Peninsula FiresAuthor: jawapro
Date: Fri 11/01/2013 04:34 PM
I haven’t posted for a while - sorry. Things have been busy, and we’ve been fairly stressed and concerned about our family.
If you’ve watched the news anywhere in the country in the last week - you’ll know that South-East Tasmania has had a couple of very nasty fires. The worst of which started at Forcett and spread down through Dunalley and into the Forester and Tasman Peninsulas.
Dad grew up on the Tasman Peninsula, and his family all still live there. Thankfully they’ve been spared any damage so far - but it’s come uncomfortably close.
On the map I’ve marked some red dots - those are where my Uncles and Grandparents live. The fire has been very close - and it’s still largely uncontrolled!
The township of Dunalley (marked with a larger dot) copped the brunt of the fire - and they lost over 60 homes and businesses there.
Chris’s girlfriend Steph’s family are from Dunalley, and they lost homes. They are all safe though.
Chris himself raced down to help his family prepare the farm. A week ago the fire spread drastically and cut off access to the Peninsula. Chris found someone with a boat who could take him down. Since then he’s been working with his younger brothers on the farm while his Dad is fighting the fires (he’s the local Fire Chief).
I’m rather proud of Chris for being able to drop everything and race down to help out. He’s a legend.
The road is still not fully open - but the police have been escorting convoys down onto the Peninsula. There’s still no power down there, but at least supplies can get through. For most of the week everything has been ferried down there by boat - largely by volunteers.
The fires are not out or properly contained - and if the hot weather returns they could flare up again and threaten my family again. I’m still praying for them all.
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