Nuthin' like a little excitement....

Here is a link to an article about the fire in Ellenbrook. There should be a video as well.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/16255253/upper-swan-fire-under-control/

They take bush fires very seriously here and for good reason. So when there is a fire the activate an emergency system by which all mobile phones in the area as well as home phones receive automated messages.

This was my first experience with the emergency alert system and have found it very reassuring. Though it must be said they are much slower about giving the all clear.

We got the first text message just about lunch time, so I got the go bags in the car and a few extra things, just in case, then walked down to the school since the line was busy.

The school had more information about the exact location which was still a couple miles away with a lot of houses in between so they were not evacuating. If things changed a message would be sent to all parents.

At 2 o'clock we received a second message that the school was not being evacuated but parents were encouraged to pick up their children just to be prepared (and some students are from the area that was evacuated, The Vines)

Then at 3 o'clock we got a third messaged telling to prepare to defend or to leave. Well I ain't planin' on defendin' nuthin'. So we put the last few things and the dog in the car and went down to our dear friend Shiwei's house.

The fire wasn't close enough for us to see flames or be choked by smoke or anything but I believe it is better safe than sorry.

We ate dinner with our friends, who very kindly scrabbled around for food Samantha and I can eat (though I did have Failsafe Baked Beans)

A bit after five they put out the all clear to return.

Tomorrow I might drive around and see where the fire was exactly.

It was a good practice run.

Oh and my Mum-in-law rather reluctantly agreed to go to her friends house and go to the meeting from her house.