Sheds and gardens in a Kambah backyard burn furiously one hour after the arrival of fire at the back fence, [18 January 2003] [picture] /

Title from caption list supplied by the photographer, see file NLA04/564.; Part of the collection: A blood red noon, photography of the Brindabella & southern ACT fires of January 2003.; Also available in an electronic version via the Internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3513562; Purchased 2005. "Off Millar Place Kambah at 1725 hrs, 18:01:2003. Canberra, a city of trees, shrubs and expansive lawns grew to an artificial biotic diversity and density on once open grassy plains supported by regular irrigation from an abundant reticulated water supply. When a prolonged and severe drought brought tight restrictions on the use of water for the maintenance of garden vegetation and a mid-summer of hot desiccating winds, first lawns then shrubs and trees in home gardens, commercial and public landscaping began to wilt and cure and surface litter deposits and tanbark scatters dried out to a crisp. The artificial city forests then mimicked the fuel structures and then the flammability of native and plantation forests in the hinterland, and they burnt with almost the same ferocity"--Note from the photographer