Quote:
Originally Posted by gary
An update posted on the RFS website yesterday afternoon, 17 Jan 2013, at 17:25
said the fire was burning close to rural properties in the Bingie Grumble Road and
Carrington Lane areas.
Carrington Lane is where Steve Lee's property is.
http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_more_i...738&CAT_ID=684
RFS report 51 properties have been lost as at this time. |
Andrew Murrell talked to Steve Lee last night on the telephone but the fire
was not in their immediate vicinity. They have evacuated twice so far but as at last
night the fire was SW of them but that was also the direction the wind is predicted to come
from today.
With the extreme temperatures that are taking place there today it will
be tough work for the 150 firefighters. RFS reports the fire is still out of control.
Steve has worked as an operator at the AAT for many years. Some will also remember Steve
for his discovery of Comet Lee in 1999.
Steve said it took just under 2 hours for the fire to come from the Observatory to them.
That's a distance of 14.25km as the crow flies. Steve reported that no one was
expecting it to move so fast.
The damage to Donna Burton's house is apparently limited to the outside porch.
As was reported earlier, the local fire brigade saw the house was under threat
and managed to put out the fire before it caused much damage. Apparently three
other houses were similarly saved.
One of Steve's colleagues who is also a night assistant was the last to leave
the AAT and took pictures as long as he could before evacuating.
Steve said he has some shots of the side of the AAT dome showing the
the Lodge in flames over its roof.
Steve confirmed that the temperature reached over 100C outside but the temperature in the AAT dome
didn’t rise much.
However, the concern is with the pressurized stairwell. They believe it may have drawn
in smoke from outside which could contain asbestos from the Lodge.