An itinerant ambulance calls on residents and clusters of people in a devastated street in Kambah where numerous houses were lost, [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-vn3513587; Purchased 2005. "Feltus Place Kambah at 1930 hrs, 18:01:2003. Direct exposure to a full-blown fire is but one, transient, hazard faced by residents and fire fighters out-of-doors when serious fire incursions occur into residential and industrial areas. When structures ignite, exploding gas bottles and fuel containers, toxic and corrosive fumes from stored chemicals and plastic products, freed asbestos dust, add to falling trees, branches, collapsing powerlines and structures are but some of the more common hazards encountered. To all these dangers may be added; roof and ladder falls and panic driven motor vehicles in poor visibility conditions, physical and emotional stresses, heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation all make for a very dangerous environment. It is also noteworthy, that on a large-scale emergency, such as in Southern Canberra, emergency services would be stretched far beyond capacity and likely not available for some time, particularly if communications fail as did a major mobile phone network"--Note from the photographer