They took a last look at their antique furniture, other comforts and 80-odd sheep, and then shut the door on a home they saved their whole lives to own, not knowing when to return, or what may be left. 'We've got nowhere to go,' Petra says. vicfires
They packed two cars with their most precious possessions, cleared the gutters and put sprinklers on the roof.
Close to 500 people had joined them, mostly from Harrietville and Bright, by early Saturday afternoon.The picturesque tourist towns, usually swarming with people this time of year, were near-empty, residents say, after police knocked on doors and town meetings warned them of the coming danger just kilometres away.
"We've got nowhere to go," Petra said. "You can't pay $160 for a hotel every night. We're only pensioners."The five-strong Samarasinghe family arrived from Bright on Saturday morning after having had enough of smelling the thickening smoke and watching the ever-reddening sun.The three kids barely slept on Friday night."I don't want to lose my toys," Duleetha, 8, added.
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