Burning season

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looks like there's going to be more hazard-reduction burning this year than ever before. It's still rather unclear whether it does more good or harm, but after the horrendous fires of a few months back, it's going to be happening anyway.

Here's the view today across the Berowra Valley National Park, from Westleigh, across  towards Dural and Galston.

After the fires - Mt Wilson

I didn't like the look of things as I drove in towards Mt Wilson. It's a beautiful but peculiarly isolated and fire-exposed little Blue Mountains village. And the bush all around was very burnt and black.











But miracles happen, or more to the point, the Rural Fire Service volunteers made one happen. Most of the place, including most - but not all - of the houses and the parks, were saved. The Fire Captain herself was one who lost her home.

After the fires - Mt Banks

I drove on a bit further along Bells Line of Road to check out Mt Banks. That's one of the rounded humpy things you can generally see in the distance from all over Sydney. It's now a very black, burnt-out humpy thing. The bush in the foreground has green patches, I noticed. As in other areas, the tree canopy hasn't been uniformly burnt. Which is good news I guess.