(I'm passing on an e-mail sent by comet hunter and all-around very nice guy Bob McNaught.  Updates will be posted in the comments below.  Funding for Bob's research in finding comets and asteroids - remember Comet McNaught last year? - has already been in jeopardy.  We'll see if an interview with Bob can be arranged, after he has had a decent amount of time to recover from this tragic wildfire.)

From: Robert McNaught
Date: January 13, 2013, 9:10:23 AM EST
To: MPML
Subject: {MPML} Siding Spring

I've only just got internet access, so apologies for the delay in
providing news.

Just a note to let folks know that I and all the other staff at
Siding Spring Observatory are safe and well, following the major bush
fire that went through it this afternoon. I was unaware of the threat
and only became aware when I heard helicopters flying over my house
on the Timor Road some 10km from the observatory. Very quickly after,
the smoke plume became obvious and was massive within minutes. Much
of our view is obscured by trees! Tanya and I evacuated with our dogs
within minutes and are currently staying in Coonabarabran.

We are aware of damage to the Observatory. Apparently the Visitor's
Center has been damaged (some reports say lost) and other buildings
(specifically the Lodge as Dave said) have also been damaged. I have
no news about telescopes, but note that I can login to computers
in the Uppsala office and the 2.3m building. The AAT should be
unaffected as it is a very secure and well defended building. It is
in fact the evacuation area on the mountain.

Two houses on the Timor Road are known to be be lost. I understand
the fire went through our property so we can only hope. A high
proportion of the Observatory staff have houses along this road and
I met many of them in the evacuation center this afternoon or
heard reports that they were safe. Once again, many hold fears that
their houses are lost. We heard a lot of hair raising stories from
the last few to drive down the Timor Road as it became engulfed in
flames.

I'll try to post an update tomorrow.

Cheers, Rob