Bush fires in Winmalee

Well the return from the Nullabor ended with disastrous bush fires at home. We were in Broken Hill on Thursday October 17 (about 1200km away) when we found out that a fire had started at about 1.30pm from branches falling on power lines near home and within 3 hours had burnt out and destroyed 209 homes and damaged many others including ours.
When we arrived home on Saturday October 19, there still hot winds, no rain, fires burning and our place standing amidst the ruin of what only an uncontrolled bushfire can do. Walking around seeing the destruction only reinforced to me that there is nothing you can do to fight or even prepare for such a calamity. New houses built to new standards and old houses built to old standards - both survived and both were destroyed. It was completely and utterly random. The only thing I can see that might make a difference is if you put out embers and flareups after the fire has passed - this saved some houses, including ours, through the work of family, neighbours and friends and for that, my heartfelt thanks.

Stormwater pipes melted

Gardens gone

Embers burnt the canvas on my verandah squatters chair but not the verandah

Side fence near the pool

Pergola and fence burnt and melted

Water meter and pressure reduction valve melted. Also melted the washer in the mains water tap.

Front garden

Melted the bottom tank but it still held water

Melted the water pump on the tank as well as the hoses

Bottom shed and all contents - I had a 25 year old oregon beam I was ageing to make a French Door but not any more.