THE bushfire emergency at St Helens at the weekend was a stark reminder of just how quickly these incidents can occur.
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Several fires were blown towards houses on St Helens Point Road, setting fire to two homes.
Thankfully none were lost, which is a credit to the quick response of fire crews and a fortuitous late afternoon downpour.
In scenes reminiscent of the devastating Tasman Peninsula fires, residents were evacuated to the relative safety of the sea.
What a nervous and anxious wait they must have had on that boat ramp as the smoke filled the air. The cause of the four-square-kilometre blaze is not yet known, but residents will be hoping it was accidental - knowing there's someone willing to put others in harm's way is a terrible feeling.
East Coast locals would have been reminded of the 2006 East Coast fires, which saw 26 homes lost and 50 other properties destroyed when gale force winds pushed the blaze into Scamander.
Thankfully there were no repeats of the outcomes of that devastating day.
Bushfires move amazingly quickly - where moments ago there was nothing but a little smoke, there can be a wall of flame.
Depending on the wind, vegetation load and landscape, bushfires can spread up to 20km/h with gusts making the front look like the flames are leaping ahead.
Ember showers can rain down for up to several kilometres, causing spot fires and new fronts.
A bushfire emergency in October is not unheard of, but it is concerning if it's a portent for the summer ahead.
October is bushfire awareness month and asks people the simple question: "Are you prepared?"
If people living in or near the bush do not already have a bushfire emergency plan, they should be working on it right now.
A written plan can help you think clearly and logically if an emergency occurs.
It's too late to decide what to do when the blaze arrives.