Grantville fires, February 2, 2019. All photos: Geoff Ellis By Anne Heath Mennell
IT WASN’T supposed to be a high risk fire day last Friday. I was away from home most of the day. Coming down Anderson hill, with the Waterline laid out before me, there was an ominous column of smoke rising out of the bush on the eastern side of the highway. The smoke seemed to be leaning across the highway, which suggested the wind was blowing from the east. That would blow smoke and the fire onto my side of the highway.
I stood with neighbours at the back fence, looking across the paddocks towards the hills. The smoke seemed to be shifting as we watched helicopters and planes buzzing around and through it. I couldn’t see any flames or fire glow but the vegetation was obviously well alight. We were at the mercy of the wind. If it shifted from the south it could destroy the Adams estate, Grantville and the nature reserve all the way up to the Gurdies. From the east, it would blow ash, embers and flames towards Tenby Point, Corinella and Coronet Bay.
IT WASN’T supposed to be a high risk fire day last Friday. I was away from home most of the day. Coming down Anderson hill, with the Waterline laid out before me, there was an ominous column of smoke rising out of the bush on the eastern side of the highway. The smoke seemed to be leaning across the highway, which suggested the wind was blowing from the east. That would blow smoke and the fire onto my side of the highway.
I stood with neighbours at the back fence, looking across the paddocks towards the hills. The smoke seemed to be shifting as we watched helicopters and planes buzzing around and through it. I couldn’t see any flames or fire glow but the vegetation was obviously well alight. We were at the mercy of the wind. If it shifted from the south it could destroy the Adams estate, Grantville and the nature reserve all the way up to the Gurdies. From the east, it would blow ash, embers and flames towards Tenby Point, Corinella and Coronet Bay.
