New South Wales Bushfires

We have just returned home to Australia to be confronted with disastrous bush fires around and to the north of Sydney.

More information and details here and here.
So far our area has been spared although there is a big fire to the west of us in mountainous and inaccessible country.
We are hoping the unseasonal hot dry and windy weather will soon pass and the fires can be brought under control.
But what we really need is rain, a rare commodity so far this spring apparently.
Our hearts go out to those affected over the last two days.

Exhausted firefighters take a short break

UPDATE: 1st November 2013.
The fire is now under control but has burnt out nearly 7000 ha.