Posted 10/24/2013 12:59 am
I was travelling east on the train from Blackheath on Thursday 17th. at about 4:00PM. The temperature in Sydney was about 95 deg. F. in the Blue mountains about 85 deg F. Earlier in the day there was a very dry N.W. wind, gusting up to 100 km/hr. By about 4:00 PM, the wind switched to S.W.
On Blackheath railway station you could see the smoke from the Marangaroo fire. Marangaroo is about 8 klm N.E. of Lithgow. I have been on the explosives test range there, some years ago, and have seen detonations of up to 500 lb of high explosive. More recently, the explosives test range was limited to 5 kg detonations. It was on the test range that one of the major fires is alleged to have started.
The fires were all north of the railway, and with the wind blowing from the South west, it was possible to get a clear view of the base fire at Springwood. I looked very sinister, and I knew that I was witnessing a tragedy in the making.
The smoke plume ranged up to about 30,000 feet in height and by 4:00 PM, had trailed over 50 klm from the blue mountains over Sydney, and out over the coast. It was the worst bush fire smoke plume I have seen, and from my experience, I have seen quite a few.
That evening it was reported that 93 homes were lost, and 24 hours later that rose to 193 and 91 seriously damaged. Eventually over 200 homes were lost.
You may wish to Google Map 'Blackheath NSW' or 'Springwood NSW' to get an idea of the location of the fires.
On Blackheath railway station you could see the smoke from the Marangaroo fire. Marangaroo is about 8 klm N.E. of Lithgow. I have been on the explosives test range there, some years ago, and have seen detonations of up to 500 lb of high explosive. More recently, the explosives test range was limited to 5 kg detonations. It was on the test range that one of the major fires is alleged to have started.
The fires were all north of the railway, and with the wind blowing from the South west, it was possible to get a clear view of the base fire at Springwood. I looked very sinister, and I knew that I was witnessing a tragedy in the making.
The smoke plume ranged up to about 30,000 feet in height and by 4:00 PM, had trailed over 50 klm from the blue mountains over Sydney, and out over the coast. It was the worst bush fire smoke plume I have seen, and from my experience, I have seen quite a few.
That evening it was reported that 93 homes were lost, and 24 hours later that rose to 193 and 91 seriously damaged. Eventually over 200 homes were lost.
You may wish to Google Map 'Blackheath NSW' or 'Springwood NSW' to get an idea of the location of the fires.
Edited by sel_69l
10/24/2013 01:02 am
10/24/2013 01:02 am
