The Bush Fires Of Bracken Valley

The Bush Fires Of Bracken Valley
By Paul McCann

The people of Bracken Valley were a close community and enjoyed quiet lifestyle surrounded by trees in a blue gum forest . They had their regular events each year , flower festivals in the spring, craft markets and art exhibitions in Autumn  , writer retreats in the winter and autumn music festivals with outdoor markets during the summer month  ,

Most of the tourists arrived during the summer months to escape the chaos of  city life  .

Before summer arrived , record temperatures were being recorded which was an indication that there would be a hot summer to come .

Not many of the locals  who lived in the valley would have stopped to think of the danger that was about to happen in the week ahead .

The rural fire brigades often feared what would happen if a bush fire ever came through the valley . Due to the size of the valley it would be impossible to fight a fire with the resources they had .

It came like a thief in the night without warning . Various spots around the valley had these spot fires that the rural fire brigades were fighting but suddenly unexpected strong winds arrived which increased the size of the spot fires that went out of control and then they joined up as one massive blaze . All around Bracken valley the huge bush fire raged like an insane monster freed from it’s cage . The flames leapt high as the sparks began to fly ahead of the flames propelled by an angry wind through a dark smokey sky .
Then came the change of direction that brought the first deaths in the valley .

Most of the fire fighters were behind the fire but when the wind changed direction the flames of the fire turned right around killed those fire fighters who never expected the sudden a change in the wind . Many homes were being lost with hundreds of lives lost . There was only one road in and out of some of the villages and the people were told to use that road to escape the bush fire but with the wind change the fire had turned back towards the people who were trying to escape the fire . Flames raced up the hills and then turned about swirling and twirling towards the brave fire fighters had come to reclaim some of the ground . It was a dangerous thing to do and by the time they were aware the wind had changed it was too late , Unaware of the danger rushing towards them they stood there and saw the face of the fire about to devour them . There was a look on all of their faces , like staring death at twenty paces .There was no where to run and it could be ignored . They were in a no win situation about to loose their lives . The fire fighters said their last prayers in the blazing flames . Too late to escape and impossible to fight , tragedies lay all around the tracks in the valley , In all the little towns and along the little lanes Bracken Valley was completely wiped away ,
Not a house left on that terrible day and not one of the fire fighters who fought and did their best survived that day when the monster came . Helicopters were sent to dump water on top of the fire that continued to destroy everything in its path . Each night passed leaving ashes for the day . No one knew exactly how many had been killed . Eventually the fire had run its course and the flames had been extinguished search parties and recovery teams went through the valley to access what remained .

It was sad to see what was left . Many had died , others who survived had lsot  their homes and everything that was inside . It was a painful process cleaning up the mess , in a place where the deadly bush fires been .

Then stories started to be told of some survivors who had dug trenches in the ground and hidden in these bunker pits that were covered with corrugated iron sheets them protected them from the flames that rushed past over their heads like a demon filled with filled with rage rushing from the pits of Hades cage screaming out

“Run for you lives”:

But not many survived as they never knew where to run to or what to do.  Some remained there and just sat in shock as they never knew to stay or go , no one’s to knew , it was more of a case knowing the right things to  say and what to do . It was a bit like everyone there  had  to confront their situation and for many it was too difficult for them to face .

There was no warning of that wrath when everything was consumed in its  path .

The task of burying all the remains after the monster came , was something else . Many were remembered there in the valley  , Those who had  come for the music festival , those who had lived there for years with their generations before them  . Everything had surrendered when the bush fires came there . so much was lost in the flames that spun and run out of control all over the valley

The End