Australian Woman Shares Photos After Fires Destroyed Her House, But Left Her Garden Untouched
At this point, the Australian bushfires seem like an unstoppable force that is destroying everything in its path. Despite this, millions upon millions of people are fighting the catastrophe any way they can.
Bored Panda has recently covered a number of stories about this, including the dog that saved a flock of sheep, teens driving around and saving Koalas, a local Muslim community helping exhausted firefighters, and celebrities calling for action and donating to the cause.
Like many others in Australia, Casey Kirchhoff too had to flee her home because of the bushfires
Image credits: gumnut_case
However, in the midst of this whole chaos, a Twitter story surfaced showing that perhaps not all hope is lost. Casey Kirchhoff, a PhD candidate at the University of New South Wales and Australian alpine plant enthusiast, recently posted pictures of what was left of her home.
For some reason, the bushfires ravaging Wingello decided to claim Kirchhoff’s house… but not her garden. Nor her greenhouse. Whether it was divine intervention or nature’s way of fighting back, the wildfires decided to not be destructive for once, leaving hope for people that perhaps not everyone will have to rebuild from scratch.
When she returned to her home, she found everything burned down… except for parts of her garden
Image credits: gumnut_case
Image credits: gumnut_case
Her nan’s Colebrookdale setting, rose arbors, pumpkins, flowers, fences & gate were left intact
Image credits: gumnut_case
Casey Kirchhoff had to flee her home due to the bushfires coming towards Wingello, a village in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. Together with her also came her three adorable dogs, Billy, Evig, and Cookie, her hen Charcoal and three chicks Spark, Ember, and Flame, as well as a family of 7 quail birds. She also managed to save some of her beloved flora like various pepper plants and her seed collection.
After fleeing, she received a call that her house was gone, but was not sure about the garden until she went there personally. Much to her (and our) surprise, parts of her garden were completely unscathed. Pictures show that her grandmother’s Colebrookdale setting, the bunting (somehow), rose arbors, fences and gate were left intact. Even some of the pumpkins and flowers avoided the raging fires.
As of this post, a number of people extended their help to Kirchhoff, offering any support that they can. Luckily, Casey had accommodations, food, water, fuel, and everything that she needed already, so she urged the people willing to help to help those who are in much more dire situations.
Once reports of incomming fires started piling up, Kirchhoff left for safety
Image credits: gumnut_case
She packed up everything she could, including her lovely mini zoo and flowers
Image credits: gumnut_case
Image credits: gumnut_case
Even saved some of her plants along the way
Image credits: gumnut_case
Image credits: gumnut_case
Image credits: gumnut_case
She later took to Instagram to explain the situation and to call for change regarding climate issues
Image credits: gumnut_case
Kirchhoff soon took to Instagram to explain the situation that she was in and called for change. She said:
“The current bushfire crisis in Australia is unprecedented. I’ve been watching in absolute horror since August as the fires rage, consuming everything in their path regardless of whether hazard reduction burns had recently been conducted or not. Severe drought conditions are exacerbated by climate change, which is influencing the climatic processes that govern rainfall in Australia. We’ve experienced one degree of warming, which is expected to climb. We’ve literally had decades to act on climate change, yet world leaders drag their feet, the worst of all being Australia. We needed action on climate change decades ago. But since we can’t have that, we need it NOW.”
Remember that the Australian bushfires are still at large and every little bit helps, so please consider donating for the cause: The Red Cross, St Vincent de Paul, Human Appeal, Celeste Barber’s Facebook Fundraiser, or any other.
Glad you can focus on, and be thankful for the good that's survived. Once the fires kicked off, there was no stopping them. We had some friends from North Nowra that were evacuated Saturday night, stay at our place. And while we were relieved the fires moved past their property, our worries were soon with the people towards kangaroo Valley. Best wishes from Bomaderry. Let me know if I can help in some way.
It's remarkable how she says they (I assume she means her and her family) have everything they need after loosing so much. Perspektive is everything. The place looked so beautiful with so much greenery before the fire. I hope that one day they can rebuild and regrow and that things turn for the better for them. And it's a little miracle a big part of the garden and the greenhouse survived
This is a sign of regrowth and a new beginning for her. Hope in the face to tragedy.
I'm so glad that your animals are safe and that you have such an appreciative spirit. The fires destroyed your home, and yet you are simply grateful for your little animal family to be safe. Good luck and best wishes from the US.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/australia-arrested-bushfires/ Just in case any idiots decide to drop by on this article spouting 'bUt wHaT aBoUt tHE ArSONisTs' I'm sick of the ignorance.
I love the name of her chickens!! Charcoal, spark, ember and flame!!
You are in my prayers, but I do need to ask is the international Red Cross, The UN or other disaster relief agencies onsite?
Glad you can focus on, and be thankful for the good that's survived. Once the fires kicked off, there was no stopping them. We had some friends from North Nowra that were evacuated Saturday night, stay at our place. And while we were relieved the fires moved past their property, our worries were soon with the people towards kangaroo Valley. Best wishes from Bomaderry. Let me know if I can help in some way.
It's remarkable how she says they (I assume she means her and her family) have everything they need after loosing so much. Perspektive is everything. The place looked so beautiful with so much greenery before the fire. I hope that one day they can rebuild and regrow and that things turn for the better for them. And it's a little miracle a big part of the garden and the greenhouse survived
This is a sign of regrowth and a new beginning for her. Hope in the face to tragedy.
I'm so glad that your animals are safe and that you have such an appreciative spirit. The fires destroyed your home, and yet you are simply grateful for your little animal family to be safe. Good luck and best wishes from the US.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/australia-arrested-bushfires/ Just in case any idiots decide to drop by on this article spouting 'bUt wHaT aBoUt tHE ArSONisTs' I'm sick of the ignorance.
I love the name of her chickens!! Charcoal, spark, ember and flame!!
You are in my prayers, but I do need to ask is the international Red Cross, The UN or other disaster relief agencies onsite?
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