Bushfires along the Stuart Highway
At last, yesterday, it started to rain and the temperatures dropped. Only a shower, not even enough to register in the rain gauge, but it has helped the fire fighters get some of the fires under control.
Around the state of Queensland, with high temperatures and strong winds, 30 to 40 bushfires have been raging out of control for more than a week, threatening homes and properties. The media give reports and frightening coverage, interviewing traumatized people fighting back tears as they praise the fire fighters for saving their houses. Many of the fire fighters are volunteers doing a dangerous job.
The previous 2 years of good rainfall has created abundant growth. Now with very little rain for the past 4 months this growth is tinder dry. The hot temperatures and strong winds causing horror conditions and the reports are that this year will be a bad year for bushfires.
As we travelled north we noticed and commented on the growth and wondered when conditions would change. Maybe this season the change has arrived.
Oh Australia you are an unpredictable and capricious country…
gypsy life 
Bush fires must be so frightening. I hope you get some rain very soon.
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You’re right, it’s a hard and capricious country alright! Seven years of drought, centuries breaking floods, decent growth, and now fires. We complain about it – “We’ll all be rooned, said Hanrahan”-style – but are somehow proud of it, like an indulgent parent of a rambunctiously wayward child 🙂
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That is such a good comment. Despite the difficulties and hardships this country thows at us I wouldn’t want to live any where else
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Maybe it’s the challenge?
On the other hand, perhaps it’s the gardens we can create? Loved that recent walk around yours 🙂
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Yes it can be a challenge, but the results are worth the effort
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🙂
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Yes one was only about 6kms, there were 5 helicopters with water buckets and 3 fixed wing firefighter planes; the helicopter buckets were dipping into swimming pools to get to water quickly as to access water at the local lake was more time consuming…it was a bit scary at the time as we live on the edge of a pine forest and everywhere was tinder dry.
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I’m so pleased they got it under control before it got to you. Are you having drought conditions?
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I am so happy that some of the fires are under control. How awful for everyone in QL.
I pray that you had more rain.
Sft x
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Thank you for your concern. Only a very light shower unfortunately
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We had a lot of wild fires in Spain this year too, some reached urban areas and there was loss of life and homes and much devastation of natural habitat. I’m glad to hear that the QL firefighters are managing to get control over some of the fires, it must be a terrifying situation dealing with raging bush fires.
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We did not hear of the fires in Spain. Were any of them near you?
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It’s great to hear that they have got some control over the fires.
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Yes it is a relief for now but a lot more rain is needed
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I hope it rains in abundance soon
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The forecast is for showers but we need more than that, but Australia is a land of extremes when it starts it may not stop…
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