Every Australian who lives in a bush-fire zones knows there comes a point when you have to decide whether to stay or go. The general advice is that, if you are well prepared, then it is (relatively) safe to stay, to defend your house.
If you're going to go, you need to go early, before the smoke makes driving hazardous.
The problem they had in Victoria is that the fire moved much, much faster than anyone really expected...
Gary Hughes from The Australia, explains how
his family nearly didn't make it.
The
Red Cross are taking donations if you want to help.