mum yelled at me to get outter the house, lil did she know i was on skype to my girlfriend, so i had to shut my laptop and run, as i saw angry orange flames move through wheat stubble! I have never felt such panic and confusion, i have never felt a wave of an emotions crash and fall inside me like this, then as the wave washed away i was numb, i felt nothing, but a sense to make sure everyone was safe, My mother doesnt drive and luckily she had her friend over that did and we piled in, all eleven of us in a 5 seater car, my other sister 2 years younger than me, hopped on the motor bike and drove behind us as we evacuated, Kids were crying, screaming and confusion was swimming inside this car, dad was at work, he had no clue as to what was going on and we made it our mission to go and tell him, My nanna lives with us and all she was worried about was her dog, i mean she didnt wanna get in the car, she wanted to stay at our house and die!! but with pushing and shoving we got her in the car at last!!
As we were driving down the road i was looking back in the rear view mirror and watched the smoke below and move up past our house and further up the crop, the wind was blowing south therefore it was pushing and forcing the fire past out house, but i couldnt help but dread, what would happen if it decided to change, i couldnt help but imagine coming home to find all that was once our home, was ambers and ashes, i couldnt help but think of my belongings, my families belongings and my clothes burning!! i was feeling nothing, i couldnt cry, i felt no emotion, its like i was drained and my emotions seeped out through my feet and onto the car floor!
We got to the Curramulka mine to tell dad what had happened, and as we all stepped out of the car, it hit me, i cried so hard, i couldnt breathe, i could see from the 8 kms away the smoke rising into to air, i could feel everyones panic and emotion and most of all i was breaking down, so i bit my lip, i swear i bit it SO hard you would have sworn i was going to bite it off and i grabbed my 8 year old sister and hugged her tightly!! dad arrived and we told him the story, he went off in his ute to help the CFS, while all of us piled in the car once more and headed to the Curramulka general store, there the children got to go to the back of the shop and have a swim in there pool to take their mind off of what was happening around them, i was left in charge to watch them, mum went with her friend to the fire station, while my 15 year old sister went inside the ship and sat with nanna, seeing the children laugh, screaming and talk with joy as they played and splashed in the pool made my heart sink, it made me love my family and it made me greatful to know that when a crisis is occurring the amount of generosity the general public give you! as much as i know it is pity, it feels good to know that country people come together and help one another, hours pass, and so far 3 fire trucks were at the fire, and a myriad of people fighting the fire were there..it was two hours later when the fire was contained that we were able to come home!! we were told the fire was out and our house was saved!!
So as the kids got out the pool and dried off, we got home in two cars, a lady from the CFS didnt want 11 kids in one car so she offered to take half of us in her car..as we drove home, we saw trucks driving back, police and as we neared our house i could see the fire trucks, firemen and everyone helping to keep it under control! I never felt more greatful to see my house standing there, i never felt more greatful to be alive, and i felt SO much appreciation for the CFS crew and for all the people that did what they had to do!! as i saw the black burnt crop next to our house, it seemed much further away than the previous time i saw it being engulfed by flames!! i suddenly got feeling back and my emotions settled as i could walk into my house knowing everything was ok and in its place!!
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