it begins to harden and becomes
almost impossible to clean off. [sigh]
My work done, in the afternoon I went out to the rifle range and took a walk
in, sticking to the road, as it is unwise to walk on the burned ground.
Ash-pits form and if you step on one, the solid-looking earth can collapse and
you fall in. Rather like quick-sand, but a LOT warmer!
Where their road meets the highway, there is a very polite sign.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155735425@N05/51399805367/in/dateposted-public/
Not far in... a log, still burning 8 days after the fire roared through.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155735425@N05/51400551681/in/dateposted-public/
A bit further still, a stump. No tree, that's gone. But the stump is still
aflame.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155735425@N05/51400811313/in/dateposted-public/
In a bit further was a much less than polite sign. (If you are easily
offended, skip this one.)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155735425@N05/51400551561/in/dateposted-public/
At this point, I decided to obey the less-than-polite sign. But not before a
shot, down the road.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155735425@N05/51401313954/in/dateposted-public/
More devastation.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155735425@N05/51401533315/in/dateposted-public/
and finally, a 4 panel pano, showing the aftermath of the fire.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155735425@N05/51401313854/in/dateposted-public/
I think what struck me the most, was the capricious nature of a fire... some
areas are completely burned, in others, the underbrush has burned but the trees
mostly survive, while yet others survive untouched, surrounded by huge swaths
of charred woodlands.
The good bit is that not only did our little town survived where many others
have not (that's a story in itself - one which I may tell, here, later) but you
can only see the destruction in the two kilometers nearest down, on either
side... where the fire met the road. Otherwise, the town looks exactly as it
did before.
Still, I would not wish a wildfire on anyone.
Comments, criticism welcomed, as always.
David.
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