The Dry season is the burning season in northern Australia. In fact, it seems every little scrap of bush up here is reduced to smoking ash, all in the name of prescribed burning. Today, one of those fires came too close for comfort!
The bush across the road from the caravan park was set alight today in a prescribed burning and it burnt fiercely. The fire flared up very quickly – the grass was very dry as it has not rained here for several months and the Gamba grass creates high fuel loads and burns in a hot, uncontrolled fire. (Gamba grass was imported from Africa and introduced into the NT in the 1930s for improved pasture feeding of cattle. It quickly grows in the Wet to 4m high and it is now considered a highly invasive weed).
Terrified wallabies were smashing into the boundary fence in a desperate bid to escape the flames. The poor things often did find a gap under the fence to force through; others jumped back towards the flames in confusion after crashing into the wire several times and hopefully stayed clear of the flames.
The heat, even at a distance, was indescribable.
As darkness descended, it was possible to see all the burning trees, often with large flames leaping into the night sky.
Looking out of the camper in the dark, all I can see is the constant flickering of the flames as the trees still burn in the bush. It is quite disconcerting having flames so close and from bed I can see the flickering of the flames on the camper walls. Often there is a loud crack as a part or entire tree crashes to the ground, with an explosion of sparks and embers showering the surrounding area.
I wondered how many animals have died in the fire and how many animals had lost nesting or hiding sites as the fire destroyed these many trees. (I have had a little brushtail possum visitor most nights but he/she is conspicuous by his/her absence tonight, so I presume he/she perished in the fire – I will keep an eye out for my little visitor but so far, there is no sighting).
The sun, a glowing a fiery red disc, set behind the still burning bush. The smoke settled as the evening cooled, covering the park in a thick, choking haze.
The view from the camper was a nice view of the bush, and the fire now means the green bush here is now reduced to a blackened smoking mess and my pleasant bush walks have come to an end for a while.
It would also be dangerous to walk in the area, as trees will continue burning for many days yet and many more trees will collapse from fire damage.
