Fire Problem

[TarJak]

A mate of mine and his family have lost their home last night in the fires around Marysville. Luckily they are all OK but I can't imagine the rebuilding process they are about to start.

I'm still trying to get hold of another good friend who lives near Bendigo who I've not been able to contact. I hope he and his family are all safe.

[Penelope_Grey]

I saw this on the news yesterday and thought to myself that it was a drastic state of affairs.... I am keeping my fingers crossed for the people down under.

[Reece]

I'm still trying to get hold of another good friend who lives near Bendigo who I've not been able to contact. I hope he and his family are all safe.

My thoughts and prayers mate!

[TarJak]

Originally Posted by Reece

My thoughts and prayers mate!

Cheers mate. It's been a terrible day down there with 76 now confirmed dead and the toll likely to rise as rescue and fire crews move into areas they have not been able to get to yet, making this disaster worse than Ash Wednesday in 1983.

[Schroeder]

Sorry to hear about all that. I think this is the highest death toll to bushfires that I can remember.

[UnderseaLcpl]

I offer my hopes and prayers for the victims of this disaster. I feel a bit useless just doing that, though. I really wish that I had something else to contribute.

[JScones]

One of my employees (also a volunteer firey) is ready to board his truck and head down there now. Indeed, five of his colleagues have just left for Beechworth (as part of the 90 that the ACT have so far sent).

Hope they catch the b@stard(s) that lit some of the fires.

84 deaths now and still climbing.

Still waiting to hear back from friends in Doreen (near Hurstbridge); not sure if they're in the fire line.

[baggygreen]

Originally Posted by TarJak

I'm still trying to get hold of another good friend who lives near Bendigo who I've not been able to contact. I hope he and his family are all safe.

Fingers crossed for ya mate. Dont worry too much, most mobile towers and phonelines have been, well from images i saw earlier, vapourised.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by TarJak

A mate of mine and his family have lost their home last night in the fires around Marysville. Luckily they are all OK but I can't imagine the rebuilding process they are about to start.

I'm still trying to get hold of another good friend who lives near Bendigo who I've not been able to contact. I hope he and his family are all safe.

Hey Grant, I trust you're safe from all the fires and floods. Just stay outta the flood water so the crocs don't getcha!

[TarJak]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

Hey Grant, I trust you're safe from all the fires and floods. Just stay outta the flood water so the crocs don't getcha!

LOL I'm well out of it mate. The devastation is in aother state, nearly 1000km (over 440 miles) from where I live. That said, there are more than 40 fires burning in my state but none anywhere I'm likely to get singed.

Still no contact from my mate in Bendigo, but I'm classing no news as good news so far.

[August]

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?

[Konovalov]

Originally Posted by August

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?

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.

[August]

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.

[Konovalov]

Originally Posted by August

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.

[Konovalov]

Originally Posted by TarJak

That said, there are more than 40 fires burning in my state but none anywhere I'm likely to get singed.

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. 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.