On May 24, 1989, the day before George Nakashima's 84th birthday, the second-largest collection of his prized wood furniture was reduced to a pile of ash in a house fire.

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The volcano strikes an ominous presence on the horizon - one of countless sleeping giants in Iceland that might one day stir, sending torrents of fire, rock and ash raining down.

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They used extinguishers and pulverised fuel ash from the power station to suppress the fire.

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Heat a gas grill to medium-high or light a charcoal fire and let it burn just until the coals are covered with gray ash.

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The fire has been monitored by the fire service which said using water to put it out would create a giant ash plume.

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The fire is being monitored by the fire service who say using water to put it out would create a giant ash plume.

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Afterwards Mr Cai and his assistants damp out the fire using long poles tipped with sponges, and then smudge the lines of ash so that the portrait looks like a huge charcoal drawing on the wall of the museum's reception hall.

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Soot and ash have blown on to balconies and footpaths, and the foreshore of Bondi Beach has been blackened by fire debris.

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"I am advised that the fire is contained and we hope that there will be significant improvement in the situation with smoke and ash in the next few days, although the site may not be able to be cleaned up for some weeks, " he said.

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