Since last Friday very bad fires in the southern state of South Australia got worse with a fatality and around 88 homes destroyed. So about ten lives lost across Australia and around 700 homes and others damaged in total. Not to mention many sheds and other buildings. Very sad and it will take years for those affected to recover and some towns in NSW may not. Victoria state has been less affected than New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland. On the last day of school, last Friday my local town of Horsham and another not far away had the joint highest temperature ever recorded in Victoria. 47.9C or 118.22F. The birds were hiding behind pot plants, in the garage our resident magpies had taken cover along with some Willie Wagtails. Some sprinklers we had turned on provided relief for some parrots. Some other birds and poultry just dropped dead. It was a very dry heat and came at the end of harvesting time. Parts of Victoria including the Wimmera have had reasonable returns. A little further north in Victoria and much of northern parts of Australia, the drought has taken its total and demand for hay to keep stock alive has been high. Hopefully some rain will come soon to help put out many fires and At Christmas time I can only hope and pray for a better year in 2020 for so many families so badly and tragically effected.
Almost 1,000 NSW homes destroyed by bushfires, RFS says http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-24/nsw-bushfires-destroy-almost-1000-homes-rfs-says/11825284
It’s an ill-pairted world as my Dad would have said, floods in parts, droughts or horrendous fires in others.
It is but I recently looked at a documentary. They noticed that the normal polar shift to the west had turned into a faster movement to the east. Since this only can be happening by mass they searched long and found out that in China especially there was so much build in concrete and steel that it changes the centre of gravity ! Unnecessary to tell that small variations in the earth axe position will have huge impacts. Just looked this water documentary. Who is to blame ? If you pump dry the largest aqua feyer you also change mass.
Just an update on my situation. The winds have been favorable and the back burning efforts by the RFS on the eastern side of the "three mile fire " have been successful. The fire is not out but listed as under control. Unfortunately favorable for me means unfavorable for those on other sides of the fires. To those in other States and locations take care and be safe.
To put a bit of perspective on the fire situation here in Oz, 30,000 residents and holiday makers were asked to leave East Gippsland area yesterday. Not everyone did. If we remember when the Amazon burnt recently; that caused a media stir around the world about the loss of the Rain Forest, about 125.000 hectares was burnt. Australia this season, has lost over 1 Million Hectares, and it is still burning, particularly in East Victoria. At the current rate, if there is no rain it will cross into Southern NSW, probably in a week or so.
To my recollection it is totally unprecedented. In addition to the environmental devastation, in NSW we have seen the Hume Highway closed on multiple days, the Princess Highway on in its northern parts reopened with lots of delays, (southern part towards Victoria now closed), Kings highway closed indefinitely due to both fire and now the danger of burnt trees falling into the Highway, the alternative routes down the brown mountain and via Nerriga closed due to fire, etc. Where I live all the nearby bush land areas are now ‘closed’ between 10am and 4pm, presumably due to risk of being caught out there if a fire starts in the extreme conditions.
It is just terrible .. may we pray for them all and whatever religion or no .....may they be protected from harm in this crisis . Alby
Victoria: Incidents and Warnings - VicEmergency New South Wales: Major Fire Updates - NSW Rural Fire Service Tony
One of my favourite little towns in NSW. Two people feared dead as main street of historic South Coast town destroyed by bushfire Meanwhile, in Victoria: 'When will this nightmare end?': Inside Mallacoota's bushfire 'apocalypse' And there are many more fires burning across the country. Tony
Just seen a report on the BBC news from Mallacoota, the town’s population have been evacuated to the sea front as the fire hits town. From this side of the rock it doesn’t appear things are getting any better some time soon over there. Stay safe folks.
The Gov't have made Army available ,heard they were they were working to build heli access in Wollemi National Park I have been swamped with smoke on a few days generally not bad but very hot. A few new outbreaks in Victoria (started by dry lightning) have run into southern NSW Saw an alert yesterday for Staffordshire Reef ,hope Anthony place is safe,
These two images go someway to convey what parts of Australia were like on New Year’s Eve: Families flee a firestorm approaching the town of Mallacoota (4000 people on the beach or in the water): The main street of Cobargo burns down: Tony
@WimVe The defence forces haven’t been visible to date. That has been a media issue here, but my guess is that the reality is more complex. My impression is that the military don’t have the right training or equipment for the fire fighting, but are experienced and equiped for disaster management, rescue, resupply, emergency engineering, etc. So unfortunately there is a growing role for the military now.
Well the terrain is important. When we had a real forestfire overhere years ago, the military can with dozer tanks. hatch down and clearing ground. But that only works in flat areas. But helicopters can carry water and that is almost the only way to put some fires dwon I guess.
@Graham P , it was not much more than a kilometer away with strong north winds pushing the fire directly towards our place on a 43'C day. I thought we were going to go up in smoke at one stage. Thumbs up to the local volunteer guys PS Fire was started by someone dumping rubbish and poking a match under it.
@Anthony Wo! Thank the heavens it was bought under control. I hope they find the b@st@rd that started the fire. Are you up there now? Tony
That first one gave me chills. Probably a grown woman doing her duty, but she looks like a 12 year old child in that photo. My best thoughts are with you folks. Brutal situation.
@Marc It’s actually an 11 year old (boy): Child steering family to safety becomes face of Australia's bushfire crisis Photo credit Allison Marion. Tony
That's embarrassing! Long hair these days, who can tell. Either way, well done lad. That's a story he'll not forget.
The beautiful little town of Mogo has burnt down... Historic town of Mogo devastated as survivor recalls 'ferocious' fires
The environmental impacts may yet worsen: Bushfires devastate rare and enchanting wildlife as 'permanently wet' forests burn for first time - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Here are some statistics that show the enormous scale of the fires: A visual guide to Australia's bushfire crisis Tony
