Comboyne bush fire survivor Ray Manley says it’s a miracle that no-one was killed in the blaze on Sunday September 24.
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Ray Manley is immensely grateful to the volunteers from Bulga Rural Fire Service who saved her timber home from the raging bushfire near Comboyne.
She described how quickly the fire took hold, destroying the home of her neighbours, Jason and Loretta, on Colling Road.
“At first it seemed quite a distance away. Within minutes of coming out of the house and seeing smoke, there was a massive explosion across the road at Jason and Loretta’s place.
“The whole sky just got engorged with flames which looked like they were 100 metres into the air. The wind picked up and the firies said it was doing 130 kilometers an hour.
“The flames flew through the air. I got straight in my car and I raced around to the next property because Stan is 82 years old and he was home alone.
“His paddocks were alight; it was nearly at his house. The heat was intense. Spot fires were just lighting in properties along the road.
“The elderly farmers were out there on the road with their animals, opening gates. There was pure fear.”