Our house, at 9.10 pm, 23rd January 2021. The Cherry Gardens Fire is approaching it from the south-west. Sprinklers on the roof are operating; I was the only person on the site. I’m a member of the CFS, but the Bradbury brigade had had to withdraw. Falling trees were blocking our driveway. I took this image from outside our underground bunker – which I didn’t end up using – and then retreated to the house to defend it first.9.11 pm. 23rd January, 2021. The Cherry Gardens fire from our kitchen window; the noise is awesome. Roof sprinklers are operating; we have a 100,000 litre storage and diesel fire pump. That evening we used 30,000 litres in two hours.9.12 pm, 23rd January 2021, the fire is 20 metres from the house. Ember attack is like hail and the radiant heat is extreme – I had to shelter behind a wall after taking this image. The roof sprinklers doused all embers on the roof, gutters and deck and effectively protected the house. The fire front had passed the house – and proceeded to incinerate our garden – by 9.13 p.m. At about 9.30 p.m. I was able to go outside and use the hose reel to attack fires in the garden – burning shrubs and trees, stored firewood and fences.
