Anyone close to the fires?

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:10 pm

I know Australia's a big place but
News reports are up to 100+ dead in wildfires in the Southeast. (Victoria?)

not to mention floods up North (Queensland?)- someone ran over a croc in the middle of the road??

CD · **Posted:** Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:32 pm

ATXKJ wrote:

I know Australia's a big place but
News reports are up to 100+ dead in wildfires in the Southeast. (Victoria?)

not to mention floods up North (Queensland?)- someone ran over a croc in the middle of the road??

It's now 108 dead.... it's bad... real bad.

I'm in NSW so a long way from VIC & I just can't believe how bad things are down there. My heart goes out to them...

mikey · **Posted:** Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:38 pm

Our PM is calling this Australia's worst natural disaster.
Can't begin to imagine the fear these poor souls went through, so terribly sad.
M

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:47 pm

It's like a wall of flame

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article5687751.ece

we get brush fires - but nothing like that.

Satellite

smorison · **Posted:** Sun Feb 08, 2009 8:21 pm

unfortunatley its an all to common occurance in australia... its just normally not in built up areas, that's what makes this so bad.

cmohr · **Posted:** Sun Feb 08, 2009 8:31 pm

I was watching on the idiot box as they were showing footage of the fire moving, it was scary seeing it RUN up hills, they wouldn't have had a chance, a car wouldn't have been able to outrun it... Its so sad, it just came thru whilst they where sleeping... And some imbosile lit some of the fires on purpose... I don't often wish harm on people, but, I feel it would be justice if they themselves got caught in their own fire.. Sorry thats how I feel.. So many inocent people have lost their lives, then there are the family and freinds they left behind, and then there are those who have lost everything.

I know the authorities have said that when the catch the arsonists that they may be able to charge them with murder... I
hope they do.

One of the guys here at work, his brother had (now gone) a Vineyard in the area, they saw the fire coming, it was on them in seconds, he grabbed his family and they all ran down into the cellar, everything was destroyed, but they were OK.

One of the Firemen, lost his wife and children, he was out fighting fires, his home was destroyed..

They are now saying, unconfirmed, 150... dead.

What more can I say..

Fouros · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2009 12:40 am

the volatile oils in the eucalytpus trees make fires run and crown, the fires through ember attack just self perpetuate, my BIL is a a part of the CFA in vic ,

farmers stock burnt in the paddock the loss of human life is astounding

whole towns wiped off the map

you justy gotta feel for the guys in VIC

oh

and my brother didnt drive over the croc, but it was near his house :shock:

Glend · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:52 am

Horrible. Yeah, that oil in the eucalytpus trees is highly flammable in those conditions. There's not a lot the CFA can do to deal with a crowning fire propelled by those sort of winds, it was jumping roads, leaping from ridge to ridge, and sending out embers far in advance of the fire front. I believe that in small communities like Marysville a community fire shelter is a reasonable investment, at least a community structure which is fireproof (small windows that can be shuttered by steel, double brick construction with iron roofs and framing, able to be sealed temporarily). and people need to get to it asap and not try to save their homes with a garden hose. You see what happens to people who try to drive away from the fire (no visibility and accidents followed by the fire). If I was living in a place like that I would dig a 'storm shelter' like they have in Kansas in the USA for twisters, if you only ever use it once it pays and underground is the best place to be. But people think it won't happen to them, that they will have time, and that they are prepared. This is the nature of Australia and its conditions.

cmohr · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2009 3:17 am

I was just talking about that with one of the other guys here at work.. You wonder , just how hard it would be to have afire bunker, close to your home, but in a clearing, as a safe haven in just these contions. Th fires moved thru in a matter of minutes, but, thats all it took. A safe, hole in the ground, steel roof, a few emergencyresperitors and water/ fire blankets, could have saved many many lives..

A little too late now to sat these things I'm sorry to say.

Maybe a new building code in fire danger areas is the only way to save lives. Yes theres expense, but, if you and your family / your children, parents are alive, well...

Glend · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:29 am

I don't think the building code guys can do much, the windows will go and then the fire will get inside to the soft furnishings and curtains etc. If you could stop the fire getting in the windows you'd have a good chance of saving the building. Aluminium Blockout type shutters may be the go, that and window springlers. That might save the house but I'd still prefer to be in my fire bunker. You can buy smoke hoods online and they give you a few minutes to get somewhere safer. Heck you could build a fire bunker out of Hebel Blocks and coragated iron

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:09 pm

They had some of the stories on the Times
A couple survived - because they had a well and a generator and the kept the house wet.

but some of the victims
families trying to escape and the car catches on fire, girls running back to try and protect their horses.
and so many the houses are just gone and no one knows if they got out.
so sad, so tragic - but anything to prevent it has to be well in advance
lots of folks only had minutes of warning.
and you can't outrun a fire going 20-30 mph from the wind.

cmohr · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2009 9:44 pm

172 Dead confirmed. And just how many severely burnt is terrible.. Burns are a horrific injury, one of the Doctors said it last night, not only do these injured have to deal with their phyiscal injuries, but, they also have to deal with the loss of friends and family... Just unimaginable...

When I say building code, I mean, you build a house in a high fire risk area, you must build a fire bunker located close to the dwelling, in a clear area.. That would have saved lives.

Just as in Queensland at the moment, with the drought, build a new house, it MUST have a water tank.

As said, too late now, but, time marches on , mabye, save lives in the future.

2006KJSPORT4x4 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:18 pm

Watching the weather channel here stateside they showed some footage of the fires and some burnt out formerly nice decked out Land Cruisers that supposedly had victims of the fire, the occupants were trying to get away and couldn't beat it. Just a tragic event that you guys are going through down there. My prayers to all those affected now and in the future.

dirt pig · **Posted:** Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:42 am

I'm actually about 30 km from marysville.
I've lost some people I know.
What can I say?.....Just tragic!!

mikey · **Posted:** Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:17 pm

dirt pig wrote:

I'm actually about 30 km from marysville.
I've lost some people I know.
What can I say?.....Just tragic!!

Mate, if you need anything, PLEASE, let us know.
M.

cmohr · **Posted:** Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:33 am

dirt pig wrote:

I'm actually about 30 km from marysville.
I've lost some people I know.
What can I say?.....Just tragic!!

Mate. thats terrible, sorry to hear that.

Hope you and your family are safe and well, condolences for the friends lost..

cmohr

dirt pig · **Posted:** Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:07 am

Thanks for the offer of help. Much appreciated.
I'm fine (Physically, anyway). I'm closer to Melbourne in Suburbia.
I've just heard that someone else I know is missing !! His farmlet is gone and no word of him.
This is just getting worse by the day !!

If anyone can spare anything, please donate to the Red Cross or any participating bank etc.
All sorts of "collection drive's" are underway. So if you can spare anything then please, please donate.
A thing of great need is shoes or boots. Apparently a lot of people were caught completely unawares and scampered off in bare feet and only with what they were wearing. Oh and don't forget all the displaced wildlife including pet's.

I can see this hitting 200+
This weekend is forecast for more hot weather. so the probability of more wildfires is highly likely.

mikey · **Posted:** Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:14 am

cmohr · **Posted:** Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:59 pm

The poor little bugger...

Albert · **Posted:** Thu Feb 12, 2009 12:04 pm

I hope you guys are doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances over there.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all.

Anyone close to the fires?

Who is online