Well Josie came in pretty handy over summer and both my wife and I spent time fighting fires in NSW and Gipplsand until we found fire was on our doorstep from a lightning strike on Mt Buffalo. We did more fighting at Buffalo river and Nug Nug where it would take runs on the wind change every day. With the fire running down into the Buckland valley and heading for Demons Ridge, we were under direct threat with evacuations in place and Emergency warnings too late to leave we were kept fairly busy. WE sent the three kids off with nanny and My wife and I stayed home to fight, along with my father inlaw next door. Armed with 1000 litres and a pretty cool Landrover I thought I would share the pics of the worst of it at home. We were lucky and were not impacted by fire, only ash and burnt leaves.

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This was after the wind change with thick smoke stinging your eyes. there was no escape - even in the house. Josie still stinks like a bushfire today inside the cab.

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our Brigade would do welfare checks which meant so much to us. I have fought many fires but it is always different as the landowner. Our fire plan was to try and save the inlaws house, then livestock and then our house last. With the kids and the mother inlaw gone it was something we didn't have to worry about. The Range Rover was parked up at the fire station with our wordly possessions and the camper trailer attached to it.

A week went by and this day we were looking to be impacted with a change in the wind would see the fire being blown at us at over 100km/h
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And then Katy Perry came to town and everything was grand! True Story! Katy Perry a Bright spot after fires the true super star is in yellows bottom left!