Yes everyone is fine, we've got a fair amount of spare space out here so nobody has been exposed at this stage. Although the highway out of town has been closed for the last few days.

I think it will be a good thing provided nobody is hurt etc in the process. It's a natural part of the yearly cycle out here. It gets dry for most of the year, the spinifex grass and weeds flourish (which none of the livestock or native animals can eat), a giant fire comes through just as spring hits and kills it all off. Everything grows again and the place is beautiful for a few months, only to dry out again when the rain stops.

I think the difference this year is that we really didn't have many bush fires last year, so there was a lot more fuel and hence the fires have been larger.