Just when I thought fire season might be at an end

This one starts.

Looking like a distant mini Mount Saint Helen's eruption.

The almost rain we had last week-end turned out to be just that - almost. This week swung into some cycles of high pressure systems bringing with them hot, dry winds. Today was particularly punishing, probably with temperatures well into the 30's, centigrade.

With a hot wind behind it and the countryside at its all year driest, one hopes not to have someone starting a fire near you.

This one raced up the mountainside and was quickly burning along a broad front many kilometers long.

Between the trees in the foreground, the angular roofs of buildings can be seen glinting in the distance. This is Saddle Creek Lodge, a game farm and lodge a number of kilometers away.

A little earlier the fire front had looked like this.

The fire was later put out or burned out against obstacles like cliffs or roads, not sure how the lodge fared in all of this just yet.

Just hope it starts to rain soon and taking extra precautions to avoid fire damage by removing things to clearing or a safe distance from any now highly flammable grass and trees.