I live in in Hurstbridge, (Well where we are is classified Cottles Bridge) but you get the jist. We're on 26 acres. The fire in kinglake had the wind behind it and was coming from us. I was at a friends place at the time, but mum called me and told me what was happening. Anyway, mum and dad sent my brothers to family friends house, packed important things and were ready to leave when told. Apariently from what my mum said, there was an orange glow over the top of the trees and the sky was black. Anyway, luckily the wind changed direction and the fire went to St. Andrews. If the wind didn't change, there is no doubt in my mind that my house, and hundreds of others in hurstbridge would have been destroyed and the fire would have gone on through Wattle Glen and Diamond creek.
My brother has a picture of the glow on the trees but it's on his phone and he is on camp...
Anyway yeh in the end, the fire was around 15km from my house, but 15km for fire is much quicker than driving in a car...
Thats my 2 cents.
Also: People from the effected areas are staying in Hurstbridge, Diamond Creek, Kangaroo ground halls and I belive are wanting clothes and sorting them into piles. Anyway thats that they where doing lastnight when we dropped off a bag of clothes, so if you live in the area yeh.