The city did not burn as well as the surrounding forests; nevertheless, char marks and other evidence of fire can be seen clearly in the old city of Sydney. Unlike other human areas, there is very little left to scavenge from this area. Only the raw materials -- the brick and metal of the buildings -- remain. Glass windows melted or shattered from the heat, leaving the city desolate and hollowed. Even the plant life seems to avoid the center of the city; while the old suburbs have begun to show signs of sprouting to forest, downtown remains barren and lifeless.
While the city and its surrounding sprawl were obliviated by the fire, the suburban areas around the city have clearly fared better since. While wild greenery is not seen in the Sanctuary, small shrubs, skinny saplings, and even patchy grass grows here. Most structures have collapsed to their concrete foundations, though here and there, brick and stone fireplaces, chimneys, hearths, and the occasional wooden frames still remain. These eerie, skeletal remnants give the territory its name.