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Firefighting experts have warned of “the worst possible circumstances” as they struggle to contain the Gospers Mountain “mega fire” which stretches between the lower Hunter and Blue Mountains – with a blaze the size of greater Sydney.
So far, a landmass the size of England has been torched between Singleton and the Southern Highlands.
After two months of unprecedented and catastrophic climate-change-aided bushfires ravaging both New South Wales and Queensland, the number of homes and lives lost are only expected to only rise – as under-resourced RFS crews are forced to take leave from work to continue battling the disastrous blazes.
For one Blue Mountains family, Hazel and Glen Brook and their kids, the inevitable loss of their Wheeny Creek home is likely to result in all of their pets perishing in the most horrible way possible.
After three generations of Brooks living in this same area, the destruction of every family heirloom is also nearly guaranteed.
“Just think about somewhere nice” Hazel tells her youngest, Hartley (6).
“They’ll let us know when it’s safe to leave soon. Just pretend you are at the beach. Pretend we are visiting Bondi like we did last Christmas”
Hartley, however, has been watching the news – as much as her parents have tried to shield her from the terrifying reports coming from the TV.
“But mum, they can’t even see the water in Bondi. There’s too much smoke” says Hartley.
“They have burnt leaves washing up on the sand”
Hazel glances out the window to watch hundred-year-old trees exploding on the escarpment not even five kilometres away, as scorched koalas drop their death in the middle of their crucial mating season.
“Not Bondi. Somewhere far away”
“Waikiki. In Hawaii. Pretend you are there. With their pristine water and picturesque sunsets”
“With the hula hoops and pineapple on your pizza”
