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WHEN Jane Riddell left her Pastoria property on Wednesday she knew there was a possibility it might be the last time she saw it standing.
The Melbourne-based architect bought the house three months ago as a place to escape the buzz of city life.
She knew the threat fires posed in rural regions and had prepared for the worst possible disaster.
She had a fire plan and had downloaded the Fire Ready App on her mobile.
And when lightning triggered a blaze a few of hundred metres behind her property near Blackhill Road north of Kyneton she was ready.
"I had done all the right things. I had a fire plan. I didn't want to move up here (and put myself in danger)," Ms Riddell said.
"So I did the homework and I got everything ready in the house. I knew what to do."
Ms Riddell left her property immediately and checked into a hotel in Kyneton where she spent the night.
"The lightning storm had been very vertical and just kept hitting the ground," Ms Riddell said.
"I saw the crack. I was trying to plant these lettuces and I went and sat on the verandah while it rained.
"I thought, "no I am not going to be barbecued by lightning" and I suddenly saw smoke in the rain.
"The rain stopped and it was one rain cloud and I ran to the ridge and I looked out and went, "leave Jane"."
When she returned to the house on Thursday she was relieved to see it still standing with just the edge of the property scorched black.
Ms Riddell said the Fire Redy App had saved her life and recommended people downloaded it.
She said the app helped her stay informed about fire activity near her property for a 20 kilometre radius.
"It's a life saver," she said.
"The Fire Ready system is amazing. There were 18 incidents. At different stages I was getting alerts at every minute, five or six minutes.
"It's there to have, so people should have it."
To learn more about the Fire Ready App, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/fireready-app/
I thought, "no I am not going to be barbecued by lightning" and I suddenly saw smoke in the rain.
- Jane Riddell