Email from Lachlan MacDonald this morning.
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Originally Posted by Lachlan MacDonald
Firstly the good news: Whilst significant peripheral damage has been sustained, the Warrumbungles Mountain Motel, its Residence and storage buildings have all survived the fire-storm which engulfed the region last weekend. Sally and Dick (and the dogs) have all survived unscathed and the motel will remain open for business at this stage once fire crews have assessed the damage and allow people back into the area.
Donna Burton's property just up the road also sustained significant damage, however her home has survived intact thanks to a fire-fighter who happened to pass by her home at 3am and doused a flare-up.
Peter Starr, across the road from the Warrumbungles Mountain Motel, has lost the "old house" on his property, however the "new house" and the observatory domes have all survived intact.
The local residents and staff up at the Siding Spring Observatories were all evacuated from the Timor Road area into town and are coping well given the circumstances.
Now for the bad news: NSW Rural Fire Service Building Impact Assessment Teams have confirmed 33 properties in the Timor Road area have been destroyed, although this number is likely to change as crews work through the damage. More than 50 sheds have also been destroyed, as well as a large number of livestock and farm machinery.
Parts of the Siding Spring Observatory have been damaged by fire. The main telescope has survived, although it is not known if it has been damaged. The Visitors Centre and the Astronomers Lodge (the main accommodation) have been significantly damaged as well as several other residences and sheds on the mountain, however it is not yet known whether the extreme heat has damaged or affected any of the telescopes which appear to have largely escaped the wrath of the fire-storm.
The Timor Cottages have unfortunately also been lost to the fires, as has Rob McNaught's home amongst others.
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I have received reports this morning of several observatory workers being among those
who lost their houses.
It was alarming to read in Lachlan's account that the fire had got down the Timor
Road at least as far as the Motel. That is quite a way.
Goodbye Timor Cottages where we stayed on occasion and spent many memorable
nights observing with friends.
if the Timor Cottages are gone then I can't imagine that the Craggiebungle Cottage
would have stood much of a chance.
Anxious to hear how Steve Lee and his family got on.