1 00:00:05,964 --> 00:00:07,758 INDIA: Whoa! 2 00:00:07,758 --> 00:00:09,510 Whoa, whoa, whoa! 3 00:00:15,849 --> 00:00:19,009 Oh... 4 00:00:19,009 --> 00:00:20,344 Baby! 5 00:00:21,845 --> 00:00:26,224 I think I first realized it was going to be bad 6 00:00:26,224 --> 00:00:29,186 when I saw the fire come up over the mountain. 7 00:00:29,186 --> 00:00:31,355 [dramatic music] 8 00:00:31,355 --> 00:00:34,775 Whoa, shit! Look at that! 9 00:00:34,775 --> 00:00:41,531 ♪ ♪ 10 00:00:49,706 --> 00:00:51,458 It didn't feel like... 11 00:00:51,458 --> 00:00:53,251 the end of the year, it felt like... 12 00:00:53,251 --> 00:00:56,672 ♪ ♪ 13 00:00:56,672 --> 00:00:58,882 The end of the world. 14 00:01:00,717 --> 00:01:04,304 [eerie music] 15 00:01:04,304 --> 00:01:06,890 LIVIA: It's funny, looking back. 16 00:01:06,890 --> 00:01:09,017 We were doing our shopping, 17 00:01:09,017 --> 00:01:10,727 taking kids to the beach, 18 00:01:10,727 --> 00:01:13,355 planning our parties to ring in the new year. 19 00:01:13,355 --> 00:01:14,773 And all the while, 20 00:01:14,773 --> 00:01:17,776 oblivious to the notion that Australia, 21 00:01:17,776 --> 00:01:20,570 one of the first countries to welcome the new year in, 22 00:01:20,570 --> 00:01:23,824 would also be the first to experience 23 00:01:23,824 --> 00:01:27,202 the dramatic changes that it was going to bring. 24 00:01:27,202 --> 00:01:28,829 REPORTER: Bushfire crisis... 25 00:01:28,829 --> 00:01:30,580 REPORTER: Massive bushfires raging Australia. 26 00:01:30,580 --> 00:01:32,374 REPORTER: Taking an even more devastating... 27 00:01:32,374 --> 00:01:35,419 REPORTER: There are nearly 200 fires burning now. 28 00:01:35,419 --> 00:01:37,045 LIVIA: Now, when looking back 29 00:01:37,045 --> 00:01:38,839 at the accounts of those who survived 30 00:01:38,839 --> 00:01:41,341 the worst bushfires in our history, 31 00:01:41,341 --> 00:01:43,051 it's clear that their story 32 00:01:43,051 --> 00:01:46,304 is not just a story about fire. 33 00:01:46,304 --> 00:01:49,599 It's also a story about us. 34 00:01:49,599 --> 00:01:52,352 How we, as people, react when the ground 35 00:01:52,352 --> 00:01:54,646 just shifts beneath us 36 00:01:54,646 --> 00:01:58,233 in what has become a year of upheaval. 37 00:02:08,744 --> 00:02:11,538 [foreboding music] 38 00:02:11,538 --> 00:02:13,290 [waves crashing] 39 00:02:13,290 --> 00:02:15,542 REPORTER: New warnings about the heat and fire threat 40 00:02:15,542 --> 00:02:18,086 we're facing before New Year's Eve. 41 00:02:18,086 --> 00:02:21,047 A total fire ban is in place for tomorrow 42 00:02:21,047 --> 00:02:24,468 as 85 fires continue to burn across New South Wales. 43 00:02:24,468 --> 00:02:26,261 But volatile weather... 44 00:02:26,261 --> 00:02:28,930 ♪ ♪ 45 00:02:28,930 --> 00:02:30,974 DAN: So we got to Mallacoota 46 00:02:30,974 --> 00:02:33,602 on Boxing Day morning. 47 00:02:33,602 --> 00:02:36,271 Been going every Christmas, pretty much. 48 00:02:37,689 --> 00:02:39,107 The summer holiday 49 00:02:39,107 --> 00:02:40,609 over the Christmas period, 50 00:02:40,609 --> 00:02:44,112 that's such an integral part of the year. 51 00:02:44,112 --> 00:02:46,323 Everybody's so excited for it, 52 00:02:46,323 --> 00:02:50,327 and everyone can't wait‐‐ the anticipation. 53 00:02:51,620 --> 00:02:55,373 So we backed the caravan into Beachcomber Caravan Park. 54 00:02:55,373 --> 00:02:57,959 The kids are already in the pool, straight away. 55 00:02:57,959 --> 00:02:59,461 To then look forward 56 00:02:59,461 --> 00:03:01,755 to the next three weeks of... 57 00:03:01,755 --> 00:03:03,381 Mallacoota. 58 00:03:03,381 --> 00:03:06,134 ♪ ♪ 59 00:03:06,134 --> 00:03:08,553 INDIA: Oh, Mom's calling. Hello! 60 00:03:08,553 --> 00:03:10,013 REPORTER: Twice this week already, 61 00:03:10,013 --> 00:03:11,556 we've broken the previous record 62 00:03:11,556 --> 00:03:13,975 for Australia's warmest day on record. 63 00:03:13,975 --> 00:03:15,519 REPORTER: It's quite extraordinary, and yesterday, 64 00:03:15,519 --> 00:03:18,021 we saw temperatures almost reaching 50 degrees. 65 00:03:18,021 --> 00:03:19,606 REPORTER: Yeah, that's right. 66 00:03:19,606 --> 00:03:22,734 INDIA: On December 30th, I had just come back 67 00:03:22,734 --> 00:03:26,446 to surprise my sister for her tenth birthday. 68 00:03:26,446 --> 00:03:28,156 ♪ ♪ 69 00:03:28,156 --> 00:03:29,407 Hi! 70 00:03:29,407 --> 00:03:31,159 SHAUN: We were all up here 71 00:03:31,159 --> 00:03:34,162 to spend Christmas and the school holidays. 72 00:03:34,162 --> 00:03:36,373 Little One heading north. 28. 73 00:03:36,373 --> 00:03:37,541 [indistinct radio chatter] 74 00:03:37,541 --> 00:03:39,376 Needs to be twisted in a little bit. 75 00:03:39,376 --> 00:03:40,752 Yeah. 76 00:03:40,752 --> 00:03:42,546 INDIA: It's definitely a lot different 77 00:03:42,546 --> 00:03:44,130 growing up out here, 78 00:03:44,130 --> 00:03:46,466 just being able to put my head out the window 79 00:03:46,466 --> 00:03:48,218 and scream all I want. 80 00:03:48,218 --> 00:03:49,344 No one's gonna hear me. 81 00:03:49,344 --> 00:03:51,012 [ominous music] 82 00:03:51,012 --> 00:03:52,472 DENNIS: I'll bring the tractor down and put it on the fork. 83 00:03:52,472 --> 00:03:53,640 WORKER: Okay. 84 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:55,225 [engine starts] 85 00:03:55,225 --> 00:03:57,018 REPORTER: Unfortunately, it's the trifecta 86 00:03:57,018 --> 00:03:58,436 that nobody likes to hear. 87 00:03:58,436 --> 00:04:00,313 It's gonna be hot, it's gonna be windy, 88 00:04:00,313 --> 00:04:02,232 and it's also going to be dry, 89 00:04:02,232 --> 00:04:04,693 so it's gonna be a very volatile 90 00:04:04,693 --> 00:04:08,405 and unpredictable 48 hours to take us into the new year. 91 00:04:08,405 --> 00:04:12,117 DENNIS: Well, on the farm, I did have 200 sheep. 92 00:04:12,117 --> 00:04:14,369 Beef cows, nearly 60. 93 00:04:14,369 --> 00:04:16,872 [gears screech] 94 00:04:16,872 --> 00:04:19,207 Well, the drought's really bad. 95 00:04:19,207 --> 00:04:21,877 Like 3, 3 1/2 years. 96 00:04:21,877 --> 00:04:23,670 Grass was in high demand. 97 00:04:23,670 --> 00:04:25,463 ♪ ♪ 98 00:04:25,463 --> 00:04:27,424 I had to cut my cattle in half. 99 00:04:27,424 --> 00:04:28,633 Part of the shearing shed. 100 00:04:28,633 --> 00:04:30,218 Just kept a handful in the end. 101 00:04:30,218 --> 00:04:32,512 ♪ ♪ 102 00:04:32,512 --> 00:04:33,847 You ask and ask and ask, 103 00:04:33,847 --> 00:04:35,640 but you don't know who you're asking, really. 104 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:38,727 [chuckles] The growth spirit? 105 00:04:38,727 --> 00:04:40,979 Try to do a rain dance. 106 00:04:40,979 --> 00:04:42,772 We actually did it one year. [chuckles] 107 00:04:42,772 --> 00:04:45,191 It did work. That was another drought. 108 00:04:45,191 --> 00:04:46,443 Yeah. 109 00:04:46,443 --> 00:04:49,446 [helicopter blades whirring] 110 00:04:52,741 --> 00:04:55,994 MARY: The fires started with a dry lightning strike. 111 00:04:55,994 --> 00:04:59,873 Quite a few kilometers from here in November. 112 00:05:00,916 --> 00:05:03,835 And we had helicopters buzzing over all the time. 113 00:05:03,835 --> 00:05:05,253 Was doing water bombing. 114 00:05:05,253 --> 00:05:07,464 Trying to fight the fires. 115 00:05:07,464 --> 00:05:09,299 [tense music] 116 00:05:09,299 --> 00:05:10,717 REPORTER: The fires have been deadly 117 00:05:10,717 --> 00:05:12,719 and devastating over the past three months, 118 00:05:12,719 --> 00:05:16,014 but they're expected to become even worse in the coming days. 119 00:05:16,014 --> 00:05:18,224 DAN: The day leading into it, 120 00:05:18,224 --> 00:05:20,810 we were kayaking and fishing 121 00:05:20,810 --> 00:05:23,355 and running around with the kids. 122 00:05:23,355 --> 00:05:25,106 ♪ ♪ 123 00:05:25,106 --> 00:05:28,193 The whole time, though, sort of keeping an eye on this column. 124 00:05:28,193 --> 00:05:33,573 ♪ ♪ 125 00:05:33,573 --> 00:05:35,492 At about 5:00, 126 00:05:35,492 --> 00:05:38,828 everybody's mobile phones went beep‐beep‐beep‐beep‐beep. 127 00:05:39,996 --> 00:05:44,000 The government warning that said, "Get out now." 128 00:05:45,835 --> 00:05:47,003 ‐ I thank you, Premier. 129 00:05:47,003 --> 00:05:48,463 We still have more than 100 fires 130 00:05:48,463 --> 00:05:50,006 burning across New South Wales. 131 00:05:50,006 --> 00:05:54,719 These fires have spread faster and further 132 00:05:54,719 --> 00:05:57,681 than the modeling and the fire weather predictions 133 00:05:57,681 --> 00:05:59,099 suggested they would. 134 00:05:59,099 --> 00:06:01,685 ‐ If you're holidaying in that part of the state, 135 00:06:01,685 --> 00:06:03,770 it's time that you left. 136 00:06:03,770 --> 00:06:06,773 [suspenseful music] 137 00:06:06,773 --> 00:06:13,738 ♪ ♪ 138 00:06:16,616 --> 00:06:17,951 INDIA: What'd he say? 139 00:06:17,951 --> 00:06:19,744 ‐ The sun up there. You should see it now. 140 00:06:19,744 --> 00:06:26,751 ♪ ♪ 141 00:06:26,751 --> 00:06:28,003 INDIA: Huh. 142 00:06:28,003 --> 00:06:29,671 [man chuckles] 143 00:06:30,755 --> 00:06:34,092 ‐ Every government department was telling us to leave. 144 00:06:34,092 --> 00:06:35,301 ‐ Evacuate. 145 00:06:35,301 --> 00:06:36,803 ‐ You must evacuate now. 146 00:06:36,803 --> 00:06:39,639 ‐ "If you don't leave, you will die," sort of a thing. 147 00:06:39,639 --> 00:06:42,559 ♪ ♪ 148 00:06:42,559 --> 00:06:44,519 SHAUN: Yeah, it's all alight. 149 00:06:45,812 --> 00:06:48,398 Things are really starting to pick up now. 150 00:06:48,398 --> 00:06:50,066 Home, sweet home. 151 00:06:50,066 --> 00:06:55,238 INDIA: We had a fire hit us in 2014 when I was 14. 152 00:06:55,238 --> 00:06:57,365 SHAUN: Now that‐‐look at that behind the house here. 153 00:06:57,365 --> 00:06:59,492 That's fantastic. 154 00:06:59,492 --> 00:07:01,578 Oh, yeah, it's very spectacular. 155 00:07:01,578 --> 00:07:03,037 INDIA: My dad was here by himself. 156 00:07:03,037 --> 00:07:05,248 SHAUN: Oh, and I gotta start a‐pumping. 157 00:07:05,248 --> 00:07:07,876 It's good water. So far, so good. 158 00:07:07,876 --> 00:07:09,502 INDIA: I thought that, you know, 159 00:07:09,502 --> 00:07:11,629 since he had done it before, 160 00:07:11,629 --> 00:07:15,049 um, it was quite possible that we'd be able to do it again. 161 00:07:15,049 --> 00:07:16,634 And this time, I'd be able to take 162 00:07:16,634 --> 00:07:18,219 a bit of the weight off his shoulders. 163 00:07:18,219 --> 00:07:20,930 ♪ ♪ 164 00:07:20,930 --> 00:07:23,016 DENNIS: Well, we didn't leave early. 165 00:07:23,016 --> 00:07:25,059 Um, because... 166 00:07:25,059 --> 00:07:26,895 you know, you just think, "It's gonna be a normal fire. 167 00:07:26,895 --> 00:07:28,104 I can handle that." 168 00:07:28,104 --> 00:07:30,315 [somber music] 169 00:07:30,315 --> 00:07:32,275 MARY: The house. 170 00:07:32,275 --> 00:07:36,362 It was built with, perhaps, 80% recycled timbers 171 00:07:36,362 --> 00:07:39,824 'cause Dennis and I are both fairly sentimental. 172 00:07:39,824 --> 00:07:41,534 DENNIS: And we built it with our own hands. 173 00:07:41,534 --> 00:07:42,702 And that's what you do. 174 00:07:42,702 --> 00:07:45,163 You just try and defend what you own. 175 00:07:45,163 --> 00:07:48,041 [tense music] 176 00:07:48,041 --> 00:07:49,751 DAN: You know, they initially told us 177 00:07:49,751 --> 00:07:54,005 if worst came to worst, and this fire gets to us, 178 00:07:54,005 --> 00:07:57,300 then they would put all the sirens on the trucks. 179 00:07:57,300 --> 00:07:59,344 And that was your evacuation time 180 00:07:59,344 --> 00:08:00,637 to get to water. 181 00:08:00,637 --> 00:08:03,389 [indistinct chatter] 182 00:08:03,389 --> 00:08:06,768 So we went down towards the wharf area 183 00:08:06,768 --> 00:08:08,645 and, um... 184 00:08:08,645 --> 00:08:11,773 basically laid down there and waited. 185 00:08:11,773 --> 00:08:15,109 ♪ ♪ 186 00:08:15,109 --> 00:08:17,737 INDIA: Mum woke up at 4:00 in the morning 187 00:08:17,737 --> 00:08:19,364 because the winds were really strong. 188 00:08:19,364 --> 00:08:21,991 She woke the girls up and she took them. 189 00:08:21,991 --> 00:08:25,537 Yeah, she definitely didn't feel safe staying here. 190 00:08:26,663 --> 00:08:29,457 So this is Dad's bugout bag. 191 00:08:29,457 --> 00:08:32,085 Here we've got four cans of beans. 192 00:08:32,085 --> 00:08:34,045 Two spoons. 193 00:08:34,045 --> 00:08:36,214 Two tins of tuna. 194 00:08:36,214 --> 00:08:39,134 SHAUN: India is a very strong‐minded girl. 195 00:08:39,134 --> 00:08:41,219 INDIA: Hair ties. I put them in there. 196 00:08:41,219 --> 00:08:43,346 ‐ She's, um... physically strong. 197 00:08:43,346 --> 00:08:45,348 INDIA: His wallet. 198 00:08:45,348 --> 00:08:46,432 Cigarette‐making kit. 199 00:08:46,432 --> 00:08:48,309 ‐ And, um, she has her way 200 00:08:48,309 --> 00:08:50,228 and she's very much like me 201 00:08:50,228 --> 00:08:52,188 in that she's very stubborn. 202 00:08:52,188 --> 00:08:53,398 INDIA: He had booze in there, 203 00:08:53,398 --> 00:08:54,983 but he probably drank it already, so... 204 00:08:54,983 --> 00:08:56,276 [door slams shut] 205 00:08:56,276 --> 00:09:02,949 ♪ ♪ 206 00:09:10,415 --> 00:09:11,416 [grunts] 207 00:09:14,752 --> 00:09:17,046 If you know that you're prepared, 208 00:09:17,046 --> 00:09:18,965 and that you know your house is defendable, 209 00:09:18,965 --> 00:09:21,259 then why not give it a shot? 210 00:09:21,968 --> 00:09:23,845 But this year... 211 00:09:23,845 --> 00:09:25,054 boy! 212 00:09:25,054 --> 00:09:27,765 [wind whooshing] 213 00:09:37,358 --> 00:09:38,651 Oh... 214 00:09:40,612 --> 00:09:42,405 Wow. 215 00:09:46,034 --> 00:09:47,619 Fuckin' ready, bitch. 216 00:09:48,870 --> 00:09:50,496 Come at me. 217 00:09:53,124 --> 00:09:54,459 Okay. 218 00:09:58,546 --> 00:10:01,633 SHAUN: At first, it really did look amazing. 219 00:10:01,633 --> 00:10:04,677 You‐‐you just couldn't take your eyes off it. 220 00:10:04,677 --> 00:10:07,096 It was something very spectacular to watch. 221 00:10:07,096 --> 00:10:08,514 ♪ ♪ 222 00:10:08,514 --> 00:10:09,933 [zipper zips] 223 00:10:09,933 --> 00:10:12,518 INDIA: And as we were watching that... 224 00:10:12,518 --> 00:10:14,020 Oh, shit, look at that! 225 00:10:14,020 --> 00:10:17,899 The embers from that fire had blown behind us 226 00:10:17,899 --> 00:10:19,400 and started a fire. 227 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:22,070 ♪ ♪ 228 00:10:22,070 --> 00:10:24,906 And then, in no time, 229 00:10:24,906 --> 00:10:26,741 there was just fire everywhere. 230 00:10:26,741 --> 00:10:29,994 ♪ ♪ 231 00:10:29,994 --> 00:10:32,247 SHAUN: Lots of smoke in the air 232 00:10:32,247 --> 00:10:35,208 as it got thicker. 233 00:10:35,208 --> 00:10:36,751 It was pitch black. 234 00:10:36,751 --> 00:10:38,461 Pitch black. 235 00:10:40,046 --> 00:10:41,506 INDIA: Oh, shit, there's one right there! 236 00:10:41,506 --> 00:10:42,924 Fuck! Ah! 237 00:10:44,509 --> 00:10:45,927 Dad! 238 00:10:45,927 --> 00:10:47,053 [engine turns over] 239 00:10:47,053 --> 00:10:48,596 [gasps] 240 00:10:48,596 --> 00:10:50,056 Where were you? 241 00:10:50,056 --> 00:10:51,474 SHAUN: I was putting out embers round the other side. 242 00:10:51,474 --> 00:10:52,600 INDIA: Okay, there's a few‐‐ 243 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:53,935 there's a few down the hill there. 244 00:10:53,935 --> 00:10:55,228 SHAUN: What? INDIA: There's a few... 245 00:10:55,228 --> 00:10:57,021 My dad was at the front of the house, 246 00:10:57,021 --> 00:10:59,607 hosing down underneath our house, 247 00:10:59,607 --> 00:11:02,026 the grass around our house. 248 00:11:02,026 --> 00:11:03,319 Huh? SHAUN: Hose! 249 00:11:03,319 --> 00:11:04,821 Run one into the hill! 250 00:11:04,821 --> 00:11:08,741 ♪ ♪ 251 00:11:08,741 --> 00:11:10,076 INDIA: Ah... 252 00:11:11,202 --> 00:11:14,247 [panting] 253 00:11:14,247 --> 00:11:15,790 Subo, come here! 254 00:11:15,790 --> 00:11:17,417 Come here, Subo. 255 00:11:17,417 --> 00:11:19,627 Subo! Oy! 256 00:11:19,627 --> 00:11:26,676 ♪ ♪ 257 00:11:26,676 --> 00:11:28,636 I just put Subo inside. 258 00:11:29,637 --> 00:11:30,972 With a bucket of water. 259 00:11:30,972 --> 00:11:32,557 [wind howling] 260 00:11:32,557 --> 00:11:34,017 Whoa, kangaroo! 261 00:11:35,059 --> 00:11:37,437 Okay, it's coming this way! 262 00:11:37,437 --> 00:11:41,607 I felt really bad for all the animals. 263 00:11:43,443 --> 00:11:45,695 But that's just life. 264 00:11:45,695 --> 00:11:47,071 SHAUN: Whoa! 265 00:11:47,071 --> 00:11:49,073 ♪ ♪ 266 00:11:49,073 --> 00:11:51,451 The fire, it just‐‐ it seemed to all arrive all of a sudden. 267 00:11:51,451 --> 00:11:52,660 INDIA: Whoa! 268 00:11:52,660 --> 00:11:54,329 ‐ Then there was no time for any thinking. 269 00:11:54,329 --> 00:11:55,830 The adrenaline takes over. 270 00:11:55,830 --> 00:11:57,040 INDIA: Let's, uh... 271 00:11:57,040 --> 00:11:58,791 SHAUN: Can you go turn the pump down? 272 00:11:58,791 --> 00:12:00,501 INDIA: Turn it down? 273 00:12:00,501 --> 00:12:02,170 SHAUN: Turn it down, yeah. 274 00:12:02,170 --> 00:12:04,088 INDIA: Yeah, okay! Ah! 275 00:12:04,088 --> 00:12:07,842 My dad told me to turn the pump down 276 00:12:07,842 --> 00:12:09,344 to save the water. 277 00:12:09,344 --> 00:12:10,803 ♪ ♪ 278 00:12:10,803 --> 00:12:13,806 [generator churning] 279 00:12:20,021 --> 00:12:21,397 And when I came back... 280 00:12:23,191 --> 00:12:24,275 He was gone. 281 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:29,280 Dad! Ah! 282 00:12:35,408 --> 00:12:37,034 ‐ Nowhere across the state 283 00:12:37,034 --> 00:12:39,161 can we afford to be complacent. 284 00:12:39,161 --> 00:12:40,997 [tense music] 285 00:12:40,997 --> 00:12:43,332 Rest assured, there's not enough trucks to go around. 286 00:12:43,332 --> 00:12:45,209 So don't count on a fire truck 287 00:12:45,209 --> 00:12:47,295 protecting your particular house. 288 00:12:47,295 --> 00:12:49,589 You need to get out of there. 289 00:12:49,589 --> 00:12:53,634 ♪ ♪ 290 00:12:53,634 --> 00:12:56,304 JOHN: As we're wetting everything down, 291 00:12:56,304 --> 00:12:59,098 we heard, "Help! Help! Help! Fire coming! Help!" 292 00:13:00,057 --> 00:13:02,310 Went over to the neighbor, Carol. 293 00:13:02,310 --> 00:13:03,686 She's lived up there all her life. 294 00:13:03,686 --> 00:13:05,187 She's 75 years old. 295 00:13:05,187 --> 00:13:06,772 And we sort of kept a distance from each other. 296 00:13:06,772 --> 00:13:07,982 She minded her business, 297 00:13:07,982 --> 00:13:10,776 and we minded our own business. 298 00:13:10,776 --> 00:13:13,571 She's a bit eccentric at times, you could say. 299 00:13:13,571 --> 00:13:16,115 And she did have a fence up there with dog skulls 300 00:13:16,115 --> 00:13:17,491 she'd collected over the years. 301 00:13:17,491 --> 00:13:19,285 Just to let the neighbors know that... 302 00:13:19,285 --> 00:13:20,870 bit of a warning, you know, uh, 303 00:13:20,870 --> 00:13:22,163 if your dog's found wandering here, 304 00:13:22,163 --> 00:13:23,539 this is what's gonna happen to him. 305 00:13:23,539 --> 00:13:26,250 Um, yeah, but that's‐‐that's Carol. 306 00:13:26,250 --> 00:13:28,294 [fast‐paced tense music] 307 00:13:28,294 --> 00:13:31,047 So I jumped in the car and went up and seen her. 308 00:13:31,047 --> 00:13:34,342 I had my son, Toby, with me, my son‐in‐law, Ronnie. 309 00:13:34,342 --> 00:13:36,218 I said, "Carol, we've gotta go now. 310 00:13:36,218 --> 00:13:37,428 Come on. Get out of here." 311 00:13:37,428 --> 00:13:38,929 She said, "I'm not going without‐‐ 312 00:13:38,929 --> 00:13:40,306 without George and Jenny." 313 00:13:40,306 --> 00:13:43,059 I said, "Who the bloody hell are George and Jenny?" 314 00:13:43,059 --> 00:13:45,102 ♪ ♪ 315 00:13:45,102 --> 00:13:48,898 George was a fucking 18‐, 20‐year‐old wether sheep. 316 00:13:48,898 --> 00:13:50,650 Huge, big fella. 317 00:13:50,650 --> 00:13:53,486 And there's little Jenny, a little lamb. 318 00:13:53,486 --> 00:13:56,989 So we had the three of us wrestle this big wether 319 00:13:56,989 --> 00:13:58,199 into the back seat. 320 00:13:58,199 --> 00:14:00,034 And then we got little Jenny lamb 321 00:14:00,034 --> 00:14:02,495 with Carol in the front seat. 322 00:14:02,495 --> 00:14:05,498 So we drove down to me house and said to Carol, 323 00:14:05,498 --> 00:14:07,833 "Come on, you've got to go down and sit in the bathroom where it's safe. 324 00:14:07,833 --> 00:14:11,504 ♪ ♪ 325 00:14:11,504 --> 00:14:13,506 ‐ I said, "I'll start the pump, wet the house down." 326 00:14:13,506 --> 00:14:15,925 ‐ My part of the plan was to stay in the shed. 327 00:14:17,385 --> 00:14:18,928 Was hand‐built, made from rocks. 328 00:14:18,928 --> 00:14:21,055 The walls were, like, two feet thick. 329 00:14:21,055 --> 00:14:22,807 ♪ ♪ 330 00:14:22,807 --> 00:14:25,226 I could see the fire was getting closer. 331 00:14:25,226 --> 00:14:27,436 ♪ ♪ 332 00:14:27,436 --> 00:14:28,646 DENNIS: I was just wetting 333 00:14:28,646 --> 00:14:29,980 the last part of the house down. 334 00:14:29,980 --> 00:14:31,982 I wet all the lawn down. 335 00:14:31,982 --> 00:14:33,442 All of a sudden, it just‐‐ 336 00:14:33,442 --> 00:14:35,653 this great big fireball 337 00:14:35,653 --> 00:14:37,238 just exploded over the top of the house. 338 00:14:37,238 --> 00:14:39,365 ♪ ♪ 339 00:14:39,365 --> 00:14:40,783 And the heat! 340 00:14:40,783 --> 00:14:43,411 The heat was just like opening a pizza door. 341 00:14:43,411 --> 00:14:45,913 And, uh, I‐I put my hands to my face 342 00:14:45,913 --> 00:14:47,415 and went like that. 343 00:14:47,415 --> 00:14:50,167 And my hands bubbled up. [chuckles] 344 00:14:50,167 --> 00:14:52,795 The knuckles. Yeah, both hands. 345 00:14:54,255 --> 00:14:55,756 It was fierce. Very fierce. 346 00:14:55,756 --> 00:14:57,508 Like a hungry dragon, you know? 347 00:14:59,093 --> 00:15:00,470 Look at that. 348 00:15:02,973 --> 00:15:04,224 JASPER: I was the, uh, lead truck 349 00:15:04,224 --> 00:15:06,560 of the four of the strike team. 350 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:10,313 [dramatic music] 351 00:15:10,313 --> 00:15:13,483 To get that call, to say, "Can you come and help?" 352 00:15:13,483 --> 00:15:15,110 It felt great to say, 353 00:15:15,110 --> 00:15:16,403 "Yes, definitely, I'll be there. 354 00:15:16,403 --> 00:15:17,612 Whatever it takes, I'll be there." 355 00:15:17,612 --> 00:15:19,239 ♪ ♪ 356 00:15:19,239 --> 00:15:21,783 LIVIA: Many people had fought fires before. 357 00:15:23,034 --> 00:15:24,995 They thought they knew fire. 358 00:15:26,204 --> 00:15:28,290 But we've changed the nature of it. 359 00:15:28,290 --> 00:15:32,127 [indistinct radio chatter] 360 00:15:32,127 --> 00:15:34,087 JASPER: It was only about 300 meters into it 361 00:15:34,087 --> 00:15:35,922 when we started experiencing an ember attack. 362 00:15:35,922 --> 00:15:38,508 Sparks, bits of fire, blowing with the wind. 363 00:15:38,508 --> 00:15:39,968 [tense music] 364 00:15:39,968 --> 00:15:42,345 I got on the radio to my strike team leader. 365 00:15:42,345 --> 00:15:43,889 "We're experiencing an ember attack. 366 00:15:43,889 --> 00:15:45,682 Would you like us to proceed?" 367 00:15:45,682 --> 00:15:47,309 And, uh, the strike team leader came back. 368 00:15:47,309 --> 00:15:48,435 "Yes, ye‐‐proceed." 369 00:15:48,435 --> 00:15:50,645 ♪ ♪ 370 00:15:50,645 --> 00:15:51,855 About a kilometer down the road, 371 00:15:51,855 --> 00:15:53,315 the ember attack got quite heavy. 372 00:15:53,315 --> 00:15:55,233 ♪ ♪ 373 00:15:55,233 --> 00:15:56,610 And once again. 374 00:15:56,610 --> 00:15:58,028 "We're experiencing a heavy ember attack. 375 00:15:58,028 --> 00:15:59,362 Would you like us to proceed?" 376 00:15:59,362 --> 00:16:01,198 Once again, "Yes, proceed." 377 00:16:01,198 --> 00:16:04,201 [vehicle rattling] 378 00:16:07,537 --> 00:16:10,207 [indistinct radio chatter] 379 00:16:10,207 --> 00:16:11,291 FIREFIGHTER: Jasper! 380 00:16:13,460 --> 00:16:15,670 Jasper, put the blanket up. 381 00:16:19,007 --> 00:16:21,676 And as we put the blanket up just to cut that radiant heat, 382 00:16:21,676 --> 00:16:24,763 there is a fireball right across our front windscreen. 383 00:16:26,515 --> 00:16:29,309 [tense music] 384 00:16:29,309 --> 00:16:32,312 [indistinct radio chatter] 385 00:16:35,148 --> 00:16:37,400 Get going, you fuck! 386 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:38,819 Get going! 387 00:16:38,819 --> 00:16:41,905 We're burning! Come on! Go, go, take it! 388 00:16:41,905 --> 00:16:43,949 This is the point we call flashover. 389 00:16:43,949 --> 00:16:45,408 Fucking git. 390 00:16:45,408 --> 00:16:47,160 Everything above us, behind us, 391 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:48,829 around us, was on fire. 392 00:16:48,829 --> 00:16:51,206 [indistinct radio chatter] 393 00:16:51,206 --> 00:16:52,624 It's like you're in hell. 394 00:16:52,624 --> 00:16:54,376 It was really like you're in hell. 395 00:16:54,376 --> 00:16:57,379 [indistinct chatter] 396 00:16:58,755 --> 00:17:01,091 ‐ It was like a‐‐ like a hurricane of fire. 397 00:17:01,091 --> 00:17:02,509 It was just... 398 00:17:02,509 --> 00:17:04,594 [groans] I don't know. It's undescribable. 399 00:17:04,594 --> 00:17:07,138 It‐‐it's just a big ball of flame coming. 400 00:17:07,138 --> 00:17:09,891 [wind whooshing] 401 00:17:13,728 --> 00:17:16,314 [India groans] 402 00:17:16,314 --> 00:17:18,441 Then all hell broke loose. 403 00:17:18,441 --> 00:17:20,944 The west side window exploded. 404 00:17:20,944 --> 00:17:23,155 And then we heard the explosions 405 00:17:23,155 --> 00:17:24,781 up the back of the house. 406 00:17:24,781 --> 00:17:27,534 Then we went into the bathroom. 407 00:17:27,534 --> 00:17:30,203 We shut the door and hoped we could survive in there 408 00:17:30,203 --> 00:17:34,499 until it subsided enough that we could go out. 409 00:17:34,499 --> 00:17:37,002 We‐‐we would feel the walls and the ceiling. 410 00:17:37,002 --> 00:17:39,880 And we knew it was getting hotter and hotter. 411 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:41,464 It was‐‐it was really smoky. 412 00:17:41,464 --> 00:17:44,050 It was really difficult to breathe. 413 00:17:44,050 --> 00:17:46,052 MARY: In the shed, we had louver doors. 414 00:17:46,052 --> 00:17:47,846 There was one little section though 415 00:17:47,846 --> 00:17:50,223 that hadn't been covered. 416 00:17:50,223 --> 00:17:51,766 I could feel a warm air coming in. 417 00:17:51,766 --> 00:17:54,436 Then I could feel cool air rushing beside me 418 00:17:54,436 --> 00:17:56,271 and going out through the louvers, and I thought, 419 00:17:56,271 --> 00:17:58,857 "Oh, no, that's our oxygen. It's escaping." 420 00:17:58,857 --> 00:18:00,066 I thought, "I've gotta stop it." 421 00:18:00,066 --> 00:18:02,027 So I ran over and grabbed the blanket 422 00:18:02,027 --> 00:18:04,404 and I held it up against the louver 423 00:18:04,404 --> 00:18:06,323 as high as I could. 424 00:18:06,323 --> 00:18:08,575 ♪ ♪ 425 00:18:08,575 --> 00:18:10,535 And the embers were getting worse. 426 00:18:10,535 --> 00:18:13,330 ♪ ♪ 427 00:18:13,330 --> 00:18:14,497 And I was holding the blankets, 428 00:18:14,497 --> 00:18:15,665 I was leaning against the wall saying, 429 00:18:15,665 --> 00:18:18,418 "Please pass. Please pass. Please pass. 430 00:18:18,418 --> 00:18:20,712 Please pass. Please pass. Please pass." 431 00:18:20,712 --> 00:18:22,505 ♪ ♪ 432 00:18:22,505 --> 00:18:24,174 It was getting warmer and warmer 433 00:18:24,174 --> 00:18:25,383 and hotter and hotter. 434 00:18:25,383 --> 00:18:26,801 ♪ ♪ 435 00:18:26,801 --> 00:18:28,386 I could feel my airways closing over. 436 00:18:28,386 --> 00:18:29,930 I could feel 'em... 437 00:18:29,930 --> 00:18:32,515 coming up and closing and closing and closing and... 438 00:18:32,515 --> 00:18:33,892 [gasps] Grabbed my throat and I said, 439 00:18:33,892 --> 00:18:35,018 "Oh, this is not going to happen." 440 00:18:42,192 --> 00:18:44,402 [indistinct chatter] 441 00:18:44,402 --> 00:18:45,716 LOCAL: We're on. 442 00:18:45,716 --> 00:18:47,968 It's fuckin' 9:00 in the morning, 443 00:18:47,968 --> 00:18:51,597 and have a look at what it's like outside. 444 00:18:51,597 --> 00:18:53,057 It's black. 445 00:18:53,057 --> 00:18:55,934 It's like it's fucking midnight. 446 00:18:55,934 --> 00:18:58,312 ‐ To Australia now, where thousands of people 447 00:18:58,312 --> 00:19:01,315 are trapped on ocean beaches, surrounded by wildfires 448 00:19:01,315 --> 00:19:03,359 that continue to burn out of control. 449 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:05,944 REPORTER: The plume of smoke generated by the inferno 450 00:19:05,944 --> 00:19:09,698 covers 5 1/2 million square kilometers. 451 00:19:09,698 --> 00:19:11,241 That's the size of Europe. 452 00:19:11,241 --> 00:19:13,035 ‐ Uh, we've got three strike teams 453 00:19:13,035 --> 00:19:14,411 sitting in with the community, 454 00:19:14,411 --> 00:19:15,788 literally standing side‐by‐side 455 00:19:15,788 --> 00:19:17,206 with our community at the beachfront. 456 00:19:17,206 --> 00:19:19,875 It is pitch black. It is quite scary. 457 00:19:19,875 --> 00:19:21,377 LOCAL: Incredible. 458 00:19:21,377 --> 00:19:23,587 It's just ash and embers everywhere. 459 00:19:23,587 --> 00:19:25,172 This is actually Mallacoota Lake. 460 00:19:25,172 --> 00:19:26,507 Can't see a thing. 461 00:19:26,507 --> 00:19:28,926 [indistinct chatter] 462 00:19:28,926 --> 00:19:32,346 ‐ About 8:30 or so, the sirens went. 463 00:19:32,346 --> 00:19:35,140 [sirens wailing] 464 00:19:35,140 --> 00:19:38,143 [suspenseful music] 465 00:19:38,143 --> 00:19:45,192 ♪ ♪ 466 00:19:47,569 --> 00:19:49,947 We heard a lot of‐‐ like an airplane. 467 00:19:49,947 --> 00:19:51,490 Vzzz... 468 00:19:51,490 --> 00:19:53,700 And then boom. And it'd explode. 469 00:19:54,701 --> 00:19:56,787 We were so excited, 470 00:19:56,787 --> 00:19:58,747 because they were gonna be bombing it 471 00:19:58,747 --> 00:20:00,874 and, you know, putting it out. 472 00:20:00,874 --> 00:20:04,211 ♪ ♪ 473 00:20:04,211 --> 00:20:07,339 Turns out the high‐pitched noise is all the gas. 474 00:20:08,507 --> 00:20:10,384 Cylinder bottles at the houses. 475 00:20:10,384 --> 00:20:12,177 ♪ ♪ 476 00:20:12,177 --> 00:20:15,472 It was about that time, also, that... 477 00:20:15,472 --> 00:20:17,516 one of the young kids came over to me and said, 478 00:20:17,516 --> 00:20:19,017 "Dan, what's‐‐ what's this?" 479 00:20:19,017 --> 00:20:20,144 And he had a, um... 480 00:20:20,144 --> 00:20:24,064 a dead little bird in his hand. 481 00:20:24,064 --> 00:20:26,775 It was a spotted pardalote. 482 00:20:26,775 --> 00:20:28,735 And then, as we sort of looked around, 483 00:20:28,735 --> 00:20:31,613 we noticed all these birds falling, and then, 484 00:20:31,613 --> 00:20:35,033 kids walking around with dead birds. 485 00:20:35,033 --> 00:20:37,244 All the lack of oxygen in the air, 486 00:20:37,244 --> 00:20:39,538 they'd all just died of asphyxiation. 487 00:20:40,831 --> 00:20:43,167 And that was when 488 00:20:43,167 --> 00:20:45,169 we knew that it was real. 489 00:20:45,169 --> 00:20:47,629 LOCAL: It just keeps getting weirder and weirder. 490 00:20:47,629 --> 00:20:54,636 ♪ ♪ 491 00:20:56,263 --> 00:20:59,057 [sirens wailing] 492 00:20:59,057 --> 00:21:01,518 DAN: And then we started talking to the kids 493 00:21:01,518 --> 00:21:05,564 and explaining to them that if the fire did come, 494 00:21:05,564 --> 00:21:09,902 then they had to get in the lake. 495 00:21:09,902 --> 00:21:12,654 My young son, Jara, 496 00:21:12,654 --> 00:21:16,450 he started vomiting with, like, anxiety, and... 497 00:21:16,450 --> 00:21:18,619 ♪ ♪ 498 00:21:18,619 --> 00:21:22,998 Just to... to tell your kids that... 499 00:21:22,998 --> 00:21:25,667 they've gotta go in the water‐‐ 500 00:21:25,667 --> 00:21:28,128 they were petrified. 501 00:21:28,128 --> 00:21:29,796 [tense music] 502 00:21:29,796 --> 00:21:31,381 Just petrified. 503 00:21:31,381 --> 00:21:35,093 ♪ ♪ 504 00:21:35,093 --> 00:21:36,637 When it came to the point 505 00:21:36,637 --> 00:21:39,598 where we had to put the life jackets on them... 506 00:21:42,726 --> 00:21:44,353 I‐‐ I couldn't do it. 507 00:21:44,353 --> 00:21:45,979 I had one of my friends 508 00:21:45,979 --> 00:21:48,065 had to put the life jacket on my son, 509 00:21:48,065 --> 00:21:49,900 'cause I‐‐ I couldn't do it. 510 00:21:51,443 --> 00:21:55,239 [suspenseful music] 511 00:21:55,239 --> 00:21:58,700 [indistinct chatter] 512 00:21:58,700 --> 00:22:00,118 DISPATCHER: Flashover, flashover! 513 00:22:00,118 --> 00:22:02,454 STP 48, flashover. 514 00:22:02,454 --> 00:22:04,748 JASPER: Once we started to move away from the fire front 515 00:22:04,748 --> 00:22:07,376 is when we started to hear, "STP 48." 516 00:22:07,376 --> 00:22:08,835 It said, "Flashover, flashover. 517 00:22:08,835 --> 00:22:10,546 Our truck is dead. We cannot move." 518 00:22:10,546 --> 00:22:14,508 ♪ ♪ 519 00:22:14,508 --> 00:22:16,093 FIREFIGHTER: I can't see, Jasper. 520 00:22:16,093 --> 00:22:17,970 ‐ I definitely feared from that instant 521 00:22:17,970 --> 00:22:19,721 that we'd lost eight firefighters. 522 00:22:19,721 --> 00:22:22,724 [indistinct radio chatter] 523 00:22:24,434 --> 00:22:26,812 KAYLE: The emergency message I put through was, 524 00:22:26,812 --> 00:22:28,397 "Red, red, red," 525 00:22:28,397 --> 00:22:30,607 which is our highest priority message, 526 00:22:30,607 --> 00:22:32,317 and then gave our callsign, 527 00:22:32,317 --> 00:22:35,153 STP 48, 528 00:22:35,153 --> 00:22:36,697 that we had been overrun by fire 529 00:22:36,697 --> 00:22:39,157 and we needed immediate, urgent assistance 530 00:22:39,157 --> 00:22:41,326 and that our truck was on fire and unable to be driven. 531 00:22:47,958 --> 00:22:51,148 JASPER: Bravo 211 and STP 48 532 00:22:51,148 --> 00:22:52,608 were stuck on that road. 533 00:22:52,608 --> 00:22:53,609 They were immobilized. 534 00:22:53,609 --> 00:22:54,985 The messages were coming in 535 00:22:54,985 --> 00:22:56,820 and they're quite intense. 536 00:22:56,820 --> 00:22:57,988 ‐ Our truck was on fire. 537 00:22:57,988 --> 00:22:59,656 The smoke was beginning to fill 538 00:22:59,656 --> 00:23:01,033 the cabin where we were sitting. 539 00:23:01,033 --> 00:23:02,159 FIREFIGHTER: Fuck the‐‐ 540 00:23:02,159 --> 00:23:03,827 Fuck the‐‐ the inspectors. 541 00:23:03,827 --> 00:23:04,995 KAYLE: We've been overrun. 542 00:23:04,995 --> 00:23:06,204 FIREFIGHTER: What's the comms? 543 00:23:06,204 --> 00:23:07,873 FIREFIGHTER: The truck's on fire, there. 544 00:23:07,873 --> 00:23:09,207 FIREFIGHTER: Do you know if that comm's working? 545 00:23:09,207 --> 00:23:10,626 So 13, 0... 546 00:23:10,626 --> 00:23:11,835 KAYLE: Worst of the fire's gone. 547 00:23:13,462 --> 00:23:15,881 Truck won't move, transmission's dead. 548 00:23:15,881 --> 00:23:17,215 The temperatures outside 549 00:23:17,215 --> 00:23:20,469 were upwards of 600 degrees Celsius. 550 00:23:20,469 --> 00:23:22,262 That's where the temperature gets to a point 551 00:23:22,262 --> 00:23:25,390 where everything around you almost spontaneously combusts. 552 00:23:25,390 --> 00:23:26,683 INDIA: Ah... 553 00:23:29,645 --> 00:23:32,773 The winds became really strong again. 554 00:23:32,773 --> 00:23:36,068 This black, thick smoke blowing into my face. 555 00:23:37,986 --> 00:23:42,074 It was scary, having my dad leave without notice. 556 00:23:42,074 --> 00:23:44,284 But I just started doing 557 00:23:44,284 --> 00:23:47,120 what he was doing in the beginning. 558 00:23:47,120 --> 00:23:48,497 Oh! 559 00:23:48,497 --> 00:23:50,916 [coughing] 560 00:23:50,916 --> 00:23:54,294 But once you are scared, 561 00:23:54,294 --> 00:23:56,672 and you let fear take over, 562 00:23:56,672 --> 00:23:58,632 your body just loses control, 563 00:23:58,632 --> 00:24:00,592 and I didn't want that to happen to me. 564 00:24:00,592 --> 00:24:01,885 [tense music] 565 00:24:01,885 --> 00:24:04,346 Ah! [groans] 566 00:24:04,346 --> 00:24:09,977 ♪ ♪ 567 00:24:09,977 --> 00:24:11,186 Dad! 568 00:24:11,186 --> 00:24:12,521 One of the trees 569 00:24:12,521 --> 00:24:13,855 right at the front of the house 570 00:24:13,855 --> 00:24:15,315 had caught on fire. 571 00:24:15,315 --> 00:24:16,775 The house was all just gonna go 572 00:24:16,775 --> 00:24:18,110 just from this little tree. 573 00:24:18,110 --> 00:24:20,779 ♪ ♪ 574 00:24:20,779 --> 00:24:23,615 So I had to run past the fire. 575 00:24:23,615 --> 00:24:25,242 ♪ ♪ 576 00:24:25,242 --> 00:24:26,827 Through embers. 577 00:24:26,827 --> 00:24:28,745 ♪ ♪ 578 00:24:28,745 --> 00:24:30,080 To turn the pump up. 579 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:35,877 ♪ ♪ 580 00:24:35,877 --> 00:24:38,714 I can't remember what the heat felt like. 581 00:24:38,714 --> 00:24:40,424 ♪ ♪ 582 00:24:40,424 --> 00:24:42,801 The main thing for me was the smoke. 583 00:24:42,801 --> 00:24:45,053 ♪ ♪ 584 00:24:45,053 --> 00:24:46,304 It's just hell. 585 00:24:46,304 --> 00:24:47,639 It‐‐ it was hell. 586 00:24:47,639 --> 00:24:49,433 ♪ ♪ 587 00:24:49,433 --> 00:24:51,059 I just kept thinking... 588 00:24:51,059 --> 00:24:52,394 ♪ ♪ 589 00:24:52,394 --> 00:24:54,896 This pain was going to be temporary, 590 00:24:54,896 --> 00:24:57,315 and eventually, the fire would pass. 591 00:24:57,315 --> 00:24:59,109 ♪ ♪ 592 00:24:59,109 --> 00:25:01,611 So I kept pushing myself. 593 00:25:01,611 --> 00:25:05,198 ♪ ♪ 594 00:25:05,198 --> 00:25:07,325 Ah! No, no, no, no! 595 00:25:07,325 --> 00:25:11,121 I noticed one of the structures just behind our house 596 00:25:11,121 --> 00:25:13,373 was on fire. 597 00:25:13,373 --> 00:25:16,585 Ah! Oh, no! 598 00:25:16,585 --> 00:25:19,171 That was the moment where I... 599 00:25:19,171 --> 00:25:22,174 realized that my firehose had been burnt, 600 00:25:22,174 --> 00:25:23,383 and there was holes in it. 601 00:25:23,383 --> 00:25:24,468 Fuck. 602 00:25:25,385 --> 00:25:26,845 SHAUN: I was yelling out to instruct her 603 00:25:26,845 --> 00:25:29,097 to get in that fire shelter and just give up. 604 00:25:29,890 --> 00:25:32,517 But...she‐she was on the other side of the house. 605 00:25:32,517 --> 00:25:33,518 She wasn't gonna hear me. 606 00:25:40,233 --> 00:25:41,443 FIREFIGHTER: I can't get any help. 607 00:25:41,443 --> 00:25:43,028 No one's reading our red message. 608 00:25:45,030 --> 00:25:46,990 [indistinct radio chatter] 609 00:25:46,990 --> 00:25:48,992 I'll give you my exact coordinates. 610 00:25:50,911 --> 00:25:54,164 KAYLE: We could smell toxic, burning plastics. 611 00:25:54,164 --> 00:25:55,582 We could smell the bushfire. 612 00:25:55,582 --> 00:25:57,375 Truck is burning. 613 00:25:59,252 --> 00:26:03,090 The thought did cross all of our minds that this was it. 614 00:26:03,090 --> 00:26:05,383 Uh, but that was quickly replaced with the thought of, 615 00:26:05,383 --> 00:26:06,718 "This is not happening." 616 00:26:06,718 --> 00:26:10,472 [serene music] 617 00:26:10,472 --> 00:26:13,016 I just wasn't gonna let that situation 618 00:26:13,016 --> 00:26:14,976 be the last moment for our crew. 619 00:26:14,976 --> 00:26:20,023 ♪ ♪ 620 00:26:20,023 --> 00:26:23,235 We knew our only option was to walk a kilometer 621 00:26:23,235 --> 00:26:24,653 through an active fire, 622 00:26:24,653 --> 00:26:26,446 through the bush to get to safety. 623 00:26:26,446 --> 00:26:28,698 [rousing music] 624 00:26:28,698 --> 00:26:30,909 We would walk out as a crew together. 625 00:26:30,909 --> 00:26:33,912 Come on, boys! Come on, let's go! 626 00:26:33,912 --> 00:26:36,915 [heavy breathing] 627 00:26:38,125 --> 00:26:41,753 Through burning trees, embers of burning debris, 628 00:26:41,753 --> 00:26:44,840 burning power lines, huge amounts of smoke. 629 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:47,384 ♪ ♪ 630 00:26:47,384 --> 00:26:50,387 But I knew that our situation was so dire 631 00:26:50,387 --> 00:26:52,347 that we had to get ourselves out of there. 632 00:26:52,347 --> 00:26:54,474 [suspenseful music] 633 00:26:54,474 --> 00:26:56,601 JOHN: So I had the four of us in the bathroom. 634 00:26:56,601 --> 00:26:59,396 ♪ ♪ 635 00:26:59,396 --> 00:27:01,439 Not only does the fire take all the oxygen out, 636 00:27:01,439 --> 00:27:04,151 the air's contaminated by the melting plastic and all that. 637 00:27:04,151 --> 00:27:05,485 You become asphyxiated. 638 00:27:05,485 --> 00:27:07,320 ♪ ♪ 639 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:09,364 And that's why I took the oxygen bottle 640 00:27:09,364 --> 00:27:12,284 out of my shed that day, just in case. 641 00:27:12,284 --> 00:27:15,453 I use it for oxyacetylene welding and cutting. 642 00:27:15,453 --> 00:27:19,124 We basically just cracked the bottle 643 00:27:19,124 --> 00:27:22,002 and‐‐ and shared it round like that. 644 00:27:22,002 --> 00:27:23,587 So we could breathe and get the oxygen up, 645 00:27:23,587 --> 00:27:25,422 you know, into your face. 646 00:27:26,464 --> 00:27:28,758 It scared Carol. Carol was petrified 647 00:27:28,758 --> 00:27:30,719 when we first done it, poor bugger. 648 00:27:30,719 --> 00:27:32,554 And we‐‐ "Carol, it's okay, it's okay. 649 00:27:32,554 --> 00:27:34,806 It's‐‐you know. We need‐‐we need to do this." 650 00:27:34,806 --> 00:27:37,392 ♪ ♪ 651 00:27:37,392 --> 00:27:39,227 DENNIS: I was just trying to put the fire out, 652 00:27:39,227 --> 00:27:41,271 squirting at it, but it made no difference. 653 00:27:42,272 --> 00:27:45,150 And then, all of the sudden, the hose stopped. 654 00:27:45,150 --> 00:27:46,818 It burned through the pipe. 655 00:27:46,818 --> 00:27:48,653 [suspenseful music] 656 00:27:48,653 --> 00:27:51,489 Now I got panicky, because I was actually cooking. 657 00:27:51,489 --> 00:27:56,953 ♪ ♪ 658 00:27:56,953 --> 00:27:58,872 And then I ran from the house, 659 00:27:58,872 --> 00:28:00,790 across the lawn into the shed. 660 00:28:00,790 --> 00:28:02,125 ♪ ♪ 661 00:28:02,125 --> 00:28:03,710 I said, "Mary, we gotta get out of here, now." 662 00:28:03,710 --> 00:28:05,378 ‐ So I got up. 663 00:28:05,378 --> 00:28:07,422 He said, "We'll go out to the dam." 664 00:28:07,422 --> 00:28:09,466 It's a holding for water. 665 00:28:09,466 --> 00:28:10,800 For the cattle to drink out of. 666 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:13,428 ‐ We ran up to the dam to cool ourselves down. 667 00:28:13,428 --> 00:28:16,014 ‐ And then we went back down by the car, 668 00:28:16,014 --> 00:28:17,974 lay on blankets, and just... 669 00:28:17,974 --> 00:28:19,643 looking at everything burn. 670 00:28:19,643 --> 00:28:22,020 ‐ I could hear animals screeching and crying out. 671 00:28:22,020 --> 00:28:24,230 ‐ And Mary turned to me, and she said, "Oh, jeez." 672 00:28:24,230 --> 00:28:26,733 She said, "I think that's our house burning over there." 673 00:28:26,733 --> 00:28:28,652 We could see it glow. Ah. 674 00:28:29,903 --> 00:28:31,071 Excuse me. [laughs] 675 00:28:32,238 --> 00:28:33,239 Um. 676 00:28:35,075 --> 00:28:36,451 Yeah, I said, "It probably is. 677 00:28:36,451 --> 00:28:38,411 But I don't want to watch it." 678 00:28:38,411 --> 00:28:40,288 [somber music] 679 00:28:40,288 --> 00:28:41,289 INDIA: Fuck. 680 00:28:41,289 --> 00:28:45,085 ♪ ♪ 681 00:28:45,085 --> 00:28:47,087 And I was looking at the hose. 682 00:28:47,087 --> 00:28:49,214 The water pressure was good enough. 683 00:28:49,214 --> 00:28:50,840 So I picked it up, 684 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:53,093 and I used the side of the hose. 685 00:28:53,093 --> 00:29:00,100 ♪ ♪ 686 00:29:02,769 --> 00:29:04,813 And then, through the thick smoke, 687 00:29:04,813 --> 00:29:06,439 I noticed my dad was actually 688 00:29:06,439 --> 00:29:08,233 on the other side of the structure. 689 00:29:08,233 --> 00:29:09,901 The hose is burnt! 690 00:29:09,901 --> 00:29:11,027 SHAUN: What about the hose? 691 00:29:11,027 --> 00:29:12,529 INDIA: The hose is burnt! 692 00:29:12,529 --> 00:29:13,905 ♪ ♪ 693 00:29:13,905 --> 00:29:15,991 SHAUN: I could see India through the flames. 694 00:29:15,991 --> 00:29:17,951 I could hear her yelling out. 695 00:29:17,951 --> 00:29:19,244 The hose had burned. 696 00:29:19,244 --> 00:29:20,537 INDIA: It was really good to see 697 00:29:20,537 --> 00:29:22,706 that he hadn't been injured. 698 00:29:22,706 --> 00:29:24,290 To hear his voice. 699 00:29:24,290 --> 00:29:25,375 Huh? 700 00:29:25,375 --> 00:29:26,835 SHAUN: After looking at the front. 701 00:29:26,835 --> 00:29:29,337 INDIA: One of the trees near the tanks caught on fire! 702 00:29:29,337 --> 00:29:32,632 ♪ ♪ 703 00:29:32,632 --> 00:29:35,468 Even though we were practically screaming at each other. 704 00:29:35,468 --> 00:29:37,012 SHAUN: Yeah! INDIA: Yes! 705 00:29:37,012 --> 00:29:39,222 ♪ ♪ 706 00:29:39,222 --> 00:29:40,390 INDIA: Yeah. 707 00:29:40,390 --> 00:29:41,766 [India grunts] 708 00:29:41,766 --> 00:29:43,309 ♪ ♪ 709 00:29:43,309 --> 00:29:44,519 INDIA: Yeah, I know. 710 00:29:44,519 --> 00:29:46,813 After we had put that structure out, 711 00:29:46,813 --> 00:29:49,482 things began to calm down. 712 00:29:49,482 --> 00:29:51,568 SHAUN: Can you turn the pressure pump off, darling? 713 00:29:51,568 --> 00:29:53,028 INDIA: Sorry? 714 00:29:53,028 --> 00:29:55,321 ♪ ♪ 715 00:29:55,321 --> 00:29:57,949 INDIA: So we knew we were... 716 00:29:57,949 --> 00:29:59,743 [India coughs] 717 00:29:59,743 --> 00:30:01,077 Going to be okay. 718 00:30:08,084 --> 00:30:09,419 Fuck. 719 00:30:09,419 --> 00:30:12,422 [tense music] 720 00:30:12,422 --> 00:30:15,717 ♪ ♪ 721 00:30:15,717 --> 00:30:18,011 STEVE: There's some relatively good news here 722 00:30:18,011 --> 00:30:19,804 since we last spoke, and that is, 723 00:30:19,804 --> 00:30:22,599 at Mallacoota, the wind change has gone through. 724 00:30:22,599 --> 00:30:25,101 Uh, and it's now bypassed that town. 725 00:30:25,101 --> 00:30:27,520 REPORTER: Over 60 homes have been destroyed. 726 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:30,648 Residential streets resemble a warzone. 727 00:30:30,648 --> 00:30:34,360 ‐ We realized that the fire had passed 728 00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:38,907 and was moving away from us. 729 00:30:38,907 --> 00:30:41,117 So there was massive relief. 730 00:30:41,117 --> 00:30:44,120 And we all hugged. 731 00:30:44,120 --> 00:30:45,830 [tense music] 732 00:30:45,830 --> 00:30:48,333 JOHN: After about 15, 20 minutes, 733 00:30:48,333 --> 00:30:49,751 you know, still a lot of embers, 734 00:30:49,751 --> 00:30:51,503 and windy and hot, 735 00:30:51,503 --> 00:30:54,380 but we knew we were in the clear. 736 00:30:54,380 --> 00:30:55,882 Carol says, "Is George and Jenny 737 00:30:55,882 --> 00:30:56,883 still there?" and, uh... 738 00:30:56,883 --> 00:30:58,134 ♪ ♪ 739 00:30:58,134 --> 00:31:01,763 I went up and had a look. 740 00:31:01,763 --> 00:31:03,223 And come back, said, "Yeah, yeah. 741 00:31:03,223 --> 00:31:04,933 They're still there, mate. They're still there." 742 00:31:04,933 --> 00:31:06,184 And she was ecstatic. Yeah, she was. 743 00:31:06,184 --> 00:31:07,977 She was very happy about that. 744 00:31:07,977 --> 00:31:10,063 We sort of looked at each other and started crying and said, 745 00:31:10,063 --> 00:31:11,773 "Fuck, we're still alive." You know? Like... 746 00:31:13,066 --> 00:31:14,275 Let's get pissed. 747 00:31:14,275 --> 00:31:16,611 [laughs] 748 00:31:16,611 --> 00:31:19,155 ♪ ♪ 749 00:31:19,155 --> 00:31:21,157 ‐ We were almost at our point of refuge... 750 00:31:21,157 --> 00:31:22,617 ♪ ♪ 751 00:31:22,617 --> 00:31:24,744 When we saw a firetruck driving towards us. 752 00:31:24,744 --> 00:31:27,122 We broke down across the road... 753 00:31:27,122 --> 00:31:28,498 JASPER: And the relief... 754 00:31:28,498 --> 00:31:31,584 the relief was unbelievable, just to think, "Ah..." 755 00:31:31,584 --> 00:31:35,380 thank God that all these guys are now out safe. 756 00:31:35,380 --> 00:31:37,173 FIREFIGHTER: Shit. 757 00:31:37,173 --> 00:31:39,884 Dropped down. Had to walk outta there. 758 00:31:39,884 --> 00:31:41,177 KAYLE: We also couldn't believe that we'd 759 00:31:41,177 --> 00:31:42,887 got back there and found them, 760 00:31:42,887 --> 00:31:44,180 so it was a huge emotional moment 761 00:31:44,180 --> 00:31:45,974 for everyone to be able to get to safety. 762 00:31:45,974 --> 00:31:47,559 ‐ What a way to spend New Year's Eve. 763 00:31:47,559 --> 00:31:50,186 It's one I'll remember. That's for sure. [chuckles] 764 00:31:50,186 --> 00:31:52,981 CROWD: Five! Four! Three! 765 00:31:52,981 --> 00:31:54,816 Two! One! 766 00:31:54,816 --> 00:31:56,901 [crowd cheering] 767 00:31:56,901 --> 00:31:58,444 NEWSCASTER: I want a big thank you 768 00:31:58,444 --> 00:32:00,780 to the city of Sydney for putting on the fireworks. 769 00:32:00,780 --> 00:32:03,032 But most importantly, thank you 770 00:32:03,032 --> 00:32:05,076 to all the fireys out there, 771 00:32:05,076 --> 00:32:07,162 putting themselves on the line for so many Aussies 772 00:32:07,162 --> 00:32:09,205 who are having a tough time because of the fires. 773 00:32:09,205 --> 00:32:13,585 [cheering] 774 00:32:13,585 --> 00:32:14,711 LIVIA: And while the fireworks 775 00:32:14,711 --> 00:32:16,212 are shooting off in Sydney... 776 00:32:19,591 --> 00:32:22,719 All along the southeast coast of Australia, 777 00:32:22,719 --> 00:32:26,097 people are just picking up the pieces. 778 00:32:26,097 --> 00:32:29,642 Coming to terms with the trauma 779 00:32:29,642 --> 00:32:31,644 that they've just been through. 780 00:32:31,644 --> 00:32:33,980 [solemn music] 781 00:32:33,980 --> 00:32:36,357 ‐ I thought to myself... 782 00:32:36,357 --> 00:32:39,235 "Everything's gone, but I'm still here." 783 00:32:39,235 --> 00:32:40,945 I still had my life. 784 00:32:40,945 --> 00:32:41,946 Yeah... 785 00:32:41,946 --> 00:32:44,574 ♪ ♪ 786 00:32:53,750 --> 00:32:55,460 DANIELLE: Hi, Maggie. It's Danielle calling 787 00:32:55,460 --> 00:32:58,671 from the relief center for the water pods. 788 00:32:58,671 --> 00:33:00,882 But I'm just wondering if we can have one 789 00:33:00,882 --> 00:33:03,760 delivered to your place for them to collect... 790 00:33:03,760 --> 00:33:05,595 I have been working up at the 791 00:33:05,595 --> 00:33:08,473 Cobargo Bushfire Relief Centre. 792 00:33:08,473 --> 00:33:11,392 We have tools coming. But no food yet. 793 00:33:11,392 --> 00:33:15,188 12 to 15 hours a day, 6 to 7 days a week. 794 00:33:15,188 --> 00:33:16,481 Good, how are you, Joe? 795 00:33:16,481 --> 00:33:19,400 Helping people allocate donations. 796 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:21,444 So I'm just trying to confirm 797 00:33:21,444 --> 00:33:22,862 for the guys, where to deliver... 798 00:33:22,862 --> 00:33:24,697 Make sure there's food. 799 00:33:24,697 --> 00:33:25,698 Joe! 800 00:33:25,698 --> 00:33:27,116 We have 18 people 801 00:33:27,116 --> 00:33:29,202 permanently camped onsite who are displaced. 802 00:33:29,202 --> 00:33:30,745 Thank you, guys! 803 00:33:30,745 --> 00:33:32,914 LOCAL: Thanks for your support. Good on ya. 804 00:33:32,914 --> 00:33:35,750 ‐ It was a couple of days after the fire 805 00:33:35,750 --> 00:33:38,086 that the prime minister decided 806 00:33:38,086 --> 00:33:42,507 to boost his public image by visiting our town. 807 00:33:42,507 --> 00:33:45,510 REPORTER: Scott Morrison cut short a Hawaiian getaway, 808 00:33:45,510 --> 00:33:47,637 acknowledging his absence this week 809 00:33:47,637 --> 00:33:49,138 has caused some offense. 810 00:33:49,138 --> 00:33:50,890 DANIELLE: I'd seen the media coverage. 811 00:33:50,890 --> 00:33:53,810 I saw his, you know, little "hang loose" signs. 812 00:33:53,810 --> 00:33:55,270 [indistinct chatter] 813 00:33:55,270 --> 00:33:58,564 And I see him kind of grab my friend Zoe's hand. 814 00:33:58,564 --> 00:33:59,857 ZOE: I'm only shaking your hand 815 00:33:59,857 --> 00:34:01,776 if you give more funding to RFS. 816 00:34:01,776 --> 00:34:04,279 So many people here have lost their homes. 817 00:34:04,279 --> 00:34:07,031 [both speaking] 818 00:34:07,031 --> 00:34:08,825 DANIELLE: I can see her talking, 819 00:34:08,825 --> 00:34:10,576 and then he turns his back on her. 820 00:34:11,744 --> 00:34:13,329 And I was, like, you know. 821 00:34:14,706 --> 00:34:16,833 "No, you can't do that." 822 00:34:16,833 --> 00:34:18,668 How about some money for our forgotten corner 823 00:34:18,668 --> 00:34:21,546 of New South Wales, Mr. Prime Minister? 824 00:34:21,546 --> 00:34:25,300 How come we only had four trucks to defend our town? 825 00:34:25,300 --> 00:34:27,385 'Cause our town doesn't have a lot of money, 826 00:34:27,385 --> 00:34:30,179 but we have hearts of gold, Mr. Prime Minister. 827 00:34:30,179 --> 00:34:32,390 Him not listening to Zoe 828 00:34:32,390 --> 00:34:34,350 is him not listening to Australia. 829 00:34:34,350 --> 00:34:36,561 It's him not listening to scientists. 830 00:34:36,561 --> 00:34:38,813 It's him not listening to firefighters. 831 00:34:38,813 --> 00:34:42,358 Every single time this area has a flood or a fire, 832 00:34:42,358 --> 00:34:43,443 we get nothing! 833 00:34:43,443 --> 00:34:45,903 They have denied climate change. 834 00:34:45,903 --> 00:34:48,364 They say that it is not... 835 00:34:48,364 --> 00:34:51,451 as bad as all those pesky scientists 836 00:34:51,451 --> 00:34:52,577 are making out. 837 00:34:52,577 --> 00:34:53,661 LOCAL: Go on, piss off! 838 00:34:53,661 --> 00:34:54,996 DANIELLE: What about the people who... 839 00:34:54,996 --> 00:34:56,331 [all speaking] 840 00:34:56,331 --> 00:34:59,042 What about the people who have nowhere to live? 841 00:34:59,042 --> 00:35:01,878 I did give him his correct title. 842 00:35:01,878 --> 00:35:04,339 Um...Mr. Prime Minister. 843 00:35:04,339 --> 00:35:05,673 Didn't you, moron? 844 00:35:05,673 --> 00:35:06,924 ‐ Piece of [bleep]! 845 00:35:06,924 --> 00:35:08,259 ‐ Nah, you're an idiot, mate. 846 00:35:08,259 --> 00:35:10,386 ‐ I think my goat even went... [bleats] 847 00:35:10,386 --> 00:35:11,929 Like that at him as well. 848 00:35:11,929 --> 00:35:15,558 [indistinct shouting] 849 00:35:15,558 --> 00:35:17,894 [cheers and applause] 850 00:35:20,229 --> 00:35:23,232 [somber music] 851 00:35:23,232 --> 00:35:30,239 ♪ ♪ 852 00:35:50,093 --> 00:35:51,344 JOHN: Looks like a bit of rain, yeah. 853 00:35:51,344 --> 00:35:52,929 ‐ Oh, yeah, that's what we need. 854 00:35:52,929 --> 00:35:55,014 And it's gonna be heavy too. I'm gonna get a bit wee wet. 855 00:35:55,014 --> 00:35:56,265 JOHN: Yeah, I'll get this umbrella open. 856 00:35:56,265 --> 00:35:57,433 CAROL: Oh, okay. 857 00:35:57,433 --> 00:35:58,559 ♪ ♪ 858 00:35:58,559 --> 00:36:00,103 JOHN: How do you work this thing? 859 00:36:00,103 --> 00:36:02,271 CAROL: Just have to pull. Oh, that's a big fella. 860 00:36:02,271 --> 00:36:03,856 Ah! That's the gal. 861 00:36:03,856 --> 00:36:08,277 ♪ ♪ 862 00:36:08,277 --> 00:36:10,071 JOHN: Carol and I became friends, you know. 863 00:36:10,071 --> 00:36:11,406 I looked after her, I tried to‐‐ 864 00:36:11,406 --> 00:36:12,824 I'd make her, you know, dinner and breakfast 865 00:36:12,824 --> 00:36:14,117 and make her a porridge. 866 00:36:14,117 --> 00:36:15,827 She liked her porridge. Um... 867 00:36:15,827 --> 00:36:17,578 and, well, we exchanged stories. 868 00:36:17,578 --> 00:36:19,080 ♪ ♪ 869 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:20,331 CAROL: Over there, by that one. 870 00:36:21,374 --> 00:36:22,792 All along the top of that range, 871 00:36:22,792 --> 00:36:23,793 it just come over. 872 00:36:25,545 --> 00:36:27,004 JOHN: The chimneys are still standing, Carol. 873 00:36:27,004 --> 00:36:28,214 CAROL: Yeah, chimneys are still standing. 874 00:36:28,214 --> 00:36:29,549 They're not much good. JOHN: No. [laughs] 875 00:36:31,175 --> 00:36:32,593 Yeah. 876 00:36:32,593 --> 00:36:33,886 Got a lot to clean up there, haven't you? 877 00:36:33,886 --> 00:36:35,138 CAROL: Yeah. 878 00:36:35,138 --> 00:36:36,139 JOHN: All the rest of Carol's sheep 879 00:36:36,139 --> 00:36:37,140 didn't make it. 880 00:36:37,140 --> 00:36:38,683 ♪ ♪ 881 00:36:38,683 --> 00:36:40,935 There was 55 sheep we buried. 882 00:36:40,935 --> 00:36:42,437 ♪ ♪ 883 00:36:42,437 --> 00:36:43,855 There was nothing left of 'em, though, 884 00:36:43,855 --> 00:36:46,399 just bags of wool and bones. 885 00:36:46,399 --> 00:36:47,984 There was no meat left on them. 886 00:36:47,984 --> 00:36:50,778 They'd just been incinerated. 887 00:36:50,778 --> 00:36:52,905 ♪ ♪ 888 00:36:52,905 --> 00:36:56,159 CAROL: It's all gone. Everything is gone. Yeah. 889 00:36:56,159 --> 00:36:57,660 ‐ Nice to be alive. 890 00:36:57,660 --> 00:36:59,454 Still here. ‐ I'm still here. 891 00:36:59,454 --> 00:37:01,038 That's the problem. I'm still here. 892 00:37:01,038 --> 00:37:02,498 [both laugh] 893 00:37:02,498 --> 00:37:04,167 ‐ Ah. Only the good die young, mate. 894 00:37:04,167 --> 00:37:05,835 ‐ Yeah. That's right. 895 00:37:05,835 --> 00:37:07,754 Can't afford to go yet. I've got a lot to do. 896 00:37:07,754 --> 00:37:12,759 ♪ ♪ 897 00:37:12,759 --> 00:37:14,552 DENNIS: Here's the dog's water dish. 898 00:37:14,552 --> 00:37:16,179 MARY: Dennis had to go to the hospital 899 00:37:16,179 --> 00:37:17,722 for treatment for his wounds. 900 00:37:19,098 --> 00:37:20,558 DENNIS: My injuries are good now. 901 00:37:20,558 --> 00:37:22,226 They've, um, healed. 902 00:37:22,226 --> 00:37:24,020 That's through good vitamin C. 903 00:37:24,020 --> 00:37:25,855 I used to make me own. [chuckles] 904 00:37:25,855 --> 00:37:27,231 ♪ ♪ 905 00:37:27,231 --> 00:37:29,358 MARY: Look at this, Dennis. I used to love that. 906 00:37:29,358 --> 00:37:31,694 DENNIS: Ooh! We're gonna get wet. 907 00:37:31,694 --> 00:37:33,196 MARY: The help that's come through 908 00:37:33,196 --> 00:37:34,489 from social agencies... 909 00:37:34,489 --> 00:37:35,615 Heavy raindrops. 910 00:37:35,615 --> 00:37:37,158 We do feel guilty, at times, 911 00:37:37,158 --> 00:37:38,743 about accepting that. 912 00:37:38,743 --> 00:37:42,872 But everybody says, "Well, people want to help." 913 00:37:42,872 --> 00:37:44,791 It's making them feel good too. 914 00:37:44,791 --> 00:37:47,543 ♪ ♪ 915 00:37:47,543 --> 00:37:49,420 Mm, put my head on your shoulder. 916 00:37:49,420 --> 00:37:56,427 ♪ ♪ 917 00:37:59,514 --> 00:38:00,890 SHAUN: Oh. 918 00:38:00,890 --> 00:38:02,183 INDIA: Fuckin' stinks in here. 919 00:38:02,183 --> 00:38:03,976 SHAUN: Still smells like smoke, doesn't it? 920 00:38:03,976 --> 00:38:05,353 [India laughs] 921 00:38:05,353 --> 00:38:06,896 INDIA: And after the fire had come through, 922 00:38:06,896 --> 00:38:09,941 we were trapped here for a week with no power, 923 00:38:09,941 --> 00:38:11,442 so a lot of the time, we were sitting 924 00:38:11,442 --> 00:38:16,072 around a candle, just talking smack, so... 925 00:38:16,072 --> 00:38:17,907 yeah, that was fun. 926 00:38:17,907 --> 00:38:19,575 SHAUN: Yeah, for all that time when I was 927 00:38:19,575 --> 00:38:21,202 at the back of the house, I didn't know 928 00:38:21,202 --> 00:38:23,037 what was going on out the front here. 929 00:38:23,037 --> 00:38:26,040 And I opened up and told her a few things 930 00:38:26,040 --> 00:38:28,960 about myself that she... 931 00:38:28,960 --> 00:38:32,463 didn't know beforehand, and, um... [laughs] 932 00:38:32,463 --> 00:38:35,967 And all these things that I'll be forever looking for 933 00:38:35,967 --> 00:38:37,468 that, "Oh, that's right, it burned." 934 00:38:37,468 --> 00:38:39,637 ‐ And I asked him about... 935 00:38:40,721 --> 00:38:43,224 Not having a son. 936 00:38:43,224 --> 00:38:45,768 Because I'm pretty sure I remember Mom 937 00:38:45,768 --> 00:38:47,854 saying that he did really want a son. 938 00:38:47,854 --> 00:38:51,190 And the first thing he said to me is... 939 00:38:52,108 --> 00:38:53,526 "I don't need a son, 940 00:38:53,526 --> 00:38:56,237 because you've got more balls than any man I know." 941 00:38:56,237 --> 00:38:59,156 [laughs] 942 00:38:59,156 --> 00:39:00,575 So that was nice. 943 00:39:00,575 --> 00:39:02,869 ♪ ♪ 944 00:39:02,869 --> 00:39:04,412 SHAUN: Scrape it all up in a... 945 00:39:04,412 --> 00:39:05,955 ♪ ♪ 946 00:39:05,955 --> 00:39:08,124 Pile and get rid of it. 947 00:39:08,124 --> 00:39:11,127 ♪ ♪ 948 00:39:11,127 --> 00:39:12,295 ‐ Shit. 949 00:39:12,295 --> 00:39:13,421 SHAUN: Look at this mess you made. 950 00:39:13,421 --> 00:39:14,839 INDIA: Fuckin' hell. [Shaun laughs] 951 00:39:16,048 --> 00:39:19,510 ‐ I'm just so very, very proud of her and her ability. 952 00:39:19,510 --> 00:39:20,845 Yeah. 953 00:39:20,845 --> 00:39:22,263 To do anything. 954 00:39:22,263 --> 00:39:24,348 Handle anything, I think. [laughs] 955 00:39:24,348 --> 00:39:26,058 Yeah. [grunts] 956 00:39:26,058 --> 00:39:27,351 I love her very much. 957 00:39:28,644 --> 00:39:31,230 [eerie music] 958 00:39:31,230 --> 00:39:33,482 LIVIA: More than 30 people have died. 959 00:39:33,482 --> 00:39:37,403 More than 3 1/2 thousand homes have been destroyed. 960 00:39:37,403 --> 00:39:39,530 Millions of acres of bushland 961 00:39:39,530 --> 00:39:42,325 and about a billion animals, scientists say, 962 00:39:42,325 --> 00:39:45,578 have been wiped out in these bushfires. 963 00:39:45,578 --> 00:39:48,331 [Dennis speaking quietly] 964 00:39:48,331 --> 00:39:50,374 What these survivors have shown 965 00:39:50,374 --> 00:39:53,294 is that people have this remarkable ability 966 00:39:53,294 --> 00:39:55,212 to adapt in a crisis. 967 00:39:55,212 --> 00:39:56,881 MARY: Granny's old plates. 968 00:39:56,881 --> 00:40:00,384 LIVIA: But when it comes to addressing the root cause, 969 00:40:00,384 --> 00:40:03,262 our society can seem shortsighted. 970 00:40:03,262 --> 00:40:05,389 SHAUN: Gross as a little baby mountain grey gum. 971 00:40:05,389 --> 00:40:07,767 DANIELLE: I think it's echoing 972 00:40:07,767 --> 00:40:10,311 what is happening all throughout the world. 973 00:40:10,311 --> 00:40:11,896 People are disenfranchised 974 00:40:11,896 --> 00:40:14,440 with the leaders and the people who are in power. 975 00:40:14,440 --> 00:40:16,275 ♪ ♪ 976 00:40:16,275 --> 00:40:18,319 LIVIA: When we ignore systemic issues, 977 00:40:18,319 --> 00:40:22,156 we face this dramatic action to survive. 978 00:40:22,156 --> 00:40:25,326 And the threat posed by a warming climate, 979 00:40:25,326 --> 00:40:28,704 given its gradual, almost creeping advance 980 00:40:28,704 --> 00:40:31,582 and its enormous potential for devastation, 981 00:40:31,582 --> 00:40:35,336 may prove to be the most significant yet. 982 00:40:35,336 --> 00:40:37,296 ‐ Okay, so convoy missions. 983 00:40:37,296 --> 00:40:38,756 I'll just go and get the addresses 984 00:40:38,756 --> 00:40:40,216 for the deliveries. 985 00:40:40,216 --> 00:40:42,301 LIVIA: But I think we're all starting to realize 986 00:40:42,301 --> 00:40:45,096 that the biggest changes that can be made 987 00:40:45,096 --> 00:40:47,974 start at a grassroots level. 988 00:40:47,974 --> 00:40:49,850 ‐ Well done. Thanks for all your support. 989 00:40:49,850 --> 00:40:53,604 ‐ Because you can't rely on your government 990 00:40:53,604 --> 00:40:58,359 to, uh, heal or guide or make the right decisions. 991 00:40:58,359 --> 00:41:00,653 So I think it's this acceptance 992 00:41:00,653 --> 00:41:04,615 that it's, um, the community that will do it. 993 00:41:07,535 --> 00:41:10,538 [somber music] 994 00:41:10,538 --> 00:41:17,586 ♪ ♪ 995 00:41:20,256 --> 00:41:21,716 DAN: Since we've been home, 996 00:41:21,716 --> 00:41:23,300 the kids have had their moments. 997 00:41:24,552 --> 00:41:25,594 Up and down. 998 00:41:26,679 --> 00:41:27,930 CHILD: You pick him up. 999 00:41:27,930 --> 00:41:30,266 MOTHER: No, you pick him up. Dad'll get him. 1000 00:41:30,266 --> 00:41:32,643 DAN: They're still asking a lot of questions, and... 1001 00:41:32,643 --> 00:41:34,020 "Is Mallacoota safe? 1002 00:41:34,020 --> 00:41:36,647 And can we have fires here, Daddy?" And... 1003 00:41:36,647 --> 00:41:37,773 [Mother growls] 1004 00:41:37,773 --> 00:41:39,650 ‐ [screams] [Mother laughs] 1005 00:41:39,650 --> 00:41:42,486 DAN: We're still trying to work it out in our head 1006 00:41:42,486 --> 00:41:44,530 what will happen, you know? 1007 00:41:44,530 --> 00:41:46,407 Then this pandemic, 1008 00:41:46,407 --> 00:41:50,619 it's gonna be a prolonged emotional roller coaster. 1009 00:41:50,619 --> 00:41:53,664 ♪ ♪ 1010 00:41:53,664 --> 00:41:55,374 And it worries me... 1011 00:41:55,374 --> 00:41:58,836 immensely that my children 1012 00:41:58,836 --> 00:42:03,049 may have to go through this experience again. 1013 00:42:03,049 --> 00:42:10,056 ♪ ♪ 1014 00:42:12,808 --> 00:42:15,811 [light music] 1015 00:42:15,811 --> 00:42:22,777 ♪ ♪