Just what I need for Christmas!

[JDNSW]

Got home from town today about 1330. When I got out of the car I could smell smoke. Nothing to see, visibility about a block in dust, wind NNW 25-30 knots, temperature 40C, humidity about 25%. The RFS website reveals a fire about 25km away, to the NNW. Then I got a phone call from a neighbour about 15km away to the west - the fire brigade was there warning him.

According to the map, the fire has since spread quite rapidly, but the situation is looking up - just had a small shower associated with a thunderstorm, and the latest information is that a "very large tanker" aircraft has been tasked with this fire. There are already supposed to be helicopters on site, but I suspect they may have to carry water a fair distance - I don't think any of the nearby dams have much water in them.

[weeds]

I reported a grass fire [emoji91] yesterday when I was driving back from miles.....I suspect it might have put itself out given it was so green but you never know.

I was quite surprised I was the first caller

[Homestar]

Stay safe John, hope it all goes well and is out quickly.

[87County]

Thanks for the update JD, I note that line of tstorms going through your area and unfortunately there's not anymore behind it like yesterday

Have your camera ready to take a pic of the tanker if you see it and stay safe

[JDNSW]

I hope the fire does not get close enough for me to get a good shot!

Last fire (2007) it got close enough that I got a lot of pictures of aircraft, but they did not have anything very impressive - a miscellaneous collection of fairly small helicopters and a couple of large single cropdusters. Mostly the small helicopters, that were filling their buckets out of a dam not far from my house, but that dam, along with most of the farm dams here is nearly dry now.

[weeds]

Be alert and Stay safe John......

I assume you have a fire plan

[JDNSW]

Looking up this morning - now listed as "being controlled", and does not seem to have grown significantly overnight, although the mapped outline has got a lot more detail.

As of 0515 the Dubbo-Mendooran road is still closed.