Rathowen girl's relief

Olga Aughey

The hopes of Rathowen native Niamh Walsh, living in Australia, for a reprieve from the smoke and fumes filling Sydney’s outskirts have been granted.

Australian fire officials said yesterday, the threat to the Blue Mountains west of Sydney had been averted but, warned the crisis was far from over.

Niamh told us yesterday morning (Wednesday October 24) that things had worsened and she, and all Sydneysiders, were hoping for a reprieve.

“Things have actually gotten worse today. They are completely evacuating the Blue Mountains. It’s hot, dry and windy which means the fires are spreading like crazy. We desperately need rain,” she implored.“So many people live in the Blue Mountains and commute to the city so they are being ordered not to go home.

“Air in the city is still not great but at least we have our homes. Cross your fingers we get a reprieve soon!” she said.

Sydney’s Marie Sweeney, whose aunt Helen Coyle and extended family are from Castlepollard, lives just 30 minutes from the Blue Mountains told us the situation was “heart breaking”.An Irish dancer, Marie, has family and friends in one of the areas most affected:

“It is heart breaking to hear of families losing their homes and scary to think matters are worsening. One of the families from (Irish) dancing lives in a street where by their house and another house were the only two left standing out of 40 or so houses.
“Smoke from the fires filled the sky last Friday, covering a great distance! I found burnt leaves that had been blown from the Mountains down to our house!
“Today (Wednesday October 23) residents have been recommended to evacuate as early as possible as they are expecting the fire to worsen, with a possibility of two fires merging. We are praying that does not happen as it will then become extremely difficult to control!”

Westmeath's Koran Larkin who moved to Sydney nine years ago, sent us in photos that a fellow work colleague, nurse Natt Drew, a volunteer firefigther, took while fighting the blaze.

“She fought fires in and around the west of Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
“The smoke from these fires were horrendous. The smell shocking. Temperatures in my area in the north of Sydney were a stifling 39 degrees. Add in the smoke fumes and haze - it was unbearable. Our electricity went out. We couldn’t open doors or windows. The silence and eerie feeling was awful,” said Koran.

The latest is that Blue Mountain residents were allowed return to their homes. For more check out www.news.com.au or check out page 3 of this week’s edition of the Westmeath Examiner.