Natural disasters ranging from hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes have made headlines the world over of late including my home town of Perth. On Sunday the 6th February bush fires have raged uncontrollably through the hills of Kelmscott and Roleystone destroying around 70 homes. These areas have now been declared a natural disaster.
The fires were fuelled by hot and gusterly easterly winds reaching speeds of up to 75km per hour. Residents were evacuated to a nearby town having to wait two or three days for news as to whether they still had a home to return to. The rest of us just watched our TV screens in horror and listened to the radio in disbelief. The blessing was not one life was lost and for that we have our wonderful and expert emergency services to thank. Unfortunately, I’m not sure I can say that about pets and wildlife.
Community News Group Limited sent me to photograph one of the residents of Kelmscott whose home has been destroyed by the fire.
As I drove the hill towards Kelmscott it didn’t look that much different at first, as beautiful as ever. As I approached the top of the hill it became very apparent what had happened. Large areas of bush had gone. Trees and plants black with ash, vacant blocks full of rubble and smoke filled the air. I could still smell the fire. I looked for the house number on the gates but I couldn’t find the number I was given. I eventually realised the numbering system wasn’t working. While one home was completely razed to the ground, the house next to it stood without a mark on now. Homes now represented by large patches of black land covered in mounds of debris, and fragments of remains of people’s lives. I stopped at the right place, got out of the car and slowly walked around. Incredulously, I was waiting to meet the resident who once lived there. I saw her now scorched pots and pans, her broken ornaments, the damaged outdoor garden setting over looking a spectacular view of the Hills, a picture frame…
When she arrived my heart sank as she walked towards me. I didn’t know this lady but she hugged me as if I was the one suffering loss.
I expect that there are still so many difficult and volatile emotions to come for all the residents and their families and a long road ahead rebuilding not only bricks and mortar but lives as well.
I’m hoping the pictures will tell the rest of the story, everything had gone… everything…..
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- Front of the house
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- A survivor
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- Heartbroken
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- Part of the roof.
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- Next door survived with minimal damage. Sometimes mother nature cannot be explained.
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- No time to save the car before the fires came
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- The gate
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- Debris
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- A garden ornament that survived
hazel buckley 