For those in the snow: be greatful for it. (Oz fires)

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Not quite a Newb Joined: 26 Jan 2009 Posts: 77

Years ago, I did not understand how these fires could be so deadly. I do not live in an area where there is a real likely-hood of a wild fire/brush fire. Then I saw a video where these scientists put several heat and fire resistant cameras in the path of a wild fire. This type of fire does not spread like most, it isn't flaming matter catching nearby flamable stuff on fire.
The video was disturbing, it showed everything being calm, then the next second there was a massive wave of hot wind, then the next moment everything that could catch fire just was on fire. This "wind" was so hot and travels so fast that you could never hope to outrun it, and the hot wind will make your clothes and anything flamable around you flash up.
The idea that these fires may have been intentional is really disturbing.

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:11 am

http://www.adonline.id.au/radio/
this is a link to radio stations in oz im listoning to 4BC in Qld. The fires are all the talk at the moment it is horrable what is going on in the after marth of it Crying or Very sad

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:50 am

This isn't over by a long way. 23 fires continue to burn out of control and there is still a severe risk to life and property. Fortunately the temperatures have dropped considerably from the +45C of last week to the mid 20s this week BUT there is still a strong, gusty wind that's pushing the fires along. Over 1000 homes have been destroyed and the death toll is expected to reach 300 by the time all the victims have been found. There are some harrowing stories emerging now of what the survivors saw and heard as their homes burned to the ground, sometimes in less than 5 minutes. This wasn't an ordinary bushfire, it was a firestorm very much like the one that destroyed Dresden during WW2.

Anyone who uses prayer or positive thinking in these situations, please send some RAIN, and lots of it, to Victoria. Thank you.

Baiting Guru Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 2531 Location: AU

I think the best advise for anyone in this situation is to get out early.

the vic's are not used to those temperatures either

we are on this side of the island. right now it is 41 degrees C where i am sitting. I think i might have to put a jumper on

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:36 am

Getting out early would certainly have saved a lot of lives. The current advice is to either leave the proerty in good time or stay and defend it. Too many people chose to stay in defend in the face of impossible conditions in terms of the heat and speed of the firefront and those who chose to leave did so too late because the fire came upon them so quickly and without warning.

Interesting story that illustrates one of the reasons why this fire has been so fatally destructive. Last year a property owner in one of the townships that's been reduced to ashes spent $100,000+ in legal costs in a battle with his notoriously 'greenie' council who fined him for cutting back the trees and vegetation from around his house. He was refused permits to carry out the work because the council said it would "harm the enviornment" but he did it anyway because he understood how dangerous it is to have extremely flammable undergrowth and trees so close. Guess which building is the only one left standing (oh, and "the environment" is ****ed anyway). Of course with 20/20 hindsight everyone will be wringing their hands saying "why weren't there any fire prevention regulations in place" when the fact is there were and always have been. Local planners and councils chose to either ignore them and the advice of the fire authority, or actively prosecute people who tried to implement those precautions.

Baiting Guru Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 2531 Location: AU

a few photos.

can you spot the boeing 737 in the first photo

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 5:34 am

Gnasher wrote:

Sorry to say this but I think there are going to be a lot more than 75 this time. The rescue crews have only just been able to get access to the devastated areas and are starting to search through the ashes. The whole country is shocked at the extent and speed of this catastrophe. And yes, Queensland is enduring torrential rains and flooding. It would be funny if it wasn't so desperately tragic. Some of the stories emerging are heartbreaking, eg, a CFA volunteer firefighter who lost his wife and kids while he was out there in the inferno trying to save their township.

Out of interest, is this story making the news media elsewhere in the world?

Gnasher: it's on the news services here in USA(Indiana). as of now it is reported that 181 have died with more probable. I sympathize with the fire fighters, as I was a Volunteer 2nd class firefighter/EMT(cert.) for 12 years in Northern Indiana. I only can begin to appreciate what they are going through in those fires. I have Smoke Jumped in other states wildfires, but I don't believe I have experienced that kind of temps. the closest I can say was when I was in a paint factory fire and 55gal drums of paint and chemicals started to explode all around us. we lost our pumper and had to be rescued by a M-48 National Guard Tank that drove through the fire to save us. BLESS BE ARMOR. My heart goes out to those Guys and Gals.(they do use the Gals, don't they)?

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:03 am

Bushfire wedding: This pic was taken at the De Bortoli winery wedding of a Melbourne couple around 4pm on Saturday when the temp was around 46C. It was still daylight but looks like dusk in the pics. The wedding ceremony was just completed before the CFA came and told everyone the fire was about to sweep through. The (famous) winery had good fire protection installed with sprinklers etc which saved the day but it was a very close thing.

On the train today the guy next to me took a phone call and described his experience escaping the fires, again at a winery wedding. The guests were told to get out ASAP and so they all jumped into cars and raced down the road with fires raging on both sides. The convoy just made it to safety and the winery was burned to ashes about 10 minutes later.

EDIT: A man has been arrested and charged with arson for a fire that killed at least 21 people in Gippsland. He will appear in court on Monday and is in protective custody at a secret location. His name has not been released. He also had a load of kiddie porn on his computer. What a prince. Also, the Marysville fire that completely destroyed the whole township killing up to 100 people was also the work of an arsonist.

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