‘We’re all rattled’: early season fires spook towns across Australia, even if it’s not black summer conditions – yet

Fast-moving fires in parched urban fringes have residents on edge, and no one needs a reminder of how bad things can getGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIt was 3am Sunday when Robin and Paul McLean received the text. A fire was encroaching on their Lake Macquarie home and it was too late to leave.Their adult daughter, who lives with them, is confined to her bed due to disability and has her own evacuation plan that includes calling an ambulance if they reach a “watch and act” alert level – the second of three alert levels, between “advice” and “emergency warning”. But suddenly there was no time. Continue reading…