As bushfires burning across NSW were downgraded, residents of the 19 homes destroyed by the flames started the long process of rebuilding their lives.
Glen and Diane Cross told SBS News they had just 25 minutes to save the life they had built over 24 years, but both their home and car wreckers business in Tingha have been completely destroyed.
Glen and Diane Cross lost their home and business in the Tingha bushfire. Source: SBS News
“It’s our life just gone up in smoke ... worked up to what we got, now got nothing," Mr Cross said.
What they managed to save before the fire ripped through their property now fits in the backseat of a car.
"We have insurance on the house, but the business and the rest of the yard, nothing was insured," he said. "Just have to clean it up and start again."
Glen and Diane Cross' property after the fire. Source: SBS News
Another resident, Dick Blair, said his home came within metres of the flames.
"I hope I never see another one like it," he said.
"All of my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren were very concerned about me."
The Tingha fire, which was downgraded to an advice level on Thursday night, has destroyed at least nine homes and damaged one other, the NSW Rural Fire Service said in a statement.
About 18 outbuildings such as sheds have been destroyed in the 19,000-hectare fire.
It is now being controlled and backburning is taking place.
Meanwhile, another fire allegedly started in a backyard rubbish bin at Tabulum on the NSW-Queensland border destroyed 10 homes.
It also razed 23 outbuildings and damaged a further six homes as it burned through 4000 hectares.
Less than 50 kilometres west of Tabulum, another massive fire at Wallangarra has burned through 28,000 hectares.
Firefighters will take advantage of favourable weather over the next few days in a bid to extinguish the fires though it could take days to fully contain the blazes and they don't have time to ease.
While temperatures will range from the high-20s in coastal areas to mid-30s inland throughout Friday, they are again tipped to climb into the high-30s in the northern regions by early next week.
With AAP
