b' Cover storyMALLACOOTA BURNS!Caught in a Christmas firestormWe headed off just after Christmas direction) was likely to swing bottles into the lake, we headed toon the annual camping holiday to towards Mallacoota when the the surf beach with many othersMallacoota with tinnie, kayak, predicted SW change came through carrying very little apart from themountain bikes, tent and late on the 30th and early on the clothes on our back as we expectedaccessories all in tow, and arrived 31st December. to return shortly.27th December knowing of the All of the campers were advised to After a glass of wine we settled inimpending heatwave, but with no expect an ember attack at 5:00am to sleep on the sand shelteringidea what was in store. NYE. What we didnt anticipate was from the Northerly and trying to29th December, we received being told at 4:00pm the afternoon avoid being sandblasted - sleepnotification of Cann River fires and before, we needed to clear out and was scarce - it was bitterly cold inwith predicted temperatures of activate our fire plan as the fire was our t shirt and shorts still from the40plus degrees and a SW change, suddenly only an hour away! hot day!When the wind swungwe started to become a little After a frantic camp pack up, round to come fromthe SW weconcerned. putting the fuel laden tinnie on the moved to the lake side of the beach30th December another hot day, it sand bar and paddling the kayak and froze!And were again sandbecame apparent that the Cann across the Bar to the ocean and blasted.River fire (travelling in a NE dropping the fuel tank and gas14 MARCH2020 TRACKWATCH'