families have heeded the call to evacuate, but because the conditions on the road are very erdas, there have been closures in different elections. now having evacuated the fire-ravaged towns, unable to get home. >> you can't go for it, you can't go backward, and really stuck between a burning rock and a burning rock. >> to want to get caught in the middle of a fire. reporter: se families were le to get away early in thehe morning beforeoad closures. this couple lost their house and had to take refuge in the lake across the road. >> the fireball came over opposite the lake. we thought we had a few minutes at least, hosg down the house and everything, doing what they say to do. rewithin two or minutes, the fireball came through. hit the house, and then we ran into the lake. all the embers and everything hit us, burned our hair a little bit. it was about an hour beforwe got rescued. reporter: this is what they are escaping. burning september, these bushfires have destroyed more than 1200 homes. the prime minister, who'seen a thaunch supporter of fossil fuels, insisted government policy str