Yesterday my region, Cobargo, on the Far South Coast of NSW, Australia, was plunged into yet another fire emergency. I watched from my home as a small puff of smoke, about 7kms to my south east, rapidly became a significant blaze: The Coolagolite Fire [Bega District News Coolagolite Fire article  ]
(Coolagolite Fire – 3 Oct 2023 – just a paddock or three away from our home)
Within hours the fire turned into an Emergency as it raced through bushland toward the coast – threatening neighbors homes (as I type this, we are yet to hear how many homes were lost) in the localities of Coolagolite, Cuttagee, Barragga Bay, the Murrah, Wapengo and the town of Bermagui. It was a long day and night. One edge of the fire (and we didn’t face the thrust of the fire) came within 4kms of our home that somehow managed to survive the NYE 2019 Badja Forest Rd Fire. All of us who have faced fire emergencies have vital lived experience of preparing for, responding to and recovering from significnat disaster events – yesterday reminded me once more why this platform is essential. 
It’s going to be a looooooong summer. ** Today conditions are more favourable with calmer winds and cooler temperatures – and I thank all those who reached out personally to our family yesterday – especially from the DisasterWISE communities. R