Ross, I can see clouds in your pictures. Canberra is so smoky I don't think I have seen a cloud, or the end of the street for that matter for a few weeks. Getting pretty sick of the smoke.
I am in the CFU which is Community Fire Unit. Luckily I haven't been called because the fires are not in our area and we have very specific zones, I never quite understood why but I think it has something to do with us just being responsible for the area near where we live. I have been clearing excess vegetation around the suburb just in case (getting some sticky beak neighbours asking have you got permission to clear that dead stuff), cleaning out Hydrants to make sure the Stan pipes can go on them in case they are needed (amazing how many get roots over them) and generally trying to make sure if a fire turns up we have the best chance of putting it out. In 2003 the fires got to within 100 metres of my house, that is when the ACT government decided to create the CFU program and ask for volunteers. Very glad to still be a spectator regarding the fires but willing to jump in if and when the fires come closer.
I really find the blue uniform that the CFU wear very uncomfortable but I expect all fire fighting gear is uncomfortable, I feel very sorry for the NSW RFS having to deal with such a huge amount of fires for such a long time.
