Australia burns

[ozguy]

9.30pm and the fire near us I was talking about earlier has started up again. We're not in any immediate danger as the road is between us and the bush and there aren't any trees on our property, but FUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!! .....

 

[teadrinker]

^ If it gets closer, and becomes a serious threat to life and property - then get out when you can. Better to live than to be a dead hero. And we don't want to lose you.

-T.

 

[roguehunter]

holy shit OZ, this is just too much of the same thing as here in melbourne. stay safe.

 

[roguehunter]

4 of my friends have lost their houses, no one i know is injured thank god, but prayers are with you all.

 

[Lukeee]

ozguy even those pictures scare me! Keep safe

 

[Telstra]

"there aren't any trees on our property"

but ember attacks are quite deadly in high winds.

 

[RationalLunacy]

Fire danger or not, please stay downwind of the smoke.

 

[star-warrior]

I heard this on the tv just now, and the death of the people in their homes and cars is just shocking. I hope the weather eases for everyone to find somewhere safe. The bad news is, the hot weather may return not long after the break.

Take care our Australian friends!

 

[operafan]

It looks devistating and the news reports included in this thread are very scary. Our thoughts go to our brothers and sisters down under. Keep safe.

 

[Yooper]

OZ:

If they tell you to Get Out, GOOOOO!

There are HUNDREDS of us JUBbers that will help you replant your Garden!

 

[chatolandia]

I hope there are no more loss of life, and that these fires die down soon!



This is awful, it looks apocalyptic!

 

[gsdx]

I've been following it on CBC News here. I knew there were huge problems when it was reported that helicopter water drops were discontinued due to the danger and the fact that the pilots couldn't even see where to drop the water because of all the smoke.

Stay safe, everyone.

 

[Blueboy369]

My heart goes out to everyone affected by this. It was the first thing on the news. Very sad.

 

[just_mills]

Hugs to all me JUB mates

 

[TriBi]

Death toll on the early morning news is now being reported as 108. That is still expected to rise as more bodies are found in burnt out homes - or cars as they tried to flee.

Conditions have eased somewhat - but although some rainfall is predicted it is unlikely to be enough, or in the right areas, to help to any significant degree. The fires are so fierce that they just dry out everything ahead of them - including evaporating light rain.

*EDIT*
Emergency Services people are now making predictions that, with areas which have still not been able to be checked, the death toll will rise to around 170 from the worst of the fires yesterday.

 

[ozguy]

8.06am Mon morning here as I type this, the fire danger over the road has abated and we're okay. Fire crews will be keeping a close eye on things for the next couple of days, though, as temps are expected to climb into the high 30's.

The news reports this morning on the telly and interviews with people affected by the fires in Victoria have been absolutely heartbreaking. I'm leaving for work with a very heavy heart.

 

[Joshua_me]

I thought of you today, Ozguy. I was going to PM you to see if you were alright before I read this thread.

We hear precious little about this disaster in our American media (that may change) but what I have heard is heartbreaking.

People being burned to death in their cars trying to escape. Horrifying.

I pray for you and TriBi and all of our Aussie friends.

Seems like nothing but bad news in the world these days.

 

[teadrinker]

I made a small donation via the Red Cross this morning... the least I could do. The news is completely and utterly heartbreaking and awful.

-T.

 

[Shepherd 2]

Our hearts reach out to our Aussie friends and JUB buddies. This is a horrendous bit of news mates. It is dreadful to know what is happening and what could happen. While the temperature reaches 117 degrees F (47 C) in Australia, it is only 47 degrees F here.

I live in the midst of a woods, and the very photos posted by you OZGUY scare the wits out of me. Now at 8:50PM Sunday, EST in the USA the word is that 108 are dead and some towns have been completely destroyed.

The story of the fireman fighting the fire returning home to find his wife and child had become victims reminded me of the family I knew in 911 where the boy I once had in summer camps died in the Twin Towers, as did his father and brother-in-law in a valiant effort to rescue others.

This is a heart rending story and continues to be. I am glad to know as of today you were still OK and not immediately threatened. I love our Aussie friends, so I will dedicate myself to sending help through my church's relief funds, and what I can do is pray vigilantly until the crisis is over. Keep your chins up, and do keep us posted.

Love to our Aussie buddies on JUB!
Shep+

 

[Telstra]

True but then 99.99999999% of people don't live in the bush either. But you have a point. May the same point be made about starvation. it should NEVER have to happen and we should learn how to eliminate it or reduce it greatly because it continues to claim gigantic numbers every day, month, year.

"starvation" is the fault of those governments in those countries .

Anyway back to the fire.
this is for everyone, i was wondering if a well was good enough to survive in for such a fire.