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Bushfire Diary
Bushfire Diary is my account of how I became trapped on a highway with my boyfriend, our three legged cat and hundreds of other car travelers during the devastating 1994 Australian bushfires. This 7,500 word memoir describes the personal and social impact of a catastrophic bushfire while having to bunk down with displaced strangers who couldn't get home. It includes 26 colour photographs and a map of New South Wales showing the extent of the fires.
39 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 19, 2013
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December 18, 2021
Out of Control
Two days after Christmas in 1993 a bushfire began to burn along the east coast of New South Wales in Australia. From Queensland to Victoria, a distance of about 1,300km, bushfires were fanned by strong winds and 40 degree heat. They raged out of control until the 16th January.
The author chronicles how she became trapped on a deadly highway with her boyfriend and their three legged cat. It was apparent to them that they were going to have to drive right through the fires if they wanted to get home. For several hours they drove through thick smoke, the road ahead misty, and really hot, most likely round 35°C (95°F) with a very strong wind blowing .Winding down the window was like turning on a heater.
They couldn’t drive west because of fires, they couldn’t go back north because the Hunters Valley fires (which they just drove through) were being fanned by winds and wre out of control. The southern sky was getting darker and darker. The sun looked like a blood, red ball; everything smelled of smoke. Due to the heat and wind, they had to lay down low and put beach towels over them as they didn’t have a blanket. Being minis street lights all that could be seen were smoky coloured stars.
Before leaving Byron they phoned the State Emergency Centre, the Police and the NRMA and were told not to worry, because the road was open. They expected be gone for another day. Due to North Sydney, Lindfield,Warriwood, and Gosford still being alight, their arrival home would be delayed.
Salvos., the Salvation Army were giving out sandwiches. They were able to call her Mother as one of the Salvos had a mobile phone and her Mother relayed the message to Martin’s parents. They were told to proceed to the Refugee Camp at the Race Track where they registered their names at the Refuge Registration Desk and partook of lots of lovely food and drinks.
The radio news was horrifying as reports of the blazes reigniting and talk of a huge ‘fire storm’ that could devastate more of Sydney. Parts of North Sydney were being evacuated. Gosford not too far from Sydney was also a mess, everything out of control.
Everything was covered with ash, on the car, in the car, in mouths, ears, noses,. leaving the sufferer to feel trapped and suffocated. Finally, a police escort them to Sydney and on their path home.
Two days after Christmas in 1993 a bushfire began to burn along the east coast of New South Wales in Australia. From Queensland to Victoria, a distance of about 1,300km, bushfires were fanned by strong winds and 40 degree heat. They raged out of control until the 16th January.
The author chronicles how she became trapped on a deadly highway with her boyfriend and their three legged cat. It was apparent to them that they were going to have to drive right through the fires if they wanted to get home. For several hours they drove through thick smoke, the road ahead misty, and really hot, most likely round 35°C (95°F) with a very strong wind blowing .Winding down the window was like turning on a heater.
They couldn’t drive west because of fires, they couldn’t go back north because the Hunters Valley fires (which they just drove through) were being fanned by winds and wre out of control. The southern sky was getting darker and darker. The sun looked like a blood, red ball; everything smelled of smoke. Due to the heat and wind, they had to lay down low and put beach towels over them as they didn’t have a blanket. Being minis street lights all that could be seen were smoky coloured stars.
Before leaving Byron they phoned the State Emergency Centre, the Police and the NRMA and were told not to worry, because the road was open. They expected be gone for another day. Due to North Sydney, Lindfield,Warriwood, and Gosford still being alight, their arrival home would be delayed.
Salvos., the Salvation Army were giving out sandwiches. They were able to call her Mother as one of the Salvos had a mobile phone and her Mother relayed the message to Martin’s parents. They were told to proceed to the Refugee Camp at the Race Track where they registered their names at the Refuge Registration Desk and partook of lots of lovely food and drinks.
The radio news was horrifying as reports of the blazes reigniting and talk of a huge ‘fire storm’ that could devastate more of Sydney. Parts of North Sydney were being evacuated. Gosford not too far from Sydney was also a mess, everything out of control.
Everything was covered with ash, on the car, in the car, in mouths, ears, noses,. leaving the sufferer to feel trapped and suffocated. Finally, a police escort them to Sydney and on their path home.
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