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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Fires 'like a horror movie' | Fires 'like a horror movie' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A British teacher living in Melbourne - 30 miles from Australia's worst ever bush fires - did not need local news reports to know something was wrong. | A British teacher living in Melbourne - 30 miles from Australia's worst ever bush fires - did not need local news reports to know something was wrong. |
| James King said the sky went a dirty crimson "like something from a horror movie", as the sun was blotted out by fires that have killed almost 100. | James King said the sky went a dirty crimson "like something from a horror movie", as the sun was blotted out by fires that have killed almost 100. |
| Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the world, his mother Jenny King was having her own taste of extreme weather. | Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the world, his mother Jenny King was having her own taste of extreme weather. |
| The 60-year-old retired teacher was snowed in at her home in Devon. | The 60-year-old retired teacher was snowed in at her home in Devon. |
| It was like something from a horror movie James King Mr King, 34, who lived in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, before emigrating seven years ago, said: "I knew something was not right. The sky went crimson with ash and I could smell all the smoke in the atmosphere. | It was like something from a horror movie James King Mr King, 34, who lived in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, before emigrating seven years ago, said: "I knew something was not right. The sky went crimson with ash and I could smell all the smoke in the atmosphere. |
| "It was like a thick, dense, dirty fog. There was smoke everywhere. It looked like Armageddon or something from a horror movie. I hope I never experience anything like that again." | "It was like a thick, dense, dirty fog. There was smoke everywhere. It looked like Armageddon or something from a horror movie. I hope I never experience anything like that again." |
| The fires followed a week when temperatures hit 47C (117F). | The fires followed a week when temperatures hit 47C (117F). |
| British expat James King says it has been too hot to walk down the roadMr King, who has previously lived in Dubai, said: "The day started warm and then increased and increased until it was really terrible. With the winds as well it's like standing in a convection oven. | |
| "It is worse than being cold, because then you can put another layer on. | "It is worse than being cold, because then you can put another layer on. |
| "In heat like that there is nothing you can do - you feel like you are melting. My friends were all phoning up the 'pom' to ask how I like it. I've lived in Dubai but I never felt as hot as that. I went for a walk but it was too hot to get around. It really takes your breath away." | "In heat like that there is nothing you can do - you feel like you are melting. My friends were all phoning up the 'pom' to ask how I like it. I've lived in Dubai but I never felt as hot as that. I went for a walk but it was too hot to get around. It really takes your breath away." |
| Freakish weather | Freakish weather |
| Mr King continued: "It was strange to think of the huge contrast - while I was here with the heat and the fire my mother was stuck inside with the snow. Even though we are on opposite sides of the world I think it says something about climate change. Both of us were experiencing such extreme weather conditions." | Mr King continued: "It was strange to think of the huge contrast - while I was here with the heat and the fire my mother was stuck inside with the snow. Even though we are on opposite sides of the world I think it says something about climate change. Both of us were experiencing such extreme weather conditions." |
| The freakish weather took another turn later in the day as the temperature suddenly plummeted. Mr King recalled: "In the afternoon the temperature dropped so quickly - I have never experienced anything like it. It went from 46 degrees centigrade to 26 in minutes. I have no idea what caused it." | The freakish weather took another turn later in the day as the temperature suddenly plummeted. Mr King recalled: "In the afternoon the temperature dropped so quickly - I have never experienced anything like it. It went from 46 degrees centigrade to 26 in minutes. I have no idea what caused it." |
| Mr King said on Saturday it was too hot for people to go outside and talk to neighbours about what was going on - but by Sunday there was only one topic of conversation. | Mr King said on Saturday it was too hot for people to go outside and talk to neighbours about what was going on - but by Sunday there was only one topic of conversation. |
| He said: "People are feeling a great sadness and empathy - and frustration with not being able to do anything about it. | He said: "People are feeling a great sadness and empathy - and frustration with not being able to do anything about it. |
| "Arson is suspected so there is also a lot of anger at the people who started the fire, and the feeling that the government is not doing enough. The government has given the people $10,000,000 (AUS) to start rebuilding. But with prices of land around here that is nothing." | "Arson is suspected so there is also a lot of anger at the people who started the fire, and the feeling that the government is not doing enough. The government has given the people $10,000,000 (AUS) to start rebuilding. But with prices of land around here that is nothing." |