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Announcer:
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It's 9 o'clock. Let's go to
Brad Furniss, who's at the scene of yesterday's bushfires.
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Brad:
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Good morning. Well, it's a
day after the fires and I'm standing in what used to be a quiet
suburban street. This morning it looks like a war zone - smoke
and debris everywhere. Behind me are the remains of a large
four bedroom home. I'm here with two local residents, Maureen
Smith and Dave Lane. Maureen I understand that this was your
home.
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Maureen:
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That's right Brad. I've lost
everything. I only had time to get a few photographs. I can't
believe what's happened. It's a nightmare.
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Brad:
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Dave, you and your wife were
luckier, weren't you?
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Dave:
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Yes we were. Our home is okay.
It's amazing when you look at what happened to Maureen's home,
isn't it?
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Brad:
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Yes it is. Maureen, tell
us what happened.
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Maureen:
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Well, it all started yesterday
morning. When we woke up, we could smell smoke. At that time,
there was a fire but it was a few kilometres away.
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Brad:
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So, were you worried?
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Maureen:
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Yes, a little, but we have
fires here every summer and usually they aren't a problem.
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Brad:
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I see. There was a big fire
here several years ago, wasn't there?
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Dave:
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Yes there was. Some homes
were lost then but we all thought it wouldn't happen again.
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Maureen:
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Yes, but unfortunately we
were wrong. Anyway, when my husband left for work the fire was
a bit closer so I went out and hosed the garden and house. It
was really hot and the wind was blowing the fire towards us.
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Dave:
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Yes it was about 10 o'clock
then. It started to get scary, didn't it, Maureen? We could
see the flames from the fire getting closer.
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Brad:
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It sounds terrible!
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Maureen:
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Yes it was. I started to panic
then. The fire brigade came and told everyone in the street
to leave because the fire was out of control.
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Brad:
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So what did you do?
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Maureen:
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Well I ran into the house
and started to pack things into boxes. A fireman ran into my
house and told me to get out. I had to leave everything and
run outside. I grabbed the hose and tried to stop the fire but
it was hopeless.
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Dave:
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It took about ten minutes
after the fire brigade came, for the fire to reach us. I told
my wife to get in the car and get out of here. I saw Maureen
standing in her garden with a hose but I knew it was too late.
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Brad:
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That must have felt devastating!
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Maureen:
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Yes it did! But
I had to leave, the fire was too hot. I had to stand in the
street and watch my home burn down to the ground.
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Brad:
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I'm sorry Maureen.
What are you going to do now?
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Maureen:
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Well, we are staying
with Dave tonight. Tomorrow we have to start to build our home
and our lives again.
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Brad:
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That must be hard.
So, the fire didn't really damage your house, Dave, did it?
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Dave:
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No. It looked
like our house was next but at the last moment the wind changed
direction. We were standing in the street and I said to myself,
well this is it! We felt useless.
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Maureen:
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All I can say
is at least we are safe. Things can be replaced but people can't.
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Brad:
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Yes, that's true.
Still, I know this is a difficult time for you Maureen. Thank
you both for taking the time to talk to us. Good luck with the
rebuilding!
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Maureen:
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Thank you.
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Dave:
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Thanks.
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Brad:
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That was Maureen
and Dave, two local residents, and now we have Chief Inspector
Harris from the local fire brigade. Good Morning Inspector…
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