Fire Problem

Konovalov · 02-08-09, 11:56 AM

Terrible news. Having experienced bush fires for myself back around Christmas/New Years 2002 at our property at Colo Heights (2 hours NW of Sydney centre) I know what it is like. However I do not know what it is like to loose your house or loved ones. Really depressing stuff.

Looking from afar over here in the UK I have seen many of the scenes and footage on BBC and Sky News. And from what I have seen I am not surprised by the high number of fatalities.

It looks like many people either weren't prepared or panicked and tried to escape the fires when it was too late. People need to make a clear decision. Either stay to protect your property or get out at least 24 hours before the fire comes through your area.

Secondly I have to question the bushfire preparedness of many of the residents in the areas effected. My father lives in Lancefield which is near to many of the areas in country Victoria that have been devastated by the bushfires. The last time I was home downunder we spent much time out on the golfcourses around these areas. I was amazed just how many of the houses and properties that were closely surrounded by lush gardens, dense vegetation, and overhanging gum trees.

I remember Dad commenting that these peoples homes were ticking time bombs if we had a hot summer with those nasty strong northerly winds.

On the tv I have seen scenes of residents and homeowners fighting fires wearing synthetic clothing, in thongs (flip flops), shorts, and t-shirt. This is just plain crazy stuff.

I would hasten to bet that many of these people are city slickers who have moved to these country areas as has been the trend in both Melbourne and Sydney. Perhaps the Country Fire Authority (CFA) should have been more proactive in providing advise to such newcomer residents.

The terrible fires that we experienced at Colo Heights, NSW in late 2002 were intense. I remember standing in the middle of one of the paddocks watching as the fire raged along our property fence line. Our property borders the Parr State Conservation Area which is rough and hilly Aussie bush coutry. That moment standing in the middle of the paddock was both awe inspiring and terrifying. The fire was racing through the canopy and at ground level consuming everything. And the heat radiated from it was immense. I was at least 75 to 100 metres away yet my eyebrowse were starting to singe from the intense heat. If only I could of told of my experience to the clowns wearing shorts, t-shirt and thongs. Back to our experience we were as best prepared as we could be and because of that all we lost was the perimeter property and some paddock fencing being about 6 kilometres in length which was a little costly to replace. But then again this was nothing compared to loosing ones house or worse ones life.

In short I am extremely saddened and also very angry. Too many people lost their lives and in my view many of these deaths were avoidable if both homeowners and local authorities had of been more proactive and responsible. Such a terrible tragedy and waste.

P.S. Sorry for my rant but I just had to get it off my chest.

02-08-09, 02:17 PM

If it's generally known that those areas are prone to have such fires it makes me wonder why they build there in the first place?

August · 02-08-09, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneToughHerring

If it's generally known that those areas are prone to have such fires it makes me wonder why they build there in the first place?

Your area is prone to snow and cold weather, why do you build there?

02-08-09, 02:55 PM

Snow and cold weather doesn't kill people. Or well, the occasional person who is under the influence of alcohol and happens to doze off in the snow may perish, not really a reason not to build houses here. On the whole our houses can resist the weather quite well, I'd invite for example Brits to take a look at how proper houses are built instead of the drafty and dank things they have.

kiwi_2005 · 02-08-09, 04:02 PM

Not good. I was reading about this on a kiwi forum aussie bush fires never get mentioned but when aussies die from them then the topics start.

"On warm days vaporised eucalyptus oil rises above the bush to create the characteristic distant blue haze of the Australian landscape. Eucalyptus oil is highly flammable and bush fires can travel through the oil-rich air of the tree crowns with an explosive power that firefighters can do little about. " Very tough enviroment, a bit like living beside drums of petrol stacked 30 metres high"

baggygreen · 02-08-09, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneToughHerring

If it's generally known that those areas are prone to have such fires it makes me wonder why they build there in the first place?

OTH, the answer is simple.

We have 3 types of country out here - bush, which is what burns, tropics, which flood, or desert, which gets a bit too hot.

You gotta live somewhere..

Kapitan_Phillips · 02-08-09, 04:46 PM

Saw this on the news, there were tattlings that it was started deliberately. Or am I imagining things?

02-08-09, 04:57 PM

@onetoughherring , take a look at a map of Australia you'll notice there's a thin band of green mainly along the east coast then the rest of the place is yellow for desert, there's not alot of choice's for places to live here - were I live is actually classed as being in a desert and its a major city with a population of over 1 million (Adelaide).

My inlaws got a phone call from my sister in law yesterday ,where she live's in Victoria has fires all around , they can't see the fires themselves (But they could be seen from the local town),and their getting ash falls - Churchill's about 1/2 an hours drive from where she live's .

02-08-09, 05:23 PM

Yea ok I guess you have thought about it then. Seems like a pretty big risk though, although from what I hear it's an even bigger risk in some parts of the US. Condolences for all the victims.

Falkirion · 02-08-09, 07:34 PM

KP aparantly it was a deliberately lit fire. We've got a problem with firebugs throughout the summer months. Seems some idiots feel the need to light fires during one of the toughest days (47-48 degrees, hottest since records began and similar to temp during Black Friday during the 30s) ever.

I'm completely shocked by the death toll, never exepcted to see a bushfire claim over 100 people.

Luckily though I'm safe, 20 mins outside the Melbourne CBD. I've been considering joining the SES to help out during the summer months. This might speed it up a bit though.

Reece · 02-08-09, 07:53 PM

Anyone deliberately lighting fires that cause death should be treated as a murderer, and in this case a fitting execution like burning at the stake would be appropriate, we have to live in fear of these idiots!

August · 02-08-09, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falkirion

I've been considering joining the SES to help out during the summer months. This might speed it up a bit though.

Do it, you'll always regret it if you don't.

02-08-09, 11:56 AM	#1
Konovalov Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: High Wycombe, Bucks, UK Posts: 2,811 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Terrible yet needless deaths Terrible news. Having experienced bush fires for myself back around Christmas/New Years 2002 at our property at Colo Heights (2 hours NW of Sydney centre) I know what it is like. However I do not know what it is like to loose your house or loved ones. Really depressing stuff. Looking from afar over here in the UK I have seen many of the scenes and footage on BBC and Sky News. And from what I have seen I am not surprised by the high number of fatalities. It looks like many people either weren't prepared or panicked and tried to escape the fires when it was too late. People need to make a clear decision. Either stay to protect your property or get out at least 24 hours before the fire comes through your area. Secondly I have to question the bushfire preparedness of many of the residents in the areas effected. My father lives in Lancefield which is near to many of the areas in country Victoria that have been devastated by the bushfires. The last time I was home downunder we spent much time out on the golfcourses around these areas. I was amazed just how many of the houses and properties that were closely surrounded by lush gardens, dense vegetation, and overhanging gum trees. I remember Dad commenting that these peoples homes were ticking time bombs if we had a hot summer with those nasty strong northerly winds. On the tv I have seen scenes of residents and homeowners fighting fires wearing synthetic clothing, in thongs (flip flops), shorts, and t-shirt. This is just plain crazy stuff. I would hasten to bet that many of these people are city slickers who have moved to these country areas as has been the trend in both Melbourne and Sydney. Perhaps the Country Fire Authority (CFA) should have been more proactive in providing advise to such newcomer residents. The terrible fires that we experienced at Colo Heights, NSW in late 2002 were intense. I remember standing in the middle of one of the paddocks watching as the fire raged along our property fence line. Our property borders the Parr State Conservation Area which is rough and hilly Aussie bush coutry. That moment standing in the middle of the paddock was both awe inspiring and terrifying. The fire was racing through the canopy and at ground level consuming everything. And the heat radiated from it was immense. I was at least 75 to 100 metres away yet my eyebrowse were starting to singe from the intense heat. If only I could of told of my experience to the clowns wearing shorts, t-shirt and thongs. Back to our experience we were as best prepared as we could be and because of that all we lost was the perimeter property and some paddock fencing being about 6 kilometres in length which was a little costly to replace. But then again this was nothing compared to loosing ones house or worse ones life. In short I am extremely saddened and also very angry. Too many people lost their lives and in my view many of these deaths were avoidable if both homeowners and local authorities had of been more proactive and responsible. Such a terrible tragedy and waste. P.S. Sorry for my rant but I just had to get it off my chest. __________________ "In a Christian context, sexuality is traditionally seen as a consequence of the Fall, but for Muslims, it is an anticipation of paradise. So I can say, I think, that I was validly converted to Islam by a teenage French Jewish nudist." Sheikh Abdul-Hakim Murad (Timothy Winter) Last edited by Konovalov; 02-08-09 at 12:29 PM.

02-08-09, 04:02 PM	#5
kiwi_2005 Eternal Patrol Join Date: May 2004 Location: Aeoteroa Posts: 7,382 Downloads: 223 Uploads: 1	Not good. I was reading about this on a kiwi forum aussie bush fires never get mentioned but when aussies die from them then the topics start. "On warm days vaporised eucalyptus oil rises above the bush to create the characteristic distant blue haze of the Australian landscape. Eucalyptus oil is highly flammable and bush fires can travel through the oil-rich air of the tree crowns with an explosive power that firefighters can do little about. " Very tough enviroment, a bit like living beside drums of petrol stacked 30 metres high" __________________ RIP kiwi_2005 Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.

02-08-09, 04:46 PM	#7
Kapitan_Phillips Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Swansea Posts: 3,903 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	Saw this on the news, there were tattlings that it was started deliberately. Or am I imagining things? __________________ Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into.

02-08-09, 04:57 PM	#8
darius359au Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	@onetoughherring , take a look at a map of Australia you'll notice there's a thin band of green mainly along the east coast then the rest of the place is yellow for desert, there's not alot of choice's for places to live here - were I live is actually classed as being in a desert and its a major city with a population of over 1 million (Adelaide). My inlaws got a phone call from my sister in law yesterday ,where she live's in Victoria has fires all around , they can't see the fires themselves (But they could be seen from the local town),and their getting ash falls - Churchill's about 1/2 an hours drive from where she live's . Last edited by darius359au; 02-08-09 at 05:15 PM.

02-08-09, 07:53 PM	#11
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 34,726 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	Anyone deliberately lighting fires that cause death should be treated as a murderer, and in this case a fitting execution like burning at the stake would be appropriate, we have to live in fear of these idiots! __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

02-08-09, 02:17 PM	#2
OneToughHerring Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	If it's generally known that those areas are prone to have such fires it makes me wonder why they build there in the first place?

02-08-09, 02:55 PM	#4
OneToughHerring Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Snow and cold weather doesn't kill people. Or well, the occasional person who is under the influence of alcohol and happens to doze off in the snow may perish, not really a reason not to build houses here. On the whole our houses can resist the weather quite well, I'd invite for example Brits to take a look at how proper houses are built instead of the drafty and dank things they have.

02-08-09, 05:23 PM	#9
OneToughHerring Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Yea ok I guess you have thought about it then. Seems like a pretty big risk though, although from what I hear it's an even bigger risk in some parts of the US. Condolences for all the victims.

02-08-09, 07:34 PM	#10
Falkirion Ace of the Deep Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Melbourne, AUS Posts: 1,043 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	KP aparantly it was a deliberately lit fire. We've got a problem with firebugs throughout the summer months. Seems some idiots feel the need to light fires during one of the toughest days (47-48 degrees, hottest since records began and similar to temp during Black Friday during the 30s) ever. I'm completely shocked by the death toll, never exepcted to see a bushfire claim over 100 people. Luckily though I'm safe, 20 mins outside the Melbourne CBD. I've been considering joining the SES to help out during the summer months. This might speed it up a bit though.