A fresh southerly has been blowing this afternoon further worsening the problems for the southern suburbs of Sydney.
In the western suburbs the sound of fire trucks' sirens has been heard all day. Mrs Ozzie and I decided to try without the airconditioning. The smell of smoke is everywhere and ash is blowing through the fly screens on the open windows.
Here's the latest news report from Australian associated Press:
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15:08 AEDST Wed 26 Dec 2001
Evacuees pour in as fires rage on
Bushfire evacuations are underway at Engadine in Sydney's south as strong winds continue to fan fires in the area.
An evacuation centre has been set up at the Gymea Trade Union club and about 500 people from east Engadine are being transported there.
Salvation Army co-ordinator for the Sutherland region, Vic Sims, said the situation was not improving.
"We have been told to expect more people from Engadine," he said.
"Unfortunately it is very windy and this is a problem."
The Salvation Army has been providing food for evacuees and about 350 emergency service workers in the area.
Some people slept on the floor of the club auditorium.
Mr Sims said that when Salvation Army food stocks were exhausted local supermarkets would provide supplies.
He said people were now dispersing from an evacuation centre at Sutherland sports centre but numbers at Gymea were building.
At the Gymea Trade Union Club more than 300 people, mostly from Heathcote, arrived through the night.
They spent a nervous morning gathered around tables watching TV news updates on the bushfire but have no way of knowing if their homes are safe.
About 35 elderly people, some in wheelchairs, are also at the club after the John Paul nursing home at Heathcote was evacuated at 5am (AEDT) on Wednesday.
Margaret Day from the nursing home said about 40 of the residents had gone to Sutherland hospital.
"It is just amazing (with) all the volunteers, they have really helped," she said.
"We have had lots of Red Cross, SES workers and people have come in off the streets helping with the feeds".
Heathcote resident Peter Dale hugged his tiny dog, a chihuahua named Jim which he has only had for three days.
His two cats are still outside his home because he did not have time to find them when he was evacuated at 3am (AEDT).
"All hell broke loose. Cars were driving down the street tooting horns, loud speakers going, sirens and the works," he said.
Even the club's manger Glen Fraser has been evacuated.
"I can't get home", he said.
Ambulances are parked outside the club in case of a health emergency among the elderly evacuees.
©AAP 2001
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Cheers,
Ozzie
"It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."
Anonymous