Bushfires in Australia

[Keith Webb]

Wow, that's really bad - I've been following Vicki's posts on Facebook, glad you and the boys are safe - and hope the firebreaks are effective. Have any of the apple orchards in the area been damaged?

Originally Posted by hrpearce

Most of Yaven Creek has been burnt out with some houses lost. The fire has raced past us one range of hills over and now has turned and heading back towards Batlow. Been on the dozer all morning hoping to protect the new house.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Watching the news, I see the Australian bush fires are all but under control

Here's hoping our MLU members and their families and friends come out of this alright and the damages are "only" material.

Hang in there and let us know if there's anything we can do.

Hanno

[Lynn Eades]

The headlines here say that they expect things to get worse this weekend.
In New Zealand, the Glaciers down south have gone brown and on Wednesday the sun was just a very red orb in the sky for the last 10 minutes before sun set. It was so dull it was easy to look directly at. Yesterday morning was dull and cool like a cold winters overcast day and any sunlight that came through was particularly yellow. We have an elevated view out to sea. It has been hazy for several weeks.
We are hoping the rest of you guys In Australia don't cop it like Tony has.

[hrpearce]

We have been evacuated they say Batlow will be undefendable tomorrow glad we are out of town and have a chance. Taking Mum to Canberra to sit it out.

[Ron King]

South Eastern coast of Australia has multiple large areas burning.
many towns cut of from supplies and many more under threat.
So many people have lost homes and sheds.
everyone is being affected in some way.
The other night at home it became hard to breath because of smoke out side and the fire were at least 5 km away.( how asthmatics get on I don't know)
Traffic and people on X mas holiday trying to get home back to the city after highways have been reopened and then closed again makes traveling difficult
These fires have been so extensive and hot the wild life is gone......they had no where to hide.
Burnt bird feathers rain down with the ash and embers of these fires.
Farmers stock in animals and any stored feed.....gone
In Nowra the other day here at 4.00pm in a summers day , it was pitch black , like night time , because of smoke blocking out the sun light.
I have had to keep a ember watch at my workshop at South Nowra for a few nights as live embers were getting in side though the roof vents.
Many houses lost near by.
I had to leave my home once in west Nowra......Ok now.
Tomorrow going to help a friend to defend his place as it will be most likely under threat.
Roads get closed by fallen trees.(40c plus heat doesn't help working out doors clearing trees or fighting fires)
These fires are making their own lightening storms and clouds which drop a light mist of moisture with embers and ash.
The fire storms also create their own air drafts and feed themselves and become unpredictable and on it goes.
I have seen this first hand
After many years in rural Fire service ( I am now not current) I have never seen any thing like this.
Its so dry, fire breaks are not working and aircraft only are able to stop or slow the fires near threatened homes and property.
Some fires are spotting 20kms away
Its not going to stop until we get a good dump of rain and that's not happening soon.

[Wayne Hingley]

The footage on the news and firsthand accounts told here are devastating. I hope the rain comes soon. Stay safe everyone.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Ron King

After many years in Rural Fire Service..., I have never seen any thing like this.

Almost universally up and down the Eastern States, our hats go off and our hearts go out to the thousands of volunteer firefighters who have been fighting these fires for over 3 months in conditions that are hot work just standing still, and Summer has only just begun.

The volunteers range in age from 18 to some in their 70's. For many of the younger volunteers, this is their first experience of catastrophic fire conditions, and they will be relying heavily on the guidance of more experienced firefighters. For many experienced volunteers, including those with several generations of family members being involved over many decades (you know who I am talking about, Ron ), that guidance can be limited as these fires are unprecedented in their ferocity and extent, and there is no learned knowledge in how to combat them.

It's been said often enough before, but after these fires are over there needs to be a comprehensive reassessment of land management practices in bushland and forested areas to reduce the extent and intensity of future outbreaks. It is hardly "best practice" Conservation strategies if all the native fauna for hundreds of kilometres are incinerated, taking decades to recover, if ever at all.

[Ron King]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

(you know who I am talking about, Ron )

thanks..……..time flys its now 18 years ago

Ron

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

The headlines here say that they expect things to get worse this weekend.
In New Zealand, the Glaciers down south have gone brown and on Wednesday the sun was just a very red orb in the sky for the last 10 minutes before sun set. It was so dull it was easy to look directly at. Yesterday morning was dull and cool like a cold winters overcast day and any sunlight that came through was particularly yellow. We have an elevated view out to sea. It has been hazy for several weeks.
We are hoping the rest of you guys In Australia don't cop it like Tony has.

In the 1980s Mount St Helens erupted on the northwestern tip of the Continental US. There was so much ash and particulate in the air that the weather that summer was frighteningly wet and cold. If you are downwind of the fires, expect changes to predictable patterns.

Fully sympathize with our fellow Rusty Old Trucker brothers and sisters in their time of peril.