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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I heard about this a couple of days ago, but the news this morning was particularly disturbing. I just want all of you in Oz to know that I am praying for you. Having been through something similar in the summer of '07, I know that even if YOUR house is safe, your hearts must be breaking for all of those affected. Let us know how you are doing. We care. |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | I saw it also. Stay safe guys and gals. Things can be replaced. You can't. Praying also. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | What a helpless feeling it must be to watch a wall of flames approaching your home...
Here's hoping all are out of harm's way! |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I echo all that is said...
Stay safe, stay well! |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by MusicMishka:
I echo all that is said...
Stay safe, stay well! Amen to that, let us know how everyone is doing. |
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September 2008
Posts: 757
Location: Melbourne Australia | Hello all, this is mostly happening about 30 miles north east of Melbourne where I live. It has come as a huge shock - went out for dinner after the heat (46.8C - about 118F) and 40 knot winds and they were only talking about 50 houses burned down.
When we got home listened to the news and it was 25 dead, by morning it was 40, lunch 60 dinner 75, evening 84 and this morning 108. People have been found dead in houses and in their cars while trying to escape. More will be found as they get further into the areas and the fires are still raging. 750 houses burned down and sad tales of volunteer firefighters working saving other people and their homes whilst their own family die - the pictures are horrific and no-one can watch, listen or read without becomming affected and shed a tear. This is the worst natural disaster in Australia's history.
Any thoughts or prayers for the people in the area would be appreciated. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Y'all Aussies know that our hopes and prayers are with you.
Stay Safe. |
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September 2008
Posts: 757
Location: Melbourne Australia | Thanks OMA - I'm listening to the radio at work via web and there are people calling in saying they haven't heard from some family and friends since Saturday night and can anyone help. There is one person on now saying there are still 15 families missing they haven't heard from or about. We are just starting to now expect the worst. It's so sad. |
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Joined:
January 2007
Posts: 672
Location: New South Wales, Australia | Thanks for your thoughts everyone....I'm a long way from Melbourne although I have a sister and her family in that area. Thankfully they are safe. Flacky is really in the zone. It's been a real hot summer all over although, to the north, there is severe flooding going on and also many many homes lost. We truly are a land of extremes. |
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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | WHOA!! Did'nt relize it was so close to you.Hope all is and stays well/safe. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | The news was just showing some of the air footage and it's Hell on earth!
What many, if not most, people don't realize is the speed at which these conflagrations can advance.
Back in the late '70s I picked up my visiting parents in Boise and was heading back to Mountain Home AFB. There was a prairie fire just off the interstate. It was moving at least at 35 MPH in that I had to drop my speed to 40-45 (smoke) and I slowly passed the front edge of the fire. And that was just with prairie grass as fuel.
Please be safe over there!!! |
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August 2008
Posts: 121
Location: Maine | All of the above from me. Nothing I can add that these good folks haven't already expressed. Flack, please keep me informed via FB. I'd appreciate it. |
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September 2008
Posts: 757
Location: Melbourne Australia | What's worse is that some of the fires were deliberately lit - our Prime Minister has referred to them as mass murderers, I'd call them much worse :(
Thanks for your thoughts the closest fires are about 24kms from where we live but shouldn't be an issue for us as we are really in the suburbs and have the prevailing winds in our favour.
Iffy, that is what some of the survivors are saying - they couldn't believe the speed it came through at - it was on them without any warning.
News Photos
Chris |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | What sort of psychopathic moron lights a fire on a day when the temperature is 44C! Hope they catch them. I've been in a bushfire before, it is beyond comprehension how fast the flames travel. |
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September 2008
Posts: 757
Location: Melbourne Australia | There was a man from the volunteer Country Fire Association charged here last week with lighting a fire last season - he wanted the gratification of his unit being called upon to fight the fire.
Then there are the smokers who throw their butts out the window because they don't want to make a mess in their car. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Stay safe... lend a hand. |
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October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | ...and our thoughts are with you all. |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Jim, Richard and I are miles from any of the drama. Floods to the north, fires to the south. The southeast of Queensland is enjoying such a wonderful Summer, it's hard to imagine the life destroying events confronting so many of our people.
Just a fraction of the rain up north would probably extinguish all the flames, but no rain is forecast for the next week.
As if there isn't enough bad news in the press every day. If there really is a God, something must have really pissed him (her??) off. |
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September 2008
Posts: 757
Location: Melbourne Australia | Fires are still raging and more towns under threat. There are now 173 people, mums, dads, children, grandparents, husbands, wives, whole families, we learn are no longer with us ,as names and photos are released. The fires didn't discrimminate.
Police reports advise of arsonists and looters which makes you angry and leaves you disbelieving but then the community spirit overwhelms you with its goodness, kindness and selflessness and stories of heroics. People who made it through and their houses somewhat intact are getting angry as they do not believe they are getting any help - they need generators, gas cylinders, water, food and other materials but the officials are stopping this getting to them as they say it is still too dangerous. So some are smuggling stuff through on more dangerous backroads. Some people have not heard anything since Saturday (it's Tuesday here) and are only now hearing what is happening on the radio. If they leave their properties and come down to get supplies they are then not allowed back up. Film crews and politicians are making tours through the area but they are not allowing equipment and supplies through.
Additional firefighters and disaster victim identification teams are arriving all the time from interstate, New Zealand and even Indonesia where they were involved with victim identification following the Bali bombings.
Sorry for my ramblings but it is so emotional. |
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June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | I used to live in Northern Victoria and am very familiar with the areas hardest hit.
My heart goes out to all touched by this terrible tragedy. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | When we had fires in Idaho a couple summers ago, we had the good fortune of having Aussie firefighters come up to help. I hope that if they are needed in Australia, some of our firefighters can go help you out. |
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April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Flacky, I might end up down there on a visit to provide some backup to the overloaded EAP counsellors down in Victoria. I don't know if that will be in Melbourne or where, but I'll let you know if there is a chance of catching up. I'll know more in a few hours as I'm meeting with an EAP provider at lunch time about some casual work, and found out this morning they want people to go down to Victoria. |
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September 2008
Posts: 757
Location: Melbourne Australia | Hi Richard, keep me informed it would be great to catch up with you again.
Listening on the radio counselling will certainly be required. It's really a war zone and people can't comprehend what has happened.
Some locals caught a looter this morning and provided summary justice on the spot. It's not come out fully yet but more will be heard later today.
To give you an idea of the speed the firestorm came through and the following is an exerpt from one interview:-
"Unlike the Naylors, he saw the fire coming. He said it was like a horror show in IMAX that cost him 20 friends.
Mr Ropar, sobbing at times, said it took just two minutes for the flames to travel 20km, roar up the Sherwin Ranges and explode over the top."
I used to spend nearly every weekend up near there horseriding a number of years back and knew the country and some of the people in the area well. I am hoping they are ok. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | I got the job (well it's actually sub-contracting work, so I agree to turn up once a week and they MAY have clients for me to see, in which case I can charge them) but they haven't asked me to go to Victoria yet, although they currently have a bucketload of people down there.
Isn't it amazing how tame the koalas suddenly get when they're in distress?
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Joined:
September 2008
Posts: 757
Location: Melbourne Australia | Richard, from what I have heard on the radio people with your skills will be in huge demand. I heard one psychologist say a big danger was people who survived the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires having flashbacks. It's heartbreaking.
Officials are now warning that the toll could be 300 |
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OT: Fires in Oz
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