Australian fires

[empip]

One man's view souinds of the inferno about 2 mins in....

A reporter survives ... Only just !! Gary Hughes story.

A lighter story Don't leave the car behind !!

 

[mattylad]

OMG! in that last one did you see how fast the fire went up that hill!

Makes you glad that the UK is too wet for this.

 

[joe-90]

I was lucky enough to see a bushfire close up when I lived in Oz. In Oz all the trees are Eucalypts and Camphor Laurels. When the hot wind from the fire blows through them the oil in the leaves turns to a volatile gas which then bursts into flame metres above the tree before the tree even starts to burn. That's why they travel so fast. I saw the fire jump a 4 lane highway and continue on the other side. Luckily we were in the car next to scrub land that had no trees so was safe.

Oh and in the vid the wind was blowing away from the car so there was no real risk.