Bushfires in Australia

[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

[hrpearce]

The Dunn's road fire that is in our area was started by lightning hitting a pine block that has been thinned so plenty of branch litter to get it going. Then the wind blew it over containment lines and it made a 40 Km run over night and has been spreading ever since. It has now burnt more than 130000 ha and I just heard it is heading our way tonight, hopefully it gets there before the next wind event.

[Howard]

Some Photos from the Dunn's Rd Fire
Dunns01.jpg Dunns02.jpg Dunns03.jpg Dunns04.jpg

[Howard]

Dunns05.jpg Dunns06.jpg Dunns07.jpg

[Howard]

And.. The perils of working at night...
Dunns08.jpg Dunns09.jpg
Dunns10.jpg Dunns11.jpg
(Everyone including the machine is OK...)

[jack neville]

Originally Posted by Howard

Attachment 111230 Attachment 111231 Attachment 111232

No chance you would have to worry about finding anyone chained to your bulldozer at present Howard.
Not a greenie in sight in the current climate.

[Nick Balmer]

We are so sorry to see all of the harm you poor guys are going through Down Under with all of the bushfires.

We are hoping and praying for heavy rain or anything else we can think of, and wish we didn't feel so powerless to help you.

It is great to see the way that your rural communities are pulling together.

Your rural fire service seem really awesome, but surely some way must be found to reinforce them.

We hope that you and your families will remain safe in the coming days.