Christmas 2001 Bushfires

Disaster nearly struck on Christmas Day when a bushfire started at Jellybean Pool roared up the hill behind the house at Brook Road, Glenbrook. The fires started the previous day and we'd prepared by raking all inflammable material away from the house, soaking the garden and verandah, taking down curtains and placing buckets of water in every room. Just as well we did.

When the wind changed and the fire hit us at the height of the second floor windows we immediately evacuated the boys by driving them round the corner, then Andrew and I walked back through the smoke (past all the onlookers) and down to the house. I admit I expected to find the house in flames but only a mattress in one bedroom and the verandah were alight, and I was able to quickly put those fires out (the mattress was ignited by an ember when the sliding door came off its tracks).

We then spent some time putting out spot fires around the garden, and then checked inside the house again to find both mattress and verandah had flared up again. The mattress flared up again after Cathy arrived home so we had to drag it outside and heave it off the verandah. The verandah was alight in three places and will need replaced. So will the pool pump and filter, which melted in the heat, along with the chairs, inflatable toys and boogie boards around the pool. The heat must have been intense because not a blade of grass was left from the pool down the hillside. Especially poignant were Angus' clothes that we took off last night by the pool so he could have a swim. There was little left of them (see the photo below). The compost bin has likewise disappeared.

It obviously happened too quickly for the fire trucks to be standing by. By the time they arrived the house was secured. Neighbours from all around pitched in to help, putting out spot fires in the front garden. We feel very lucky to have escaped, and to have saved the house, although obviously we would have preferred a traditional, quiet Christmas Day. Here are some photos. I don't have any pictures of the fire front. I was thinking of other things at the time. Right now my eyes are stinging, my throat is sore and I'm going to bed.

Footnote - 15 January 2002 - fire front pictures provided by our neighbour's brother - Stuart Cameron. Thanks. There are now a few blades of grass and the native grass trees are coming back. One tree kept burning till last week - up the middle and through the roots. Rain on 7 Jan finally put the fires out, thank goodness, and life has returned to normal.

Emu Road	Boys watching smoke	Glenbrook Village	Fire approaching
Fire arriving	Fire arriving	Cathy soaking verandah
Tree in pool	Pool filter	Burnt bush	11 Brook Rd
Burning tree	Neighbours' garden	Angus' clothes	Sunset