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Thursday, 10 July 2014

Veldfire!


Camera : Canon EOS 550D
Taken on our smallholding (Tarlton, Gauteng, South Africa)

Yesterday afternoon half our plot’s grazing was destroyed by a veldfire, driven by a strong, icy cold wind, as it raged across our smallholding. The flames were only 1 or 2 feet high, but seemed to have a life of their own, jumping and billowing to over a meter high at intervals. All the staff were out in force, trying to keep it away from the house and other buildings. Sometimes it’s not the size of the fire that is scary, but the speed at which it can gallop.

Where these start is always a mystery…



 

 

 

 


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6 comments:

  1. Studio at the Farm10 July 2014 at 15:15

    That is truly frightening, Maree! I hope no one and no animals were hurt, and the damage was minimal.
    Kathryn

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    1. Maree Clarkson11 July 2014 at 06:50

      Thanks for your concern Kathryn. No real damage and no-one was hurt. All Solly's chickens charged into my back-yard to escape the flames, clever fellows they are!

      Delete
  2. Midmarsh John10 July 2014 at 23:29

    I can't imagine anything more frightening than a wild fire when everything depends on the wind as to where it goes next.

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    1. Maree Clarkson11 July 2014 at 06:53

      That's true John, the wind is the scary part. Just after I took the photos, the wind changed direction and the fire hurtled up the rest of the plot, coming close to the wall around the house. One benefit of these fires is all the crispy tit-bits it leaves in its wake. Later that afternoon we had dozens of Egrets and Herons snacking on the blackened landscape.

      Delete
  3. Elizabeth Kendall11 July 2014 at 06:44

    Wild, but beautiful! Brings back so many memories....

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    Replies
    1. Maree Clarkson11 July 2014 at 06:54

      It is Liz, beautiful and mesmerising when you're close, can't stop looking at the flames!

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