00:00It's been a really fast-evolving scenario here in Xi'an just yesterday.
00:09This was an area where people were watching on and seeing what was going and quickly they
00:14were told to leave at about 6 o'clock last night or to seek shelter.
00:18Now a couple of hours later they were able to, that was downgraded to a watch and act
00:24but it wasn't safe to return and now at about 11.30 this morning they were told that they
00:29could return but they had to be really on alert to monitor these conditions.
00:35So I've spoken to some of the members of the community here.
00:38I've been here for roughly 45 minutes and they were telling me that these skies were
00:42just bright orange, it was just fully alight and that once this alert came out, there's
00:49about 700 people that live here, not everyone left but there were cars just out of town
00:54to Queenstown where the evacuation centre is.
00:58So I've chatted to someone who did leave and he was able to sort of feedback some of
01:04that information.
01:05We're unsure roughly how many people did go but here at the moment there isn't really,
01:11doesn't really appear to be a lot of damage to properties.
01:15That person who did leave told me that there was a bit of smoke that had blown through
01:18his house, a bit of ash on his property but that at this stage seems to be the extent
01:23which is pretty good considering these fires got within four kilometres of this town here.
01:28Yeah, it must have been really frightening for them.
01:30I guess in small communities like that, Bec, they all come together during challenging
01:34times like this.
01:37Absolutely, both here in Zeon and the West Coast more broadly.
01:41So one of the hotels here, they opened their doors and said, you know, if you need some
01:46food, if you need some accommodation, if you need a bit of shelter or if you want a beer,
01:52our doors are open for you.
01:54Further down in Queenstown where the evacuation centre is, there were people just from the
01:59community coming and dropping off food, bedding and some people were even saying, opening
02:04their own doors in Queenstown and saying, you can come and stay with us, we'll look
02:09after you, we're safe here.
02:10The West Coast Mayor has gone out and said that West Coasters have big hearts and that
02:15certainly seems to be the case here.
02:18And Bec, am I right in saying that the West Coast is going to get some more firefighters soon?
02:24Yes, that's right.
02:25So earlier today, we were in Tulla.
02:27That's about an hour's drive from here at the moment.
02:30And they're setting up a base camp.
02:32So there'll be tents, there'll be showers, toilets, all sorts of amenities.
02:37That's ready.
02:38That's going to be ready about tomorrow morning.
02:40And then it will start to take on some of the Tasmanian authorities.
02:44And then come Monday, we'll be welcoming about 26 firefighters from the ACT and New South Wales.
02:50Now this camp, as I said, that will be ready tomorrow and once it's at full capacity, we'll
02:55be able to take on about 150 personnel.
02:58So no doubt that really is of comfort to people here in the region because it's an evolving
03:03situation and we're in this for some days, if not weeks.
03:08So this is no doubt of comfort.
Comments