What would it take to survive a firestorm like that? Some kind of fallout type shelter? I'd guess that one could build a bunker that could protect a family from the heat and flame easily enough but how to provide air to breathe?

Spoke with my Mum this morning up at Colo Heights (NW of Sydney, NSW) who said that after some searing hot days temps have dropped to the mid 20's with some precipitation. However she sounded almost in a state of shock at just how devastating the fires had been down in Victoria and she said that my grandpa, who resides in Geelong (Victoria) had to turn the TV off having been brought to tears. :cry: Gotta phone Pa tonight to cheer him up and email him some nice pics that I took of a Mossie like he flew back in WW2.

I am a little worried about my mother because while the property is well prepared and we dealt really well with the Christmas 2002/New Years 2003 fire back then there were four of us on the property undertaking fire prevention and protection measures. This time it is just mum by herself along with our dogs, Zack the aussie Blue Heeler and Ali the Dalmation.

This is now by far the worst natural disaster to ever befall upon our nation. Only the tyrany of distance across the other side of the world makes it easier for me to deal with but even now I don't want to read the online papers such as the Age or ther Australian. This event is a national tragedy of the which we have never experience before. My thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost loved ones, those who are fighting for their lives in hospital or have suffered physical and emotional injury, those who lost their homes, and those who continue to face the threat of loosing life and property. Last but not least my thoughts and prayers go out to the brave men and women firefighters, who for the most part are volunteers. May you stay safe while helping to prevent further tragedy.

Advance Australia Fair.

Funny that you mention this August. When I was still living back home in 2002 I helped my mum up at her property at Colo Heights (2 hrs NW of Sydney) fight the fires of that Christmas. It was massive but we were well prepared with our defenses. Anyway we were obviously talking about the national tragedy that has happened down in country Victoria where the winds and general conditions are worse than what we had to deal with. We both came to the conclusion that if we were faced with what has happened in Victoria we may have not been able to withstand it. And then mum said what about jumping in one of her 2 massive concrete water tanks (each measures over 15m in diameter and 2.5m deep)if we were in the worst case scenario where it was helpless fighting the fires any longer. I said that I am not sure if you would survive even in there. I then wondered out aloud to her if there were any companies that specialize in making in effect a fire proof bomb shelter. Mum then said that she would seriously begin to look into. I said that this would be a good idea.

The long accepted policy that we have always adhered to is to either evacuate at least 24 hours before the fire comes through or to stay and defend our property. From what I have read in the papers back home many people tried to stay and defend but realized at the last moment that it was an impossible task. Hence they tried to flee when it was far to late, got caught in the bushfires in their cars, and sadly perished. People don't realize that it isn't the flames that kill. It is the immense radiant heat that reaches out 20,30, or 50 plus metres away that kills. Just shocking and so sad as I keep saying. :cry:

Well there is this, which would be something I'd certainly consider keeping in the car or house if I lived in a fire prone area:

http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/newshelt72.pdf

But I was thinking more along the lines of a cellar or bunker.

Yeah, we were also thinking along the lines of a bomb shelter type structure against fires. I'll post this link to mum anyway as it may provide some ideas. Thanks. :up:

More desperate propoganda from Al Qaeda and it's affiliates. These nuts really crack me up. If they burn down all our bushland then how are they going to go on their terrorist training camps.

Unfortunately we have had a long history of our bushfires being lit on purpose by firebugs. And they tend to be white Aussie men in their late teens, 20's and 30's as I recall having been a near victim of intentionally lit bushfires back in 2002.

Fires are in the south, floods are north of my daughters, and there are no croc's (that I know of) in SoCal. :haha:

The death toll is shocking !

Dosent anyone get warning out? No evacuations?

Hope they get this under control soon.

Wishing them all the best.

Ill even say a prayer for them... if thats allowed.

My prayers go out to Australia and those affected by the fires.

I had thought upon first glance that this was going to be a difficult battle against some tough brush fires... i never imagined in my wildest dreams that it would be as bad as the news indicates.

tragic

if these fires were in fact lit intentionally, i hope they find the bastard(s) responsible!

:nope:

I saw where the Prime Minister declared it "Mass Murder" so I'm assuming they have proof the fires were intentionally set.

Those that set it are in deeep trouble.

Aren't there any warnings from the local authorities? I mean if a fire gets out of control like this then I have to warn people that it is impossible to protect their homes in the affected area and evacuate them , even by force if needed. I can't believe that so many people got trapped in the flames and diedsuch a cruel death.:damn:

I think it's part people not realising how fast these fires move, and part people wanting to defend their homes with resources they simply don't have.

Such a terrible shock to see such a large loss of life though :(

Yea its not good, I just heard that the fire might of been caused by an arsonist not an act of nature, well if true i hope that sicko is freaking out big time that he/she cause the deaths of nearly 200. :nope:

Spot on mate. These fires move at up to 100km/h, with ember attacks starting new fires up to 5 km ahead of the main firefront. all it takes is 1 ember and whoosh, there goes a paddock.

People did have warning, but nobody predicted it would move that far that quickly. in the space of a couple of hours, the flames moved more than a 3 hour drive.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the political fingerpointing has begun... most of the blame seems to be placed at the feet of the greens who wouldn't allow any backburning or clearing of the undergrowth. the least the pollies could do is wait for the flames to be put out!