Wildfires devastate parts of Oz

[Oldfart]

After years of drought, the inevietable has happened and firestorms have ripped through parts of southern Australia.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/07/australia.wildfires/index.html

[FlirtWithMe]

I was reading about this earlier and saw the death toll was rising. I can't imagine how frightening it is for those who live there :(

[Lilith]

I hope everyone stays safe.

[scotzoidman]

(last paragraph of the article)
In northern Australia, 60 percent of the state of Queensland was flooded, officials reported, and residents were warned to be on the lookout for crocodiles in urban areas.
I recalled seeing some headlines about flooding in QLD.
Obviously the solution is to turn the whole continent around so the north can dry out & let the floods put out the wildfires down south. :rolleyes2

I'm thinking that the south aussies would regard crocs in their backyards to be a minor inconvenience compared to being burned up :rolleyes2

[pinkFlames]

Well the cracks in my backyard are so big that I'm in danger of the Earth swallowing me whole while I'm hanging out my washing. I guess crocs couldn't be too much more bother.

[dicksbro]

You'd think the way oil gets piped and shipped all over the world that it'd make sense to be able to pipe water from areas with abundant supplies to dry areas. Can't believe the costs would be prohibitive given the billions that get wasted by governments. :(

[Fangtasia]

Latest report is that 108 confirmed dead, over 700 homes lost, and both these figures are likely to rise unfortunately

Regarding floods....a a 5yr old boy appears to have possibly have been taken by a croc

Just tragic, for both fire and flood victims

[pinkFlames]

You'd think the way oil gets piped and shipped all over the world that it'd make sense to be able to pipe water from areas with abundant supplies to dry areas. Can't believe the costs would be prohibitive given the billions that get wasted by governments. :(

That would be too sensible.

[dicksbro]

Latest report is that 108 confirmed dead, over 700 homes lost, and both these figures are likely to rise unfortunately

Regarding floods....a a 5yr old boy appears to have possibly have been taken by a croc

Just tragic, for both fire and flood victims

That is very sad. We'll be praying for relief for both the fires and the flooding.

[Bebi Dempster]

well from a Victorian and one who has lost two family friends in this grave tragedy.. another was heard of but we are still unsure of her whereabouts AND i just discovered that two more families we know of who also live there are regarded as missing. My father went to work to find about 4 to 6 of his work collegues also missing and no word of them.. I have to say we are here with heavy hearts and with feeling helpless and hearts going out to all the people who have lost their homes.

We still have 31 fires burning... new towns now being targetted.. AND kilmore is back in flames.. and also new town of Glenworth! My other friend has lots two of her friend in this burning blaze of fury... only to say that it's looking like some fuck wits have lit this!

If i'm not on for a while.. or down i apologise our hearts are heavy at the moment.. and frsutrated.. my bestfriends husband is missing and she has a baby with her, we arent sure where she is exactly so it's a little difficult with no lines no phones... etc..

it's truly like a war zone.. i will do my best to keep you all informed... i am on facebook also with regular updates so if anyone wants to add me pm me and will exchange details.. for now we are like lost souls... my poor mother who is overseas is shattered in hearing the news but there is nothing we can do to change this situation...

will try to get back to you with updates as much as we know. I have friends in Whitlesea area also who we exchange information that we learn so some more inside info that not all the news is covering!

And then to have the north part of the country flooding.... this world has gone nutty.

[pinkFlames]

Sorry to hear of your losses, Bebi. The enormity of it all has me numb, even though at this stage I personally don't know of anyone affected by the fires.

Thanks for the report. All the best for you and your family.

[PantyFanatic]

....adding that police are investigating possible instances of arson.
"We do believe some of the fires are the result of human intervention," he said. "When you look at the way fires started, you can clearly see it's not possible for a natural ignition to occur." ....

Last night in chat the arson aspect of these natural tragedies was a topic that lead to the topic of capitol punishment. Needless to state my thoughts for people that by design and with intent, commit acts that will indiscriminately take the lives of somebody's family. These terrorists don't even have a sick cause other than pure evil.

May this pestilence soon pass for my downunder friends, and keep an eye on your fellow man. ;)

[Oldfart]

"It was the worst of times, it was the worst of times."

I thought Bebi was in New Zilland. At this moment she probably wishes she was.

We could have been among the fires if we'd decided to do the Victorian winefields before Coffs Harbour.

[dicksbro]

Want to thank Bebi for her report and to offer our sympathies for her losses. Take care of yourself, Bebi, and God bless.

[Oldfart]

130 going on 200, the news is saying.

[gekkogecko]

Shit, yeah, it seems to be getting worse. I seriously hope all your Aussie Pixies aren't in it.

[scotzoidman]

I hope my previous post will be seen by all concerned as the feeble attempt to lighten the mood that it was...of course this is a human tragedy beyond my ability to comprehend.

OF, just enjoy your walkabout & stay away from the hot spots, OK?

[Oldfart]

It's 173 and still rising.

Some areas are still too hot to enter, so a final figure is just a guess.

Pick a toll, any toll.

[PantyFanatic]

.....We could have been among the fires if we'd decided to do the Victorian winefields before Coffs Harbour.
:wtp:

[Oldfart]

:wtp:

I'm still putting the pics together, then deciding I'll use different pics.

It'll happen, old man.

[PantyFanatic]

We'll be waiting (http://www.pixies-place.com:81/forums/showthread.php?p=1658112#post1658112). :)

[Mark Vieth]

Well hi all, I am actually close to one of the hot spots here. I am south of the bunyip state park. I am staying in gembrook. Gembrook's fire status was down graded from urgent to alert status. The best place for pics is definately on the cfa's website.

www.cfa.vic.gov.au

there is also the dse site

www.dse.vic.gov.au

The sites give you the location of the fire and it's size and severity and whether or not they are under control.

The worst hit area's were whittlesea and kinglake. Whittlesea has had the highest fatality rate. Just for a comparison:

Ash wednesday (1983) 75 fatalities.
Ash wednesday burned though a much larger area and actually crept north into NSW.

This fire has had 175 fatalities and is still climbing as they have only just gotten into some area's to extract bodies etc.

There have been donations coming in to the fire relief fund and it up to $15mil so far. Which for the obvious reasons will be used for rebuilding alot of these burnt out communities.

I will keep you all updated as to any new developments. For the most part those 2 sites I have put up are the most up to date and are the best source for information. Also www.ninemsn.com.au has news feeds running in regards to the destruction and devastation. It has been likened to a war zone and even a halucaust.

[Mark Vieth]

Just heard the toll is now at 183......So tragic

[PantyFanatic]

Thanks Mark for the update. We are all following this tragedy and hoping the numbers will stop climbing. :wish:

[gekkogecko]

It hasn't. As of the news report I read this morning, the "official" count was at 181, with 'at least' 50 bodies not included in the 'official' count (yet). The claim was also advanced taht Australian official were nearly ready to release facial photos (presumably composites from sketches) of the arsonist(s) thought responsible for some of the fires.

...but there was no word on how many of the fires were under control.

[Fangtasia]

Whittlesea has had the highest fatality rate.
That is incorrect...Kinglake won that unfortunate title

Quoted from News.com.au
The largest of the fires, known as the Kinglake Complex, has consumed 220,000ha of land and more than 550 homes and has killed 140 confirmed victims - including those at St Andrews, Strathewen and nearby Kinglake.

Thirty-five people perished at Kinglake - the greatest single loss of life in these fires - when a ferocious wall of flame swept straight up the heavily timbered Great Dividing Range, taking all in its path.

[Mark Vieth]

Also the bushfire tragedy fund has more than doubled over night. I just saw the news it is at almost $34mil.

Also thank you for that Sharni, as we here the news so quick it is hard to hear what area had the highest hit. The fire near us has not changed it's status overnight. It is still at alert only status.

[pinkFlames]

Thanks for the update, Mark. Please stay safe.

[Mark Vieth]

Thanks for the update, Mark. Please stay safe.

Well we have some of the CFA guys from SA as well here in VIC helping us. Obviously not so far east as gembrook. They would be in the northen areas worst hit.

[pinkFlames]

Ash wednesday (1983) 75 fatalities.
Ash wednesday burned though a much larger area and actually crept north into NSW.

South Australia was affected in the Ash Wednesday fires, too. I remember ash raining down on my suburban high school.

[PantyFanatic]

*Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm*


:rolleyes2

I think I've figured this out. First there's seven years of drought. Then half the country floods while the other half cooks. Then you get a
tsunami of fire washing over whole states.

Ayres rock is really a secret Aussie pyramid you're building at night, right?

You better let those slaves go before you get the frogs next. :nod:

[Oldfart]

You almost got it. We are about to commence an export drive on pre-prepared frogs legs for the French market. Lacking water (and frogs) this was the only way the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade could come up with the raw materials without massive and expensive infrastructure investment.

A bonus, as the Carbon Trading Scheme comes online, the carbon is now in a much more readily identifiable form.

Does anybody out there have a use for 10 million mobility impaired frogs?

[Mark Vieth]

*Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm*


:rolleyes2

I think I've figured this out. First there's seven years of drought. Then half the country floods while the other half cooks. Then you get a
tsunami of fire washing over whole states.

Ayres rock is really a secret Aussie pyramid you're building at night, right?

You better let those slaves go before you get the frogs next. :nod:

Now that is funny...you missed one vital clue there PF......Ayers rock is just that a rock......a bloody big one I might add. It just sits there near alice springs and does what a rock does best.......nothing.

[moose]

I am 25km from the fires north of Melbourne, we had 2 fires one to the west of us and one to the east of us, I feel so much for those that have lost thier lives, to see the photos and stories of whole familys that perished leaves a pain in your heart and more than 1 tear in your eye. The reports on the news have been in general wrong, they reported that the town of Marysville was almost completly destroyed but everyone had managed to get out ok, well it looks like this may be wrong and they are now saying 100+ people have perished and they are calling Marysville ground zero. I never thought i would see this again after Ash Wednesday

[PantyFanatic]

Anothter view of the situation (http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=36979).

[gekkogecko]

I am 25km from the fires north of Melbourne, we had 2 fires one to the west of us and one to the east of us

25km isn't all that much distance...Are the fires in your particular locale among the ones reported under control, or is it time for you to start thinking about getting out?

[themi01]

I second what Gecko said .... As I reflect on my own history in my part of the world a friends son of mine once called him and said "Why is it our town only gets on the news when it floods or we have a wild fire ?" and I might add why is it when there are fires like these some of them are always arson such a sad commentary on our species. Good luck and God's speed to all our Pixie friends in the fire affected areas

[moose]

No as luck would have it both fires headed away from us, the Kilmore / Wondong fire which was the closest went east away from us and the other fire is still going but is contained and a lot further away, we were very near to the Ash wednesday fires in 83 (less than 5km) and i was an active member of the cfa for 10 years and our fire plan is not to stay, we will leave if any thing comes our way

[gekkogecko]

our fire plan is not to stay, we will leave if any thing comes our way


Good idea.