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Australian heatwave/bushfires... some MJJC members directly affected

Re: Australia counts heatwave deaths

The rate has jumped to 65 and there's been 2 towns wiped right off the map...

There's also at least 650 homes have been destroyed and 3733 people have registered with the Red Corss after evacuating their properties.



Images:

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Firemen are battling wildfires in south-eastern Australia that have killed at least 14 people. The area is experiencing one of its worst heatwaves in decades.


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Aircraft, such as this helicopter, are "water bombing" fires that are burning out of control in some areas.

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This image provided by Nasa shows smoke spreading south from a fire (outlined in red) in a forested area in Victoria state. Other fires are burning in New South Wales and South Australia.

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Authorities are advising people, such as these farmers, to stay where they are if possible and defend their homes.



There's some horrific stories coming through...
Strathewen resident Mary Avola said her husband of 43 years, Peter Avola, was among those killed. "He was behind me for a while and we tried to reach the oval but the gates were locked," she told Melbourne's Herald Sun.

"He just told me to go and that's the last time I saw him."
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one woman saying that her parents live in Kinglake, her father is a retired firefighter, he grabbed his wife, and threw themselves in the dam, within a couple of minutes, the front had torn through their house, destroying it, and their sheds and cars, if they hadn't of been underwater in the dam they would have been killed

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There's also reports that a CFA fire fighter's wife and small children are predicted to have perished in a fire that came through Marysville whilst he was off fighting another fire.



For those who don't know.... CFA fire fighters are all volunteers.

:no:
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

this is a tragedy...not only in VIC but everywhere in Australia...
I am relatively new here, this is only my 2nd summer, and I live in a safe suburb in Sydney (right next to the airport...if anything happens they will protect the airport) but still my heart goes out to all involved in VIC..

Just think about it...You would think that some wind would actually help in managing the heat..it is danger...winds of 80kms can destroy your property and life and most of these people woke up in the middle of the night for "fire falling from the sky" and their houses burning -sparks being transported by the wind...

It is now beginning of Feb...it is so dry over here I cant recall a rainfall lasting more than 10mins in Sydney since...well since around end of Nov.....that is almost 3months without rainfall..and Sydney NSW has a mild climate...

I was down in Melbourne just last weekend when they had a 2 day relief of their 44C heatwave of 4days..I have experienced a cool front.."only" 35C..Anywhere I looked there was no grass...it was all burnt out..even in the city...Went to Avalon Airport (50kms away from the city centre) and it was like a desert...

My heart goes out to all of those in VIC, lets hope things will at least will not get worse in the next couple of days..

From my end I am responding to the request of the Red Cross - Monday morning I am at a donation centre....
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

This is crazy stuff. Thankfully I'm not feeling any of it up here in "sunny" (?, lol) Queensland. The bushfires are really heartbreaking. 65 dead? That's insane. And so many people have had property just burnt to a crisp. Very sad.
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

vargak, I'm just so glad that the fires in NSW haven't claimed a life yet, and the fires in both NSW and SA are staying within containment lines, if all three states were like Vic we'd be very scared.


The crazy thing is... one state further up the coast (Queensland) is 60% under water in floods :ermm: Those poor buggers are stuck in their homes.
Are the floods near you Bob George?


One of the Elvis helicopters flew over my house 2 hours ago


Our school will probably look at doing an emergency drive for people to donate to the Red Cross etc



With every tragedy comes idiots too.... Apparently people are calling the emergency line 000 and asking where they can donate money. A release was made to remind people to only use the emergency line for emergencies.

Also a lot of people are driving to destinations that have been wiped out and just gawking at the damage, which is really upsetting the locals because here they are they've lost their home and people are driving past staring at them. :no:
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

I feel for the people of Victoria.
I have been watching reports all day mostly about the fires---but also about the floods
That's Australia.
The heat "down south" is a much drier heat, to what we get in Queensland---we have much more humidity
Dawn
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

UPDATE 8:17pm: GRAVE fears are held for Channel 9 veteran Brian Naylor as the bushfire death toll rises to 76.
Channel 9 has just confirmed that the newsreading legend, who lives in fire-ravaged Kinglake West, can not be accounted for.

In a break in their normal programming, presenter Tony Jones reported that a body believed to be that of Moiree Naylor had been found close to the family's address.

The news comes as police increased the official death toll to 76.

At least 650 homes have been destroyed and 3733 people have registered with the Red Cross after evacuating their properties.

The number left homeless is expected to be far higher, the Red Cross says.







This is sad :( He's my favourite news reporter

EDIT: as I posted this it has been confirmed that Brian Naylor has died in the fires.



Marysville - an unthinkable grave (sad recollection of what has happened to a beautiful country town)

Stats:

Losses:

At least 640 houses including 550 within the Kinglake Complex area.

Fighting the fires:

Fire fighters: 3,192 (552 DSE, 2500 CFA, 140 MFB)
Fire vehicles: 342 (142 DSE, 200 CFA)
Bulldozers: 23
Aircraft: 37
 
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Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

shocking news :(

just wish channel 9 (didn't watch the other channels) didn't shove microphones into the faces of people so quickly after it happened... an unfair and low act, imo.

The people are in a state of shock and their minds are everywhere, let the images do the talking for once.
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

Im so upset & worried

and in shock over brian naylors death!
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

When I talked with L.J a couple of hours ago she said the death toll was up to 108.

I wish everyone out there well.
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

yeh the last i heard the death toll was 108
But i do think unfortnately that there maybe more :(
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

I'm going to wait a couple of days for the fires to be put under control or hopefully out, before I ring my friends who all live in the area, I have friends in Wallan, Alexandra, Kilmore, Yea and Marysville.

We'll be doing a big fundraiser event at my school, and I believe we're also setting up something serious at my local golf club which is in the same district as Kilmore, Alexandra and Marysville. :no:
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

This is so so sad... my uncle lives in gipsland I pray it doesn't reach him. I'm in melb city so thank god we are safe here.
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

The toll has risen to 135 with two more deaths confirmed at Kinglake and one more at Flowerdale.

Image Gallery

KingLake:
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Marysville:

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Brian Kelly fights the fires overnight with his family and friends to save his Kilmore East property




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Yarra Glen CFA firefighter Darren Thompson with a baby sugar glider rescued from the bushfires
 
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Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

I was wondering... why are people trying to defend their homes from the fire? I dont understand why they're taking the risk. A fire that's so strong that it needs helicopters to put it out is surely not going to be affected by a few garden hoses. Can someone please explain it to me because I dont understand why they're giving the people the option of staying back and fighting the fire.
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

For some people everything they own, everything they have is inside their homes. You can't just walk away and hope for the best. They at least have to try and save their homes. With the gravity of the situation they can't rely on other firefighters to help in time when so many fires are being faught.

If you look at some of the pictures some areas are burnt to the ground others still have a few homes still standing. You can't guess who will be effected and who will benefit from protecting their homes. All they can do is try.

If it came down to it for me I would take the children to safety and fully expect my husband to try to protect our home. It's only natural to want to save what has taken a life time to have.

My heart bleeds for the losses both people, homes and the animals. I wonder if anyone is considering them in all this - that pic of the baby sugar glider is a sad reminder that they have no defense against the fires.
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

Cozzie, most of the people who are encouraged to stay home and protect their homes are the ones who aren't in the path of the main fire. They're kms/miles away from the fire, but due to winds embers get blown a long way, these land in our very dry backyards and occasionaly they reignite. If you're at home you're able to put out these little spot fires and further prevent the spread of fire.
When it becomes severe that's when you're evacuated from your home :yes:
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

I heard on the news today that some of the fires may have been set by people, is that true? if so, that is utterly sickening!
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

I was just watching a video news footage of the fires. And I am just in absolute shock about how bad it is for you poor Australians. I had heard there might be an alledge arsonist. What I can't believe is that arsonist is only going to get 25 years in prison. For causing the death of someone. If that happen here in the U.S. arsonist could get the death penalty. Or that arsonist will get life. BTW I just love those Koala pics that were posted.
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

I have just been watching this on the news. I was horrified watching the footage.
It is so sad that so many lives have been lost, and to think that some of the fires have been deliberately started....how sick is that:no:
My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have lost loved ones, homes, belongings etc.
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

Thanks L.J and Shannon :) That makes sense, especially if it's only a small fire. I guess it's difficult for me to say what I would do in that situation since I'm not in their shoes. This is such a sad situation for all involved.... including the animals :(
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

MJsBollywoodGirl7 said:
I was just watching a video news footage of the fires. And I am just in absolute shock about how bad it is for you poor Australians. I had heard there might be an alledge arsonist. What I can't believe is that arsonist is only going to get 25 years in prison. For causing the death of someone. If that happen here in the U.S. arsonist could get the death penalty. Or that arsonist will get life. BTW I just love those Koala pics that were posted.
Click to expand...

25 years is the maximum for deliberately starting a fire, they can also be charged with manslaughter or murder if you can prove their intent to cause harm. So if you add them to the charges they could end up with life.

Still not enough imo... they should have their hands burnt off so they can't do it again.



Here's a beautiful photo:

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Koala's are very wild and dont usually do too well with human contact, so for this little fella to sit and take a drink from this CFA volunteer is incredible.


We've lost a lot of wildlife :no:
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

^That picture breaks my heart :cry:

My heart goes out to all the families and friends that may be affected. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone.
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

I just found this on another forum... horrible, horrible :(

***

http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com...._stayed_died1/

Those who stayed died

WHO got off the mountain?
That was the question that everybody from Kinglake was asking yesterday.
Who was able to get to their car early enough to avoid the flames?
Who stayed to fight … and died?
Kinglake is - was - a pretty town that sat atop a hill, near Whittlesea. On Saturday night, it was basically incinerated. Officially, the toll of dead from the town is 35, but it will rise. Some are saying as many as 70 people have died here.
Essentially all of the town’s 1500 residents are homeless; some are burnt; too many are dead.
Worse still, most of those who died were found, charred in their cars. These were people who were trying to get down the mountain, who’d left it too late.
They smashed head-on into trees on the smoky roads; they’d slammed into each other in the confusion; they’d driven into ditches; or simply couldn’t out-drive the flames.
Five cars belted into each other in the main street, and melted together.
Officially, they left too late to leave but did they?
At the bottom of the hill, Kinglake’s survivors were saying that the advice they’d been given was confusing.
First they were told to stay up the mountain; then they were told to go; by the time they were told to go, the roads were a death-trap.
Then, too, those who had made it out couldn’t understand why they couldn’t go back.
By late afternoon yesterday, some 40 hours had passed since the fires.
People wanted to go home.
They wanted, needed, to return, to see the destruction for themselves, to see if anything could be salvaged; to see if any animals had survived; maybe even a photograph? A scrap of something?
But police blocked the way, closed the road, put up barriers, and wouldn’t allow it.
One woman begged – literally, she got onto her knees and begged a local police officer to let her through.
``I just need to see,’’ she said.
Her partner had to lift her off the ground, and carry her back to the car.
``They can’t let them up,’’ said one of the volunteers, in a bright orange vest.
``It’s a warzone up there.
``There’s still bodies in cars.
``There’s dead animals. There’s flies. Fires are still burning. There’s things they cannot let them see.
``We just have to tell them, you can’t, you can’t.’’
In the queue, people started begging: ``My neighbour … I haven’t seen my neighbour.’’
Dr Christopher Harvey heard rumours that ``there’s cars all over the road, cars with bodies in them that have crashed with the doors flung open in the middle of the road.’’
That was true.
Up the mountain, police were visiting one property after another, turning over the twisted metal, searching for bodies under the fallen roofs.
For many victims, they did not have to look far.
There were a great many – maybe as many as 15 – cars on the roadside. They still hadn’t moved them yesterday.
At 6pm, police gave into the begging folk in the queue of cars at the bottom of the hill.
They told the drivers of all the cars in the queue to put on their headlights and their hazard lights, and get ready to be escorted through.
Engines started; lights flashed.
The convoy made it’s way up the mountain very slowly.
You could feel the tension in the vehicles: most of these people were Kingslake residents; they had no idea what they’d find when they got to the top.
From the half-way point, the scene changed dramatically.
The trees were black sticks. The ash had turned white. For as far as the eye could see, it looked like snowfields.
The smell was overpowering.
To the left, there was a horse, caught mid-canter, now lying on its side, burnt to charcoal, its legs stiff.
The first of the burnt out cars was to the right. It had no windows, no tyres, no dashboard, no wheel, no paint.
Kinglake West primary school, also on the right, was badly damaged.
Street signs were blistered.
On the left, there were two cars: a ute, and a sedan, melted together.
We passed the sign for Pheasant Creek.
So much destruction.
Most properties were completely razed. Only the water tank survived.
Cattle and sheep wandered, aimless, through smouldering paddocks. One of the direst needs is hay.
On one house, a sign: ``We’re here to stay.’’
On another: ``Ashby Family All Okay!’’
Every car was marked with emergency tape: it meant the emergency services had been through, and cleared out the bodies, or searched for survivors.
At the top of the hill, Anthony Smith, who has lived at Kinglake for 25 years, was still on his feet, after 42 hours with no sleep.
He spent Saturday night ``hosing down people on fire.’’
``I reckon I put out 30 people,’’ he said. ``If they tell you only 30 are dead, they are wrong.’’
At the bottom of the hill, The Red Cross was keeping a register of names.
The noticeboard at the relief centre was papered with Post-it Notes: ``Sue and Rob, please call.’’
``Has anybody seen Anne?’’
A teacher from Kinglake West primary school was going around the room with the school roster, trying to tick off the names of children she’d seen, or others had seen.
Children played in the streets.
Some people walked around covered in soot, looking dazed.
The sun was setting; the smell had barely faded.
At the evening meeting, there was some anger. A fire co-ordinator, Rocky Barker said; ``We were getting the information to people as quickly as we could.
``The information was changing all the time.
Christine Nixon toured the area, and defended the policy of allowing people to stay and fight, saying: ``We’re finding them on the side of the road.
``They’ve tried to flee and they couldn’t.
``You can’t make people leave. You’re talking about adults.’’
Others were saying they got a message to go; and that’s what killed so many people: trying to leave, when it was too late.
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

(poster on page 1)that is one cute animal is it yours??? as for australias i just read 174 pple have died in all fires so far in australia and imagine how many got homeless thats one horrible summer for them and i dont think its easy tp just leave your home imagine some pple lived in housed for generations all is there familyhistory feelings memories its much more then just stone and most of times trhey cannot event ake the picture albums with them
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

Yeah a lot have spoken about how they only had enough time to grab their kids and run. :no:



The US are sending us 35 fireys, and so is New Zealand and Indonesia. Tasmania have sent over 95 fire fighters as well to help us with the 35 fires still burning strong throughout Victoria.

So far we've raised $30 million dollars in fund raising.
The four major banks each donated $1 million
Major Phone companies have been giving survivours free phones with credit to call loved ones etc
And Coles shopping centers are going to donate all their profits from Friday's shopping to the relief as well. Everyone has frantically been texting one another to make sure we all shop on Friday LOL
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

is it inb the area of melbourne??i dont know too muc h about australian geography and oi understand why pple still want to go back up to see with their own eyes its a matter of not believing even though they know its like their mind tels them everything and evryone is gone but their feelings wont accept it yet that might take quit a while
 
Re: Australian heatwave ends with "day from Hell"

it's 30 minutes to an hour drive above Melbourne.

Bushfires Victoria: Interactive map of blazes

^ click "Play interactive" and a map will load with the fires. Melbourne is located in the bay (looks yellow on the map due to the street grids).


Death toll has risen to 181 and is predicted to rise to 300.
 
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