Bushfires Beside Us
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Mon 7 Mar 2016 23:57
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Bushfires Beside and Behind Coasters
Retreat  We picked up a buoy in Coasters Retreat having seen smoke as we came in to the bay. Hoping it was some
controlled undergrowth burning.    No. We then saw two helicopters working with buckets and the
‘fire chief’ or someone clearly monitoring the situation flew over the same
circle for ages. The pin point accuracy was quite something to behold. Fly over
with a full bucket, hover lower and lower, release some
water, then some more as if the bucket was
being swung knew what to do until the last drop fell.
Off to fill the bucket once more.    Fascinating to watch the care with which
each bucket was discharged.   We would watch an area smoke, then
all of a sudden a tree would burst into
flames.  When the last bucket of water was dropped to our far left,
the flames were put out.  Directly behind us things were billowing.  To our left flames.    The last of the day and the last time the ‘chief’ flew
over.  By supper time we could see the
flames travelling down the hill toward the houses.    Nightfall.  Now tree flashes were so very
dramatic.  By the time we went to bed we had seen many firemen dropped
off at the jetty, their torches showing white and twinkling as they walked. It
was clear they were going to do everything they could to protect the houses, but
what a task they had ahead of them. We could hear crackling as we watched as
the fire took a firm grip. We got up during the night
and many times saw the little fire boat come past with more firemen, or relief
firemen for the exhausted ones. We wished for their safety.  ALL IN ALL FIREMAN WORK SO
HARD
VERY DRAMATIC TO SEE
FLAMES |