fire!

[Dipcdame]

The image that has touched me the most, I think, is the sight of Mr Rudd talking to people affected by these fires, and he actually TOUCHES them.................. every person I see him with, he is touching them on the shoulder or arm, and others, he hugs, including a couple of people as one time, one of whom was drawn up against his chest. His support for people affected, and his compassion for the tragedy of the situation really seems to show through. It's as if he is trying to reach out to each and every one of them.

It is heartening to see a PM can allow himself to be human!!

139...... that's unforgivable....................as I said once before, not sure if it was this thread, the lowlifes who did this deserve everything that happens to them once they are caught - and I pray that they are........ and QUICK!

 

[Untouchable_Jodz]

I thought id add it in here, but Coles will be donating all (or a lot of dont quote me!) proceeds to the Vic Fires on Friday so if you can't help out with blood or donations you can still help by doing your shopping on friday - waiting in the que might be a pain in the bum but it'll be worth it!!

 

[Pratta25]

i heard the tolls hit over 108 now is it tru?

 

[cockney red]

170

 

[m.punja]

places still under threat I just heard yackandandah have been suggested to evac or prepare to fight and also heard alexandra (the refuge for the homless from kinglake and marysvile) is now also under threat.

 

[coastal_22]

fires

I live in Healesville near Mt Riddel, we evacuated last night and to look at the mountains off Maroondah Hwy going towards Coldstream was amazing! you could not imagine how many fires there actually were in that one mountain range, in some parts of Healesville we have heavy ember attacks. some of my mates and there familys houses are completely gone. 25 emergency vehicles were escorted by police up that way today, we got fires all around us like Toolangi, Mt Riddel, Chum Creek, Warburton, Kinglake, Yarra Glen and Marysville. Last i heard 173 dead, and HEAPS more to come i reckon. one of the major problems around here is that there just isnt enough CFA members compared to the amounts of fires. so they focus on the main fires like Kinglake and every were else has no one to defend. But i give a shout out to all the members of CFA and volunteers helping out, there doing a fantastic job. i went down to the relief centre to help out but they already had too many volunteers!

 

[horsesrule]

173 dead what a tragedy.

Did anyone see the guy who escaped with his baby python?

 

[m.punja]

I was going to try to go to a releif centre but was told not to bother, I might still have a crack yet

 

[moosenoose]

Whatcha doing there Punja?

 

[mysnakesau]

It is so so sad :cry: how many possums, roos, reptiles, koalas and more, would have died in that. They certainly would not have escaped unless they found holes underground or in water. I wish I lived closer so I could help with the animals. Somehow don't think they'd waste energy sending them around the country.

I have sent a donation but just can't help but feel that it isn't enough.

 

[moosenoose]

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/749137/bushfire-death-toll-climbs-to-166

Not surprising, just frightening!

 

[monix]

some were lit by evil lil ($*^$... but some were lightning strikes.. some even from cigerettes thrown carelessly from car windows.
seems the natural part is the extreme conditions that made it 4 times worse than it has in the past. ie. not enough back burning, record drought etc.. so many factors in play.. i dont think people can just blame a couple people for it all.

not sayin we go lenient on the firebugs, i cant stand to share the same oxigen either. stick em all on a remote island., they have no place in our society. never understood why they did that to refugees... when there are so many evil people here that deserved it.

 

[m.punja]

I was just going to see if i could help at all moose

 

[moosenoose]

Oh....I've left my name as a volunteer. Said they'd get back to me. I presume it'll be to try and help clean some of these places up??? I dunno.

 

[FROGGIESrCUTEo_O]

Oh

Oh dear, the fire's behind my Nan's place in Gembrook near the Pack Trk, they are now on Alert.
We're the next town away from them, Cockatoo and it's slowly coming our way:?
We're packed and ready to go, so is i_LoVe_AnImAlS family too.

 

[m.punja]

good luck this long into it and the fires are still threatening to kill more people and do even more destruction, how could anyone have ever guessed it would ever be this bad

 

[ReptilianGuy]

natural... some where... most would've been careless smokers and the 2 at churchill were deliberate and they have suspects on the line and i've heard that they even had some1 in custody on sun and mon. still seeing the face of my boss when he told us about the house in jeredine they couldn't get to till 3 hrs later... and the people walking out of the smoke and darkness when they finally got through to the town... it's enough to make you feel the real truth about this disaster.
it's like listening to war stories from veterans....

just so people know... to offer support it isnt to fight the fires or anything like that, it's the clean up and help in the destroyed communities.... and no site see'rs would be appreciated by the services trying to and still working on the front and in the affected zones..

if your wanting to help then donations of money, food then clothes is going to be well appreciated and in the future any SES or CFA and all other emergency services, the best any 1 can do for them is offer donations when they do donation drives or call around for funds, wich will help with equipment and recources

it's not a matter of how many that would've made a differance.... ( it could have) it's more that the rules and OHS that state they cant fight a bush fire in the bush... they have to wait until the fire reaches the road then climb the trees before they can really act or a direct threat to property or life, it's those laws goin into review along with many more, those are in place after the loss of so many fire fighters in Ash Wednesday.... now this fire has been the worse since Black Friday and Ash Wednesday... all that can be done is help any way possible..

lets just hope the fires still goin don't claim anymore lives.. and lets hope this don't happen again this year.. or anytime soon

heart goes out to all affected and all services and volunteers and those that helped others when they needed help as well deserve high recognition from all

 

[Wild_Storm]

I weep for the families of the people and the animals that have died. I feel for the people that have lost everything. I rang my ex-father-in-law this morning & he rang back tonight to tell me his family were all well at this point, but his cousin is in the Fire department... I pray his cousin stays safe. I rang my friends and they are within 50 kms of a fire... I pray they are safe.

In Far Nth Qld where I can't do anything because of Flooding, I feel so helpless... All I can do is pray & hope there is no more deaths. I admire all the volunteers, my heart goes out for all affected. Floods damaged your house and goods... Fire takes it ALL.

Is there ANYTHING we CAN do up here??

 

[ReptilianGuy]

I weep for the families of the people and the animals that have died. I feel for the people that have lost everything. I rang my ex-father-in-law this morning & he rang back tonight to tell me his family were all well at this point, but his cousin is in the Fire department... I pray his cousin stays safe. I rang my friends and they are within 50 kms of a fire... I pray they are safe.

In Far Nth Qld where I can't do anything because of Flooding, I feel so helpless... All I can do is pray & hope there is no more deaths. I admire all the volunteers, my heart goes out for all affected. Floods damaged your house and goods... Fire takes it ALL.

Is there ANYTHING we CAN do up here??

fact is we have coped it bad, we now are aware of where it is so we may still loose homes but so long as the wind stay's how it is there won't be any surprises... truth is.... we aren't out of the woods yet... nor is northern australia or NSW. Vic is the worst effected so far but the flooded norht is still in middle of Cyclone season like we are in the middle of fire season... anything can still happen and if the north gets hit by a large cyclone then they will be like us down here, except with water as the ground is soaked and there is nowhere for water to flow now..... so we all have to be prepared for the worst everywhere untill it does or doesn't come.....

wild storm, money donations is the best help that can be offered at this time from any1 that can spare some change or more... but the north needs to stay safe as well...

the best thing about australia i feel (other than the herp diversity), we all seem to pull together and set aside differences when there are disasters like this and cyclones and other national disasters and help each other out any way we can. 'well most of us anyway'

 

[coastal_22]

now this fire has been the worse since Black Friday and Ash Wednesday...

There now saying this is worse than Ash Wednesday, its deffinately deadlier! heres what i can find on a quick search on the statistics..........
Ash Wednesday:

Fatalities 47
Injuries 2676
Buildings 3,000+


Victorian Fires (so far):

Fatalities 181+
Injuries 500+, 100+ in hospital
Buildings 1,033+

If the wind changes i reckon those statistics for the fires now are just going to go through the roof!