@...Phyreblade: People were. They were following disaster plans set down by everyone from the Fire Authority, Government policy and general common sense. Every little T and I was dotted in most cases, but these fires were more extreme and more widespread than could ever have be expected.

Arson was/is suspected in many cases, diverting valuable resources from fire locations that Firefighters themselves have admitted that 1000 fire-engines would have been powerless to slow, let alone halt.

The firefront that tore through one country town had an internal temperature hot enough to melt glass and aluminium (1723 °C or 3133 F) where government policy is to either leave early, or don’t leave and find somewhere cool, and easy to defend. I have been told that someone hid in a small dam, underwater, and the person has scald burns because the radiant head from the firefront BOILED the surface of the dam.

One fire front travelled at over 90kph, or 55mph, which caused fleeing cars to overheat, stall, and people be consumed on the ROADS THEY WERE FLEEING ON when a firefront as wide as New York City decided that it wanted to swing south, instead of north.

Blergh. For those of us living closeby to all this, it is markedly unpleasant to say the least.