IT WAS ravaged by floods last March and yesterday Oura faced yet another dire emergency.
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There was a very real threat the Valema fire, burning out of control on the hill to the township’s north, could overrun Oura and residents were on edge.
Residents in the township and nearby rural properties cast their eyes nervously to the north as the fire began to head toward the town.
PICTURE GALLERY: Oura fire pictures
There were grim faces at the Oura Rural Fire Brigade station yesterday.
Firefighters used the location as a command post, which doubled as an initial evacuation centre for those from outlying properties prior to the blanket evacuation order, which came at about 2.30pm.
When the order came, Oura residents frantically rushed to gather what belongings they could and get out before it became too late.
Just minutes later, residents who hadn’t managed to evacuate were advised to shelter in their homes and the roads in and out of the town were closed as the situation began to deteriorate.
Farmers at nearby Brampton Park hurriedly herded their cattle to safety as the firefront bore down on their properties.
Conditions in the fire area were stifling yesterday, with the discomfort caused by temperatures in the high-30s amplified by gusty winds.
While the actual fire front didn’t come close to Oura in the end, the thick cloud of smoke generated by the blaze cast a dark haze over the township.
The blaze initially started out as a series of small fronts branching out in all directions, with erratic winds twisting and contorting the fire at frequent intervals.
As gusts picked up early in the afternoon the fires merged together to form a dangerous several-kilometre-long super front which began to speed towards the township, triggering the evacuation order.
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