yesterday, sirens startled me out of a reading quiet.. urgent.
I looked outside and not far from Avalon, dark smoke billowed up out of the bush near by. near my much loved Katoomba Falls... men in orange suits, the firies.
police blocking traffic - foot and vehicle. smoke. cockatoos flew over, screeching in fear. I could feel their panic. their spring babies most probably still in the nests deep in the rock faces that make up this area. tourists ran up the road. evacuations took place a block away. embers flew. helicopters flew over, dropping water urgently on bushland that has not been burnt since 1958. the year I was born. it was surreal.I feel fear or is it sadness, that my beloved bushland will not be the same. will not have the same wisdom that it has shared with me over time. will my friend the coachwood be burned? a tree of unknown age. I pray that she is saved.
Joe and I walked last night, in the thick smoke..
chatting to our fearless fire fighters..
you can see the intensity of an australian bush fire. fueled by layers of fallen leaves and eucalypts
[photo courtesy of Blue Mountains Local area command]today, I woke to a cooler day & rain clouds over head. please God, let them spill over the fire. & bless our firies.
the currawongs still sing. [and as I finish this post, the rain starts to spill from the sky]
13 comments:
Wow, what photos! Glad to hear the rain is falling now. Earth, air, fire and water -- agents of change in the circle of life. All will be renewed in time.
that is truly one of the down sides of living near trees/bushland here. I'm not looking forward to summer her as last year we had 3 fires all very close by! your fire was v early for this year too... was it lit deliberatly?
I hope the rain does the trick and falls where it's needed, Robyn. It's so sad...but Mother Nature is ever diligent and new life will spring forth. I pray too that the coachwood will have been saved.
God bless firefighters!
How frightening this must be. We have forest fires here, but far North of where we live.
I'm hoping your special tree(s) was saved? The undergrowth always seems to be renewed quite quickly after a fire, but trees can take many human lifetimes to reach maturity.
Hugs
xx
Being here in Southern California I'm well aware of wildfires and the damage they can do....but out of that always comes new growth. It's sad though, and I hope the coachwood tree is spared.
How frightening must that be? My heart goes out to the land and to the firefighters that risk their lives everyday.
I can't get over the stupidity (and criminality) of those who light fires. There needs to be more education, perhaps stronger deterants and punishments. Some will abide others won't, some are just plain uneducated or don't care.
A few years back I was driving home by a small pocket of fenced in bushland and noticed a small column of smoke. We called the Fire Brigade who rushed to the scene. When they passed by I was in ahop and mentioned that I had seen the fire and called them. Another woman turned to me and said that she too had seen the fire and that it was only a small one and why would I bother the Brigade with something that small, that it was a waste of their time to come to such a small fire. I couldn't believe it, I explained to her that there were 8 foot fences around the area, which was bordered by houses and a school. Also that all fires start small it's better to get to them at that stage. Something as small as a cigarette or a match can start something devastating.
When I drove past the spot 5 minutes later the firey's had it completely out without even having to get the hoses out.
hoping all is well robyn, that the fire was contained and the toll in trees and wildlife was low.
Leanne x
Sorry to hear the peace of your new home has been disturbed, but take heed from the natural order of recovery and 'survival'.
Sister Soul Hugs
Sue x
In the fire, a transformation is taking place, you will see....but faith is needed. I send bright blessing and am glad to re-connect Sr.K
dear one,
forgive me, i have been away working on many projects that require so much of me.
so glad i looked up from this mountain of requirements to visit you.
holding you and welcoming a perfect rain.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
We as humans sometimes just let our fear and sadness take over, thinking only of flora and fauna lost, baby birds gone, tiny woodland animals scurrying to escape. I know though, that we have to remember that this is mother nature's way of renewal. I dislike it, but must accept it. And bless the firies who work hard to keep us safe. xoxo
Robyn, I do hope the fire will go out soon and there won't be too much dammage. I hope your beloved tree is still there.
Thinking of you !!
Hugs from The Netherlands.
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