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

By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics and access other forums reserved for members. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today by clicking here.

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 3123

Ouch. I hope the bastards that started it have been thrown in.

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 10:33 am

^^^ I think it was the Victorian Premier,

Kevin was also seen on TV on the scene talking to those effected with the odd tear in his eye

Just looking for a link to something on that and found this very recent report

Quote:

Bushfire toll reaches 76
February 08, 2009 08:25pm

UPDATE 8:17pm: GRAVE fears are held for Channel 9 veteran Brian Naylor as the bushfire death toll rises to 76.

Channel 9 has just confirmed that the newsreading legend, who lives in fire-ravaged Kinglake West, can not be accounted for.

In a break in their normal programming, presenter Tony Jones reported that a body believed to be that of Moiree Naylor had been found close to the family's address.

The news comes as police increased the official death toll to 76.

At least 650 homes have been destroyed and 3733 people have registered with the Red Cross after evacuating their properties.

The number left homeless is expected to be far higher, the Red Cross says.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon confirmed the death toll includes at least four children.

"The sad part for me is to say to the community that there will be more deaths, we believe," Ms Nixon said at a 6pm press conference at Moe Police Station.

"We will find more bodies as we gain access to different parts of the fire areas, where at the moment we just havn't been able to get in.

"So far we have found people in cars, it looks like they have decided late to leave their premises.

"We have found people who have been in properties, in their paddocks.

"We've found others in their houses.

"It covers the whole range. And the sad part is that we found children. That is devastating for us."

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,250 25493-661,00.html

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 10:36 am

craig007 wrote:

Ouch. I hope the bastards that started it have been thrown in.

I believe arsonists who are found responsible will face murder charges.

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 3123

Excellent. They deserve nothing better.

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 720

I cant get my head around the fact some of the fire's were set Evil or Very Mad

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 11:06 am

Yahoo News states that the death toll is now 84 and that:

Quote:

Former Nine Network newsreader Brian Naylor, whose family had a property at Kinglake West, was missing feared dead while his wife Moiree had been confirmed killed, a network spokesman confirmed.

Brian Naylor was an institution in Victorian TV reporting. GTV-9 built an advertising campaign around his status as newsreader.

Just in: from Geelong Advertiser online:

Quote:

FORMER Channel Nine anchorman Brian Naylor and his wife Moiree have died in in the horrific Victorian bushfires.
Channel Nine has confirmed that the couple's bodies had been found.
The death toll has now climbed to 84.

The statistics are mind-numbing - at least 750 homes destroyed, more than 330,000 hectares burnt out, entire towns gone into ashes; and another three weeks perhaps until the fires are contained.

The search for arsonists will be thorough, but I hope that no-one will be tempted to rush to judgement.

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 11:14 am

Brian actually stood near fiery rubble near Kinglake, on Ash Wednesday reporting on the fires. Sad

Juan's stalker Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 1423

It's making every news channel we have here too.
I'm in the southeast of the US.
We are praying for all of you.

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 3:23 pm

Coverage at our end of the world:

Netherlands: http://www.nu.nl/algemeen/1913567/dodelijkste-bosbranden-ooit-in-australie.html

Germany: http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/braende106.html

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 4:45 pm

Footage and updates are being shown on every newschannel in the Northeast USA since yesterday afternoon . . .
Sunday morning's helicopter shots are hellish, simply hellish, and the "crawl screen" at bottom shows an increasing death toll.
Thoughts and prayers to all, and special blessings to the volunteer firefighters.

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 8:13 pm

The death toll currently stands at 108, it is still climbing Sad

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 518

It is sickening, to say the least, that someone would set these fires. Evil or Very Mad

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:22 pm

Not wishing to downplay the horror, because I can't, but I can't help but think the press want to push the arson angle to wind everyone up and make it the story.

Its what the press always do. Twisted Evil

There are stories of fires being relit after they've been put out. I'm sorry, but thats what fires do, without any help.

I don't suppose 12 years without rain, record temperatures and wooden houses have anything to do with it. People need someone to blame, so phsycos with lighters are it.

Stay safe, those of you who are out there.

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:40 pm

I am worried! Sad

Don't we have several from there?

If so, please let us know that you are OK.

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:57 pm

@RC This worthless individual was charged with 47 counts of arson in relation to fires in the Adelaide Hills region.

In the State of Victoria, arson is as significant as lightning as a bushfire cause. Interesting Statistics.

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:27 am

It will be virtually impossible to say which (if any) of the current fires were started by arsonists and which started by natural lightening strikes as they have been so intense any evidence will have been vaporised. We can only hope that anyone involved in deliberately starting these fires will be dobbed in by someone with a conscience. In these tinder-dry conditions even a lit cigarette carelessly tossed from a car is often all it takes Evil or Very Mad

To see our Prime Minister choking back the tears in TV interviews gives an idea of how devastating this catastrophe is to all Australians. We live with the reality of bushfires every summer but this event is way beyond anything even the most experienced fire and rescue people, both volunteers and professionals, have ever had to deal with.

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:30 am

this article deals with 2 arsonists charged today. Not at the worst fires however it shows there are real idiots out there.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/boy-15-charged/2009/02/09/1234027892931.html

edit:toll is 126 now and still climbing. Sad

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:41 am

The official toll is up to 131 and still rising, I heard that they expect the death toll could rise to 230 with many people still unaccounted for

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:53 am

NN and others im no were near it im near fraser island .but i do hope none of us here in oz are caught up in it. Prayers please , for safety and to those that are lost and for those fighting to save lives Crying or Very sad

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:07 am

^^^ so is my brother right now as it turns out Wink

The way I understand, Skyhook is in more danger of floods than fire right now

Tropical storms in the North, fires and heatwaves in the south, I dont know how true it is but on Sunday I heard somebody say that where I live was the hottest weather in the world at the time, I guess it would have been close but I dont really trust my source 46 degrees C out of the pool, Melbourne had its hottest day ever the day before at about 47 degrees C, now that's hot

In contrast, the other side of the world is getting colder than usual, I am glad they dont call it global warming there Rolling Eyes

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:24 am

The Aussie consumer watchdog the ACCC is warning about scammers already. Good for them.

Quote:

ACCC warns of bushfire profiteers
February 9, 2009 - 6:05PM
Victorians have begun responding to the bushfire disaster with massive outpourings of money and supplies, but the ACCC have warned not everyone is out to help.

With people actively looking for a way to donate, scammers may be lurking to take advantage.

"In the past, such as during the 2003 Canberra bushfires and the December 26 2004 Asian tsunami, scammers took advantage of people's generosity and kindness," Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said today.

"These involved a scammer collecting money by pretending to be a real charity. Not only do these scams cost people money, they also divert much needed donations away from legitimate charities and causes", he said.

Despite the well-meaning appearance and nature of fundraisers people should ask for identification before handing over cash, especially if pressed to make a donation over the phone or internet.

While there no guarantee scammers will not use fake I.D., the ACCC recommends people only donate to reputable charities with which they are familiar and be wary of any charity that insists on cash donations.

"In the past, websites have been created that replicate all the details of reputable charities with the exception of where the money is sent. Scammers usually insist on cash money transfers," Mr Samuels said.

Legitimate charities all have to be registered at state and territory level and can be checked at a local fair trading agency.

If a charity ticks all the boxes but you're still suspicious, the ACCC suggests ringing their head office directly and asking if they are running campaigns in your area or via the internet.

Email scammers are as common as burnt trees and people whose `dying wish' is to donate millions to `help the children of the bushfires' and offer a percentage to you in return for your help should be avoided.

Report scams through the SCAMwatch website, www.scamwatch.gov.au, or to the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502

I'm in the SE 'burbs of Melbourne and almost everyone has friends or rellies in the areas affected by these fires. A friend of mind has a weekend cottage near Kinglake (one of the worst locations for casualties so far) and my sheer luck he decided to stay in the city this weekend instead of go there. That decision almost certainly saved his life.

So far we are upwind of the smoke and so can't smell it but when the wind shifts later in the week as predicted then I'm sure the whole city will be able to smell that sinister, pervasive smoke which will really bring home the reality of the hell those people are living through.

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:34 am

Quote:

dying wish' is to donate millions to `help the children of the bushfires' and offer a percentage to you in return for your help

I am not normally overly impressed by the work of the ACCC in regards to web based scams, this time they seem to be on the ball Cool

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:35 pm

Thats devastating...Gotta feel sorry for all those guys/gals.

Sorry clicked the other button by mistake apologizes

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:46 am

This photo was in our local newspaper today. Not only are the CFA volunteers hero's to the people but it looks that everything relies on them.
I apologize for the quality but it is a scan of a news article and aptly titled

From one Aussie icon to another.

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:09 am

Confirmed death toll is 181 and authorities fear a final toll of perhaps 300, with the likelihood of many victims never being identified.

For those in the snow: be greatful for it. (Oz fires)	View next topic View previous topic