NOWRA, Australia — The smoke is still smoldering from the wildfires that ravaged the small seaside town of Broulee, Australia, on New Year’s Eve, when sand dunes erupted into flames and entire neighborhoods were decimated.

Water and food is running low. Shops are taking only cash, and radio is the main source of information. The fires could intensify this weekend, as strong winds and high temperatures threaten to create even more dire conditions in the town and more than a dozen others.

Clarinda Campbell and her two children left Broulee and headed for safety. Her husband, James, stayed behind to defend their home.

“I feel like it’s not real,” said Ms. Campbell, who was with her children at a family property in Surf Beach, about eight miles away. “I’ve gone to sleep every night and woken up every morning hoping that it was just a bad dream.”