Thoughts for those in bush fire regions

[mbselections00]

Hi all,

With bush fires raging in 3 States - lives and homes at risk, just wanted to share - thoughts are with those who may be effected and so hope it is does not effect anyone here

A sad start to the New Year for many . . . . . . . .

[beautbots01]

45 degrees here atm with a northerly wind.  Weather like this always makes me very nervous. 

[mbselections00]

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@beautbots01 wrote:

45 degrees here atm with a northerly wind.  Weather like this always makes me very nervous. 

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Oh my goodness, I so hope you are not in the path of any of the fires.  I can only imagine how frightening it must be.

Stay safe and take care

[mbselections00]

Hope all is well with you today, thinking of you (and others who may be in danger or harms way) . . . . . . . and whilst I'm not one for praying as such, asking the heavens to keep you all safe

[beautbots01]

It is very ominously eerie here atm. The sun is glowing red.  The skies are grey/brown from the smoke with ash gently falling around us. Whilst I am situated some distance from the actual fires, with predicted winds of 110km+ I am very close.  We have little to no water as we have had almost no rain since last July and only have tank water to rely on.  Even so I don't believe we are in danger unless the falling embers cause further fires to flare up closer to our home.

The areas under threat and already burnig are heavily populated hills towns where the terrain is very steep and unaccessible. Anybody who has holidayed in Adelaide and visited the Adelaide Hills will know the areas being mentioned as in imminent danger. 

CFS have prewarned that ground crews and air bombers will be withdrawn if the predicted winds eventuate as the danger to them will be great.  Which means the fire will be unstoppable which apears to be the case now with winds only at the 50-60km range.

Homes have already been lost and residents are evacuating properties in the wake of its path now.

Ash Wednesday was over 30 years ago and the devastation of that fire is still visible today.

I wonder if Tony Abbott is watching this situation and still saying that global warming is carp.

There are many people who will be in need of those prayers over the coming days/weeks.

[mbselections00]

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It is very ominously eerie here atm. The sun is glowing red.  The skies are grey/brown from the smoke with ash gently falling around us. Whilst I am situated some distance from the actual fires, with predicted winds of 110km+ I am very close.  We have little to no water as we have had almost no rain since last July and only have tank water to rely on.  Even so I don't believe we are in danger unless the falling embers cause further fires to flare up closer to our home.

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Oh dear, your description sends shivers through me.  Have been close to several bushfires, but none as ferocious as the ones you're experiencing and had one come up our backyard years ago - the Rural Brigade evacuated my baby daughter & I (no time to collect anything) but got my hubby to stay and help - blocking the downpipes with tennis balls, filling the gutters with water and hosing the house, while they tried to stop it advancing closer - fortunately our backyard was reasonably clear, some big trees but no low scrub & they were able to stop it at the clothes line - still very scary tho.

Wish I could send you some water.  We're on tank water also, but we've had plenty of rain here over the last month & both tanks are almost full.

I do hope the embers don't cause more fires - no doubt you will be out keeping an eye on them.

Stay safe xo

[prettypaperprints]

We too have family down there and it a a big concern and worry.

I don't think mentioning global Tony Abbotts views or global warming has anything to do with it.JMO

There have been high temps and fires in Victoria for years, way back in our history....just check out these dates from Wikipedia. As our population grows, more people move and build in there areas. We used to live in the Blue Mountains, but 2 bushfires was enough for us.

Major Victorian Bushfires[edit]

Intense fires can seriously impact the environment, such as here by theBig River, near Anglers Rest,Gippsland, after the 2003 fires

Most extensive fires[edit]

• 1851 - 6 February "Black Thursday" (5 million hectares)
• 1938-39 - December - January "Black Friday" (2 million hectares)
• 2003 - January - March "2003 Eastern Victorian alpine bushfires" (1.3 million hectares)
• 2006-07 - 1 December - 6 February "Eastern Victoria Great Divide bushfires" (1.2 -1.3 million hectares)
• 1944 - January - February (1 million hectares)
• 1983 - 16 February "Ash Wednesday" (510,000 hectares)
• 2009 - 7 February "Black Saturday" (450,000 hectares)
• 1965 - Gippsland (300,000 hectares)
• 1898 - 1 February "Red Tuesday" (260,000 hectares)

Deadliest fires[edit]

• 2009 - 7 February - March "Black Saturday" (173 deaths)
• 1939 - December - January "Black Friday" (71 deaths)
• 1926 - 14 February - March "Black Sunday" (60 deaths)
• 1944 - December - February (51 deaths)
• 1983 - 16 February "Ash Wednesday" (47 in Victoria)
• 1962 - 14–16 January (33 deaths)
• 1969 - 8 January (23 deaths)
• 1942 - Western Victoria (20 deaths)
• 1905 - 1 December (12 deaths)
• 1898 - 1 February "Red Tuesday" (12 deaths)
• 1851 - 6 February "Black Thursday" (12 deaths)
• 1943 - 22 December (10 deaths)
• 1952 - January - March, Central Victoria (10 deaths)
• 1977 - 12 February, Western Victoria (8 deaths)
• 1965 - 17 January (7 deaths) Longwood, Northern Victoria
• 1998 - 2 December (5 deaths) Linton, Western Victoria
• 1985 - 14 January (3 deaths) Avoca, Central Victoria
• 1997 - 21 January (3 deaths) Dandenong Ranges

[mbselections00]

It must be sickening having family down there - I think the worst part is that there is nothing you can do to help at this point.

I hope they are all ok.

I'm not suprised to hear you left the Blue Mountains after 2 fires, no matter how beautiful it is, it is not worth living in fear.  And yes, I must agree, I'm not at all convinced it has anything to do with global warming, as the stats show - it's history repeating itself.  Greenland is another typical example to me - where ice has melted and exposed ancient civilisations.  I believe it's cyclic - but that's just my opinion also, I know there are plenty who disagree - each to their own.

[beautbots01]

Yesterday was our hottest SA day since February last year.  October 2014 was the hottest on record in South Australia.  Records are constantily being broken regarding our weather pattern.  Floods, droughts, storms, fires.  Climate change has a lot to do with everything that is happening the world over.  Those who deny that have their head in the sand.

[thecatspjs]

Please take your political commentary to CS and off this thread thank you. 

My thoughts are with all facing fire challenges today, the wind is so fierce and hot here in Victoria, very worrying indeed.