The Currowan fire just missed the property of Trevor and Loretta Parsley on the night of December 1, but they were ready for the worst.
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On Monday, December 2, the East Lynne couple was checking weather and fire updates as smoke "comes and goes".
Mr Parsley spoke on December 2 from his Donovans Creek Road home.
"The fire is to the north of us, the other side of Barkshed Road," he said.
That is perilously close, but the couple was confident of their preparation and - weather permitting - hoped to remain.
They will also be keeping a weather eye on any fires to their south, with a southerly change predicted on Monday evening.
"We are waiting for an update on the weather," Mr Parsley said.
"The grass is down, we are all cleared down in our asset zone. We have about 200m cleared in front of us and 100m on either side and about 50 metres to the back.
"We have about 80,000 litres of water to fight and the tanks are interconnected for water flow.
"We have fire pumps, back-up pumps, electric pumps. We have a big generator and if we lose power, we plug that in."
The couple had remained calm on Sunday and overnight.
In Mrs Parsley's case, after all that could be done was done, it was a matter of "remain calm and keep painting". The talented Indigenous artist and elder kept working as the fire front moved across to the north.
Mr Parsley said their daughter's partner was an ACT firefighter and had come to help.
Mr Parsley said he slept reasonably well under the circumstances.
"I woke up a couple of times and had a look round and checked during the night," he said.
He said his Cockwhy Creek valley neighbours were a boon.
"We are in communication ... they are good people in the true sense of the word."
During a fire crisis, many onlookers wonder why anyone would choose to live on a remote road, deep in the woods.
After 17 years, Trevor does not hesitate: "I love the peace and the quiet, the feel of the place and good neighbours."
The animals and birds "are always a bonus".
The Currowan fire might be feeding on tinder dry forest, but flora, fauna and human residents have been suffering in the drought.
"It is the driest I have seen it, period," Mr Parsley said.
"It is our third winter of drought. It was dry when we first came here, but not like this."
