My deepest sympathies to the people of Australia at this horrible time. I cannot imagine what it must be like to see such utter devastation over such a wide swath of the territory, and the rising death toll is truly tragic.

I don't know if this estimate has changed, but reading a statement by Jon Rowdon, president of Wildlife Victoria that "millions of animals would have been killed", was heartbreaking. Those figures did not include livestock.

Do any of you Aussies know if you have Smokejumpers? They have proven instrumental in containing fires at the front line, in remote areas. The Wikipedia entry does not list Australia as one of the countries that uses this program, but the article is flagged as needing citations, and I don't know if it's accurate.

I don't know what else to say - this is just so sad.

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Here's an interesting item to debate - it's been suggested that the weather forecasters NOT mention coming high winds and high fire danger, the thought being that when arsonists KNOW the perfect conditions are coming, they plan accordingly. What are your (meaning you FTers) thoughts, on the pros and cons of not "advertising" perfect wild fire conditions?

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Good topic for debate, djsgal.

I don't think it's a good idea as people in fire risk areas do need to know about it as not all fires are caused by arsonists. It has been suggested by one of our MP's that the Horsham fire was caused by a faulty power pole. If people are not aware of conditons, it could spell disaster if a fire does happen. Many people in the current fires have said that the fire came upon them so quickly there was no time to do anything except leave.

I have seen the California wildfires in the news many times over the years, so I know that you can certainly relate to these fires in Australia.

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Do any of you Aussies know if you have Smokejumpers?

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Cydonia, I haven't heard of Smokejumpers being used here. I doubt that the unions would allow it. A very dangerous job to do but could be very useful when fires first have been spotted or for small outbreaks.

Jordandog, there are no forced evacuations in place at the moment but the government is saying that they are going to re examine the fire rules and regulations in the future.


I can smell fire here this morning, it is probably from the Healesville fire which is about 35km (22 miles) from here.

I think it's essential that fire weather warnings continue to be issued.
I am sure that lives were spared last weekend because people chose to stay away from tourist areas due to the warnings. City folks need continuous reminding that fires can start from lightning, fallen power lines, sun shining through glass shards, campfire embers, discarded cigarettes, sparks from machinery, even the friction from car tyres on dry grass!
Victoria Police have now stated that only the Churchill blaze was deliberately lit. The rest are doubtful or not suspicious.

The situation has eased somewhat - for the first time since Saturday there are no towns under immediate threat and light rain has dampened some areas.
Might give some time to get some containment lines in before the wind picks up at, least there's humidity.

As far as media Not advertising perfect "fire bug' conditions - that's a hard one.
The public needs to have a warning of what's predicted so I guess the 'fire bugs' are part of that.
I wonder do they have to hear how bad it will be or if they light fires because the day is what it is - hot and extremely windy?
A fire local to here (about 15klms away) was deliberately lit on Saturday.
Fortunately there was no property damage, the fire burnt out several hundred bush hectares - very hard on the Wildlife!

When the perpetrator was caught (and charged) he was a Local!

My MIL lights fires to stop mosquitoes -always has, and in the middle of a total fire ban!
When she did it last weekend (after I nearly had heart failure at rising smoke above the house), I told her if the Firies didn't catch her and fine her $5000, then I'd ring them and tell them so they could put her out of harm's way - Away From Me!

On the subject of warnings, I think the best system is that which they have in California and which the Victorian State Government has been trying to introduce. Recorded messages are phoned through to everybody in a particular area, including mobiles (cell phone).

I am deeply saddened by the devastation experienced by people in the fires. One lady's experience brought me to tears. She said that she and her neighbours had no time to get out. She watched her neighbour's house burn down, with her neighbours in it. The heat was so intense, there was hardly any oxygen in the air and she said she just accepted that she and her young daughter were going to die when her daughter looked up at her and said "I can't breathe Mummy, I can't breathe". Fortunately for them, the fire bypassed their house.

On another related subject I was going to send a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald about how some of our knucklehead sportsmen don't make me proud and people who go under the banner of "Aussie Pride" and "Love it or leave" (part of the sentiments I agree with, but most of these people are just racist rednecks) don't make me proud. How going to Iraq doesn't make me proud and the beligerent, arrogant attitudes of some of my countrymen and women don't make me proud, but the way we come together and help each other in circumstances like this makes me proud as hell. Then I read this letter:

" I am always bemused that those who suffer tragedy and misfortune at the same time as others gain the benefit of widespread media interest, of charities and funds set up in their name and of substantial government assistance, while those who suffer in instances without a media blitz are left to do so unacknowledged and unassisted.

If it is appropriate to give government assistance of $5000 for the funeral of someone who dies in the Victorian bushfires, why is it not appropriate for the government to give the same assistance to anyone who dies of any disaster, however small? Or is losing one's life with hundreds of others somehow relevant to how deserving one (and one's family) is?"

There is a name I'd like to call this person, but I don't this b*tch is allowed here.

There's a good chance this bloke will get lynched if he's found:

Quote: Sydney MorningHerald Friday 13th February 2009 Marysville blaze the work of arsonists, police suspect John Silvester and Marika Dobbin POLICE investigating the massive Marysville bushfire now believe it may have been deliberately lit - suggesting more than half of the 181 people who died in the catastrophic firestorms across Victoria could have been victims of arson. Days after the Churchill fire was attributed to arson, experts have confirmed the source of the Marysville fire was also not consistent with weather conditions and pre-existing outbreaks. After briefings from investigators, the Victorian Chief Commissioner, Christine Nixon, told the Herald: "The fire behaviour leads us to believe that the fire could have been deliberately lit." The Phoenix taskforce investigation into the Marysville blaze, codenamed Groove, has found evidence to suggest the Marysville, Narbethong and Murrundindi fires all started from one source and then spotted to separate blazes. This could mean one arsonist was behind a massive group of fires that is likely to have killed more than 100 people. The revelations came as: * Several suspects had been interviewed over the Churchill fire, including a Gippsland teenager with a history of arson. * The police union called for powers allowing police to forcibly remove residents from homes under fire threat. * The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, said there would be a national day of mourning to remember the victims of the bushfires. A date has not yet been set. Exhausted firefighters were taking advantage of milder conditions to contain 31 bushfires in Victoria before possible extreme weather next week. Urgent fire threats were downgraded yesterday but almost 50 communities remained on alert as residents were warned the bushfire season is far from over. The Governor-General, Quentin Bryce, shed tears in Alexandra as she spoke with homeless and grieving residents from Marysville, Narbethong and Buxton. Insurance premiums could rise by almost 10 per cent because of the fires, and some in bushfire-prone areas may find they are not able to get insurance at all. Aid agencies have reminded people to give money rather than clothing, as donations rose to $67.4 million yesterday.

www.smh.com.au

Apparently the Police have someone "assisting them with the investigations" over the Churchill fires that killed 21 people.

On a brighter note - has anyone not seen the koala that a fireman gave some water too?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XSPx7S4jr4&feature=related
how cool is that? "are you alright, buddy, hey? Dale! can you grab me some water" Had to smile - that is an Australian accent and a half. .

One story I was just reading was about a man who went back to his house to rescue the dog, got out and crashed into another car stuck on teh side of the road, he got out to run for his life from the fire and was in a paddock where about 20 kangaroos came up close to him. Animals are amazing.

It breaks my heart to hear of the loss of so much life. It's bad enough when tragedies happen, but it's somehow more grievous when it's a deliberate act. Yet the results are the same and it's very hard to think of. My thoughts and prayers to all who were/are affected.

Y

A 39 year-old Churchill man has been charged with Arson causing death and also with possession of child pornography. He has been rapidly removed from Morwell court to custody in Melbourne "for security reasons."
I desperately hope that the law will be allowed to take its course without hot-headed public (and media) behaviour which might prejudice a trial.

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Aid agencies have reminded people to give money rather than clothing, as donations rose to $67.4 million yesterday

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How very heartening it is to hear that people are so quick to help in time of crisis. This is what neighbours are all about - near or far.

Great clip on the koala, Copago. I know thousands upon thousands of animals have perished, so it was good to see this lil critter made it through ok.

A friend sent me pictures today of Bruno Torfs' Art and Sculpture Garden in Marysville. What an amazing place, now destroyed.

Local SES workers and the blokes that work for National Parks in my area spent some of the last couple of weeks down there helping fight fires still going and also with cleaning up. They said that what we see on the teev can't convey the total devastatioin down there.

Heartening to see how much money has been raised .. even town s in north Queensland are even raising money which is great considering they have their own problems.