The Fire and the Freak

Susan, Ted and their twenty-seven years old daughter, Sally, lived on a 150 acre rural property in the outer suburb of Woodlake. The beautiful property was half natural bush-land with a creek and small lake in its midst and half cleared for planting crops and grazing stock. The property was accessed only by a three hundred metre tree-lined battle-axed drive. Sally, who lived in the second house on the farm, owned five horses used for show jumping and equestrian shows. She also had five dogs that competed in agility shows and 25 sheep used to train the dogs herding skills.

The grand-children, Wendy and Eric, from their son Adam who lived in suburbia, were spending the week-end at the farm. The kids often spent time at the farm, especially in the warmer weather as there was a lot to do. They especially loved swimming and splashing in the beautiful small lake on the property.

It was the 1st of February and it was predicted to be the hottest day on record.

By 11.00am it was already 40c. Ted and the grandchildren were enjoying a morning swim in the lake. Eric was splashing near the shallow shoreline, while Ted and Wendy had swum to the far side of the lake. “I'll race you back to Eric granddad. Ready, set, go.” Wendy took off leaving Ted in her wake. Ted tried hard but could not catch Wendy.

“How about one more lap, Granddad.”

“No. Are you sure you two kids don't have gill's? Nobody can swim and play in the water that long without being part fish.”

“No, we just love swimming in your lake, granddad.”

“Right, lets head back to the house and see what your grandmother has made us for treats.” Susan made the tastiest date and walnut cake ever. Without the lure of these treats it would be near impossible to get the kids out of the water.

Ted and the kids hopped on the quad bike and drove back to the house.

While Ted and the kids were enjoying the treats, Susan went upstairs to tidy up the kid’s bedroom. Bedroom done, Susan went out onto the balcony that overlooked their property. There was a big plume of smoke on the horizon. “Come and look at this Ted.”

Ted climbed the stairs followed by the kids and hurried onto the balcony. “Crikey that is a lot of smoke and the wind is coming in our direction.

“Gran, is the fire going to come and burn the house down?” cried Wendy.

“No, we should be alright.” Susan reassured the kids.

“You had better call Sally and tell her to come and move her horses and dogs to a safer place. I think the kids should go home.”

“Oh! Can't we stay here and watch the fire go past?” cried Eric.

“No,” said Susan. “Your parents would be worried sick if they thought there was the slightest chance that you two may get hurt in a fire.”

The news on the radio has declared the fire as a watch and act for all the residents downwind of the fire. At twelve noon the announcement on the radio was that the fire was under control and the fire bombers on the way to fight this fire were told to deviate to an outer southern suburb, where another bigger fire, was flaring.

Sally had arrived from work to move her horses to a friend's place.

Ted, Susan and Sally talked about their options. “They say the fire is under control but it is always better to be safe than sorry.” said Ted. “So take the horses and dogs, Sally, and get them to safer grounds. Susan, get the kids back to their home. I will stay here and keep an eye on things.”

The others agreed but Susan said “You had better be ready to move yourself Ted, if that fire gets any closer.”

“Don't worry, I will.”

Sally loaded three of the five horses onto the float, intending to come back for the other two. She also crammed three of the dogs into the back of her wagon. Susan left with the grand-kids and the other two dogs.

At 12.30pm Ted sitting on the balcony, watching the smoke, jumped up with a start. He thought “This fire is not under control. It's bigger and closer and heading this way.” Rushing outside, he prepared the one cubic metre fire-fighting unit and positioned it in the best spot. After shutting all the doors and windows of the house and turning off the air conditioner, Ted sat by the fire-fighting unit and waited, watching the great plume of smoke coming over the near horizon.

Meanwhile, Susan had dropped off the grandchildren at their father, Adam's place. Quickly she related the events then rang Ted's mobile, but it rang out. Ted often went about without his mobile, but she was starting to worry.

“I have to get back and see to Ted.” A quick farewell to Adam and the grand-children, then Susan drove back to see towards the farm.

At the outer edge of their suburb, road blocks had been set up to stop people entering the fire zone.

“I have to get back to my husband” cried Susan.

'Sorry, but this fire is completely out of control, and no one is allowed to proceed beyond this point.”

“But my husband is at our house.”

“The fire fighters will look after him, and access passed this point will not be allowed,” said the officer.

Susan fretted, knowing that Ted was crazy enough to stay on the property and try to fight the fire. This fire was now reported as one of the biggest in this State’s history.

Susan drove back to Adam's place and tearfully explained the situation.

“Don’t worry mum, dad is pretty resourceful and will be Ok”

“Trouble is he is also rash and likely to do foolish things” cried Susan. “Unfortunately we can only wait and see.”

Ted had been watching the large plume of dark smoke as it approached the farm. “By crikey, I think it is just going to miss the property! Thank heavens for that.”

The next instant, “Bloody hell, the wind has changed direction again and it is coming this way.”

The speed the fire was raging down the neighbour’s dry grass paddock towards Ted's house was unbelievable. Ted raced out the front door to man the fire-fighting unit and saw that the fire was already on his property. The bush ten metres from the house, which acted as a large privacy hedge and a bird sanctuary, flared up like a giant fireball.

Ted swung around to have his back to the fire and to protect his face. Grimacing with the pain on his back where the flying embers had landed, he rushed to the fire-fighting unit and fortunately it started on the first pull. Although his back hurt from the mass of flying sparks, his shirt did not catch fire and the cap he was wearing stopped his hair from burning. Spraying the doors and windows of the house with water from the fire-fighting unit to prevent the fire getting a foothold, Ted then noticed the wooden veranda eaves burning, so he sprayed those. From the corner of his eye he saw the back of the carport attached to the house was alight. Rushing to that spot he was able to extinguish it, with the water spray. Luckily Susan had the car to take the kids home. He then saw that the leaves in the gutter was burning, this was extinguished. He sprayed the entire length of guttering to prevent any further small fires from the embers that were falling down on him.

Ted then noticed his tool shed was burning from inside. With the fire-fighting hose in hand he started to open the sliding door. The blast of hot air which whooshed out through the partly opened door knocked Ted back a good metre. Struggling to his feet, Ted managed to go back and close the shed door. No chance of saving the tool shed.

Leaving the tool shed with frustration and anger on his mind, having just lost two generations of tools and equipment, Ted went back to see if any of the house could be salvaged.

“Where the hell are the fire-fighters when you need them?”

On the side veranda, Ted saw the gas barbecue and exercise bike on fire. These he quickly put out. The grand-kid’s cubby house in the back yard was alight. This too was extinguished.

He ran from spot to spot, hoping the thousand litre fire-fighting unit would not run out of water.

“Where the hell are the fire-fighters?” yelled Ted again.

Looking down the driveway he could see the trees, lining both sides, blazing away, flames shooting high into the air.

“That's why they're not here, they can't drive through the fire to get here.”

The front of the fire had passed and Ted thought the house was saved. He circled the entire house twice to make sure no part was alight. Satisfied, Ted then went to see what other damage was done to the property. The large machinery and hay shed was still burning fiercely. This shed had just been filled with one year's supply of hay for the horses and sheep. The farm tractor with all its accessories, including slasher, post hole

borer, rake tines, harvesters and ploughs, were all ablaze. The shed also stored a range of excess household furniture and tools.

Looking further afield Ted could see his daughter’s house fully alight. This was 200 metres distant and Ted knew he could do nothing there. This saddened Ted the most because he knew his daughter’s house was full of all her paraphernalia and memorabilia. Trophies and ribbons from all her horse and dog shows, photos and equipment.

The animals! Ted rushed to see to the remaining horses and sheep.

Due to the large grazed paddocks there was very little to burn, and the animals were able to run from one paddock to the other as Sally had opened all the gates and they could keep away from the flames. The horses and sheep looked unharmed.

Hell had come today. The large shed was still ablaze. Sally's house was still burning like an inferno. The whole property had been burnt, including all the fencing. The fencing would need replacing as top priority, for the animal's sake. Only the one house, his house, although singed was still intact.

Ted found his mobile and rang Sue. “You're alive! Are you hurt?” cried Sue.

Ted laughed. “Of course I am alive and reasonably unhurt. Why wouldn't I be?”

“The officers would not let me through, and the fire-fighters could not come to your rescue because our whole driveway and property was ablaze. A lot of houses have been burnt down and it is still totally out of control. I was worried sick for you! How did you survive? Also, I was told that access back to the property would not be allowed before late tomorrow, and not before they have assessed what danger remained. I'll stay at Adam's house tonight and Sally is staying with a friend.”

Ted said “Just be warned, it's not a pretty sight here anymore, but things will return to how they were or better. All the animals seem to have survived, uninjured. It will be a while before we can bring the other animals home.”

“I don't care what the place looks like, I just want to get back to you and the farm.” “I miss you too.” answered Ted.

It was a restless night tonight for both Susan and Ted.

Late the next morning, when access was permitted, for house and land owners, Susan drove up to the house.

After hugging and kissing, Sue uttered “Look how black and burnt it is all around the house! I'm asking you again, Ted my love, against all odds how did you manage to save the house and yourself?”

With a wink “I've told you before Sue, I'm a freak!”