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Fires at Beacon Hill, North Manly and Allambie

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:06 pm
by Geoff
Saw a lot of action very close to where I live this afternoon...loads of photos to follow. This is about as close as I've gotten to a helicopter in the air. Taken with the 70-200VR however only about 15 meters away (if that)..many more to come:


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Not quite time to evacuate but pretty frightening:
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The beach at the top left hand corner is North Curl Curl:
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The aftermath:
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:26 pm
by sirhc55
Great pics Geoff - I am choking on the smoke here :)

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:33 pm
by wally
reall good snaps geoff - hope yur howse is okay looks very close

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:37 pm
by Geoff
wally wrote:reall good snaps geoff - hope yur howse is okay looks very close


Thanks for the concern Wally :) weese are ok! :D

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:37 pm
by mudder
Great series of images, especially #4 where the fireman is standing next to the "keep out" sign, very symbolic... And a timely reminder of the very real danger of bush-fires, hope all are OK...

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:38 pm
by Sheetshooter
The smell of burning eucalypts is certainly overpowering the tomato and garlic here in Leichhardt tonight. Great shots Geoff. Getting that close to the action boosts the adrenalin, doesn't it.

Cheers,

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:40 pm
by Geoff
Sheetshooter wrote:The smell of burning eucalypts is certainly overpowering the tomato and garlic here in Leichhardt tonight. Great shots Geoff. Getting that close to the action boosts the adrenalin, doesn't it.

Cheers,


Sure does Walter - there are still quite a few choppers buzzing overhead...watch the late news and you will see some footage of it for sure.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:43 pm
by birddog114
I don't see, don't know, don't smell anything here :wink:

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:49 pm
by gstark
It almost looks as if there's a large wombat hiding in image 6, Geoff.

Great work. Hopefully it's not too close to where you are.

A few years ago Lindy and I were evacuated from the Snowy Mountains National Park while attending the Blues Festival there. This was the weekend of the horrifying fires that hit Canberra.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:03 pm
by Glen
Geoff, glad to read you and Bel are ok, as Chris said we can smell the smoke from here. Are all the houses ok?

Gary, that must have been a frightening time to be in an evacuation, from memory the freeway was either cut off or close to being cut off?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:09 pm
by Geoff
Glen wrote:Geoff, glad to read you and Bel are ok, as Chris said we can smell the smoke from here. Are all the houses ok?

Gary, that must have been a frightening time to be in an evacuation, from memory the freeway was either cut off or close to being cut off?


Thanks Glen - fortunately for us the wind was blowing in the 'right' direction. As far as we know one house has been ruined. :( :(

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:30 pm
by big pix
Glad you are OK...... it is hard to stop a fire with the wind pushing it forward....

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:43 pm
by gstark
Glen wrote:Geoff, glad to read you and Bel are ok, as Chris said we can smell the smoke from here. Are all the houses ok?

Gary, that must have been a frightening time to be in an evacuation, from memory the freeway was either cut off or close to being cut off?


Actually, no.

From where we were, were it not for the true seriousness of the situation elsewhere, it was almost farcical. We'd just ordered dinner when the alarm went off. The restauranteur called in to find that they were only gatrhering people at the sports centre, which was across the road from our hotel.

We decided to wait for and then have our dinner while the authorities dealt with the gathering crowds.

We then checked out of the hotel and headed back to Jindabine, where there was no queue at emergency services, who helped us find a room for the evening.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 9:22 pm
by Potatis
Great eyewitness shots, Geoff. Thanks for sharing them, it gives us an idea of what the scene was like there today. Just looking at those flames, I can feel the heat. :)

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 9:28 pm
by ozczecho
Frightening and a just reminder...we back onto bush and a few years back we had hoses stretched out and bath tub filled. Great action pics.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:14 pm
by Alpha_7
Amazing shots Geoff and truely scarey stuff, I've more then once had to excauate (back in Batemans Bay) fortunely we always came back to our home, but its a terrifing experience.

One a different note, this are top notch, and I'd suggest trying to get them in print.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:14 pm
by MCWB
Great shots once again Mark... oh wait! :P

Awesome stuff Geoff, great that you had the PJ opportunity and stepped up to the plate! Nailed the lot of them. :)

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:28 pm
by Matt. K
Well done Geoff! Professional work and excellent pics.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:53 pm
by Muzza22au
Well I go to work for 1 week and I miss out on this??? BUGGER!!!

Excellent shots, apparently from the photos there was some serious heat in those flames, I am glad you and your family are OK, and I am thankful that you managed to get these shots!

Cheers

Scott

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:12 pm
by BBJ
Geof, fantastic shots i know what this is like as being involved in country fire service for many years, was chosen to go to sydney near 10 years ago as a strike team but my boss would not allow it the wanker.

So great pics well done mate shows the danger of the beast.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:16 pm
by Geoff
BBJ wrote:Geof, fantastic shots i know what this is like as being involved in country fire service for many years, was chosen to go to sydney near 10 years ago as a strike team but my boss would not allow it the wanker.

So great pics well done mate shows the danger of the beast.


Thanks everyone for your comments.
I take my hat off to these guys who put their lives in real danger to help keep us and our homes safe!!

PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 8:53 am
by Wocka
Geoff,

Some great shots. I was wondering if you made it out to take some pics, unfortunately I was in the office last night till 9pm.

The view from Nth Sydney of the sunset, amazing bright orange colours. Did anyone manage any Harbour Bridge shots yesterday arvo?

Cheers

PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 12:34 pm
by Oneputt
That is a great series of shots Geoff. Well done :D

PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 12:47 pm
by xerubus
great shots mate... well done :) it's a good adrenalin rush isn't it ;)

cheers