This rings a bell, Nick:

Sometime in that we get the ferocious winds (up to 150 mph) that fan the flames *we have that from the winds off the Atlantic ocean and we still have a lunatic fringe that get their kicks from lighting fires! yep, here too as you may recal from last year's summer (the year before was worse).

The thing we may have going for us is the tropical rainy, humid weather and maybe our canals. Today, the temps may get to the high 20's to low 30's (32 degrees above zero this am). No frost on the windows or snow yet though(!).

I know... terrible loss of property and life. I'm sure Canberra will be back to it's former glory.

Marcia