OT - Aussie Bushfires - Maybe 300 Dead and 1800 houses burnt

by **Andrew** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:37 am

Doing ok, but just really bummed out about all this. Death toll could top 300.

Fire had the force of 500 atomic bombs...

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25037900-1243,00.html

by **Tito** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:52 am

Seriously, I feel bad for you and your country Australia. I've never been there but it looks a wonderful place and I would like to visit it one day.

Seriousness off, Jerk Tito back:

Andrew wrote:Fire had the force of 500 atomic bombs...

I wish I and the U.S. could take away your country's pain, I would sacrifice California for Australia if I could.

by **artist4perry** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:57 am

Andrew wrote:Doing ok, but just really bummed out about all this. Death toll could top 300.Fire had the force of 500 atomic bombs...

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25037900-1243,00.html

I can see why.........so sorry Andrew.......sometimes it just makes me feel helpless........I want to make it go away.........you know? I love what I have learned about your country..........so lovely, untamed in many places, so civilized in others.......... :cry:

by **Andrew** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:09 am

http://www.news.com.au/gallery/0,23607,5037377-5006020-01,00.html

by **artist4perry** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:16 am

Andrew wrote:http://www.news.com.au/gallery/0,23607,5037377-5006020-01,00.html

Such tired faces............ :cry:

by **Behshad** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:37 am

Sad news for sure. Specially with the death toll rising,,,,my prayers to You and everyone affected by this, Drew,,,

What I dont understand is, Why isnt there any proper evacuation plans to try to save lives. I mean I heard people waiting to the very last minute to jump in their car and leave and the car was taken over by flames.

I mean we have wildfires here in the states too, but they have mandatory evacuations. I'd like to know what the process is like down under,so could you shed some light on this, mate?

by **Michigan Girl** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:59 am

Andrew wrote:Victoria, Australia - 65 dead and 640+ houses lost and at least 10 fires still burning outof control. That's just in the last 24 hrs.

Sad day here for all Australians.

http://www.news.com.au/

Sad indeed, stay safe!!! :cry:

by **Andrew** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 11:40 am

Behshad wrote:What I dont understand is, Why isnt there any proper evacuation plans to try to save lives. I mean I heard people waiting to the very last minute to jump in their car and leave and the car was taken over by flames.

The whole country has a stay and defend policy in place. Keeps roads clear and in the past it has served communities well.

It may be re-thought out after this, but to be honest, this was a freak thing.

I have heard stories of fires approaching townships and there being no immediate threat, only to have that change 5 mins later due to the hurricane force winds. Some residents had 2 minutes warning due to ember attacks and it raining fire.

by **Behshad** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 11:48 am

Andrew wrote:
Behshad wrote:What I dont understand is, Why isnt there any proper evacuation plans to try to save lives. I mean I heard people waiting to the very last minute to jump in their car and leave and the car was taken over by flames.

The whole country has a stay and defend policy in place. Keeps roads clear and in the past it has served communities well.

It may be re-thought out after this, but to be honest, this was a freak thing.

I have heard stories of fires approaching townships and there being no immediate threat, only to have that change 5 mins later due to the hurricane force winds. Some residents had 2 minutes warning due to ember attacks and it raining fire.

Hopefully they will rethink and change it .

MR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YOU CAN HELP! DONATE PLEASE!!!!

by **Arianddu** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:39 pm

Behshad wrote:
Andrew wrote:
Behshad wrote:What I dont understand is, Why isnt there any proper evacuation plans to try to save lives. I mean I heard people waiting to the very last minute to jump in their car and leave and the car was taken over by flames.

The whole country has a stay and defend policy in place. Keeps roads clear and in the past it has served communities well.

It may be re-thought out after this, but to be honest, this was a freak thing.

I have heard stories of fires approaching townships and there being no immediate threat, only to have that change 5 mins later due to the hurricane force winds. Some residents had 2 minutes warning due to ember attacks and it raining fire.

Hopefully they will rethink and change it .

MR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YOU CAN HELP! DONATE PLEASE!!!!

The fires were moving so fast that some families didn't have time to evacute. I have a friend who has lost his home; fortunately the family is fine. But they hadn't had the radio on Saturday morning; he said he smelled smoke and called for his wife to log on to the computer to check the fire alert website. Before she could get the computer turned on, a wiff of smokehad beomce black smoke and ember rain. They saw the fire front less than five minutes later. They got out by driving at over 120k on a dirt road, and he says the fire front overtook them at one point; he thinks they survived because the road changed direction at the same time as the front swung slightly in the other direction.

That's the hardest thing about these fires - they moved so fast. One man put his kids in the car, turned back to help his wife from the house and before he could get back to the car in the drive it had gone up with their children inside. Less than 2 minutes.

Thank you for putting up the donation link, btw. So many people have lost absolutely everything. The entire town of Kingslake is gone, completely burnt out. Unbelievable.

by **artist4perry** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:42 pm

Arianddu wrote:
Behshad wrote:
Andrew wrote:
Behshad wrote:What I dont understand is, Why isnt there any proper evacuation plans to try to save lives. I mean I heard people waiting to the very last minute to jump in their car and leave and the car was taken over by flames.

The whole country has a stay and defend policy in place. Keeps roads clear and in the past it has served communities well.

It may be re-thought out after this, but to be honest, this was a freak thing.

I have heard stories of fires approaching townships and there being no immediate threat, only to have that change 5 mins later due to the hurricane force winds. Some residents had 2 minutes warning due to ember attacks and it raining fire.

Hopefully they will rethink and change it .

MR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YOU CAN HELP! DONATE PLEASE!!!!

The fires were moving so fast that some families didn't have time to evacute. I have a friend who has lost his home; fortunately the family is fine. But they hadn't had the radio on Saturday morning; he said he smelled smoke and called for his wife to log on to the computer to check the fire alert website. Before she could get the computer turned on, a wiff of smokehad beomce black smoke and ember rain. They saw the fire front less than five minutes later. They got out by driving at over 120k on a dirt road, and he says the fire front overtook them at one point; he thinks they survived because the road changed direction at the same time as the front swung slightly in the other direction.

That's the hardest thing about these fires - they moved so fast. One man put his kids in the car, turned back to help his wife from the house and before he could get back to the car in the drive it had gone up with their children inside. Less than 2 minutes.

Thank you for putting up the donation link, btw. So many people have lost absolutely everything. The entire town of Kingslake is gone, completely burnt out. Unbelievable.

Oh Ari!

Why don't they get everyone out within 100 miles of that fire! So sad......... I am sure they felt they would have time. Heartbreaking............... :cry:

by **Arianddu** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:53 pm

artist4perry wrote:
Arianddu wrote:
Behshad wrote:
Andrew wrote:
Behshad wrote:What I dont understand is, Why isnt there any proper evacuation plans to try to save lives. I mean I heard people waiting to the very last minute to jump in their car and leave and the car was taken over by flames.

The whole country has a stay and defend policy in place. Keeps roads clear and in the past it has served communities well.

It may be re-thought out after this, but to be honest, this was a freak thing.

I have heard stories of fires approaching townships and there being no immediate threat, only to have that change 5 mins later due to the hurricane force winds. Some residents had 2 minutes warning due to ember attacks and it raining fire.

Hopefully they will rethink and change it .

MR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YOU CAN HELP! DONATE PLEASE!!!!

The fires were moving so fast that some families didn't have time to evacute. I have a friend who has lost his home; fortunately the family is fine. But they hadn't had the radio on Saturday morning; he said he smelled smoke and called for his wife to log on to the computer to check the fire alert website. Before she could get the computer turned on, a wiff of smokehad beomce black smoke and ember rain. They saw the fire front less than five minutes later. They got out by driving at over 120k on a dirt road, and he says the fire front overtook them at one point; he thinks they survived because the road changed direction at the same time as the front swung slightly in the other direction.

That's the hardest thing about these fires - they moved so fast. One man put his kids in the car, turned back to help his wife from the house and before he could get back to the car in the drive it had gone up with their children inside. Less than 2 minutes.

Thank you for putting up the donation link, btw. So many people have lost absolutely everything. The entire town of Kingslake is gone, completely burnt out. Unbelievable.

Oh Ari! Why don't they get everyone out within 100 miles of that fire! So sad......... I am sure they felt they would have time. Heartbreaking...............

Ginger, the area is huge and the fires moved so fast! We're talking something like the area of Texas burning in a single day.

by **artist4perry** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:57 pm

Arianddu wrote:
artist4perry wrote:
Arianddu wrote:
Behshad wrote:
Andrew wrote:
Behshad wrote:What I dont understand is, Why isnt there any proper evacuation plans to try to save lives. I mean I heard people waiting to the very last minute to jump in their car and leave and the car was taken over by flames.

The whole country has a stay and defend policy in place. Keeps roads clear and in the past it has served communities well.

It may be re-thought out after this, but to be honest, this was a freak thing.

I have heard stories of fires approaching townships and there being no immediate threat, only to have that change 5 mins later due to the hurricane force winds. Some residents had 2 minutes warning due to ember attacks and it raining fire.

Hopefully they will rethink and change it .

MR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YOU CAN HELP! DONATE PLEASE!!!!

The fires were moving so fast that some families didn't have time to evacute. I have a friend who has lost his home; fortunately the family is fine. But they hadn't had the radio on Saturday morning; he said he smelled smoke and called for his wife to log on to the computer to check the fire alert website. Before she could get the computer turned on, a wiff of smokehad beomce black smoke and ember rain. They saw the fire front less than five minutes later. They got out by driving at over 120k on a dirt road, and he says the fire front overtook them at one point; he thinks they survived because the road changed direction at the same time as the front swung slightly in the other direction.

That's the hardest thing about these fires - they moved so fast. One man put his kids in the car, turned back to help his wife from the house and before he could get back to the car in the drive it had gone up with their children inside. Less than 2 minutes.

Thank you for putting up the donation link, btw. So many people have lost absolutely everything. The entire town of Kingslake is gone, completely burnt out. Unbelievable.

Oh Ari! Why don't they get everyone out within 100 miles of that fire! So sad......... I am sure they felt they would have time. Heartbreaking...............

Ginger, the area is huge and the fires moved so fast! We're talking something like the area of Texas burning in a single day.

Horrible! Nothing like it! You guys be careful, get the heck out of Dodge if it is even remotely coming your way! All of our Aussie friends, please!

by **Vladan** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:10 pm

Mmmm yes, it has been a very bad week in those regards. What goes through the minds of the supposed arsonists, makes you wonder...

It is regrettable that Australia's legal system will probably give these mass murderers a lengthy prison sentance, unless they plea insanity - and that's it. Unlike the USA, we are way too leaniant on criminals of this magnitude.

by **Voyager** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:54 pm

This really sucks. It's a lot like what California has been dealing with for the past few years, but Australia has had more deaths in a short amount of time.

by **artist4perry** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 4:31 am

Voyager wrote:This really sucks. It's a lot like what California has been dealing with for the past few years, but Australia has had more deaths in a short amount of time.

Oh that picture.............Vger you just broke my heart into! :cry: