unbelieveable to amount of casualties, if it is Arson only one penalty would good enough. Were the people taken off guard, by the fire or did they stayed at their place in the hope they could safe it?
Spidge - we are all with the Australian people at this time - and we here in B.C. are sending some of our experts down there to help out -they are on their way now - and I would expect a few water bombers will be on their way shortly as we are in our wintertime when our fires are virtually non existent and so we can spare all of our expertise to help out - at least they will give your boys some rest... Cheers
unbelieveable to amount of casualties, if it is Arson only one penalty would good enough. Were the people taken off guard, by the fire or did they stayed at their place in the hope they could safe it? Hi Philip, The Prime Minister has stated that the Arsonist if caught can/should rot in gaol. Someone will associate this statement with Quantanamo Bay or the like. The excruciating record temperatures and high winds were a recipe for disaster. Embers were carried by the strong winds and moved the fires forward with extreme speed. Normal fire speed of hours turned into minutes and did not allow the normal escape strategies to take effect. One couple at Marysville had built a cellar in case of fire however they died. The cellar may not have been sealed properly and the fire just sucked the oxygen out. A woman could not escape the fire so as the fire came to her she jumped down a wombat burrow and was saved.
Spidge - we are all with the Australian people at this time - and we here in B.C. are sending some of our experts down there to help out -they are on their way now - and I would expect a few water bombers will be on their way shortly as we are in our wintertime when our fires are virtually non existent and so we can spare all of our expertise to help out - at least they will give your boys some rest... Cheers Thanks Tom. The physical assistance from countries like Canada, NZ and the US is really appreciated. We sent firefighters to California when they were under threat so in many cases it is a reciprocal effort. We were together in times of war and now in the time of our greatest natural disaster, all of "our friends" have put their hand up to help. The Aussie spirit will prevail!
Quite disgusting to learn that some of these fires were started deliberately , hope the people who started them are proud of their handy work . A tragic time for Australia.
Quite disgusting to learn that some of these fires were started deliberately , hope the people who started them are proud of their handy work . A tragic time for Australia. The one consolation James is that if he does get caught and does his "porridge" there will be someone there who has lost someone and will make him pay everyday for each of his victims.
Like many others, I have never been more proud to be an Australian. I know many people that have been affected, especially in Wandong and Kinglake. The Australian communities and corporations have donated nearly $50,000,000 to the Red Cross Bushfire Relief Fund and tomorrow every government school in Victoria (1600+) will have a plain clothes day where they donate a gold coin to the appeal to be out of school uniform. The grocery chain that I work for will donate all the profits for Friday from all of their 740 stores around Australia as well as taking monetary donations. The banks have frozen repayments of mortgage loans for three months for those who have lost their homes and businesses. The State Government is providing a Computer and a mobile phone to all those that have lost their possessions and the Federal Government is providing monetary payments of assistance through their "Dole" office. I have heard that in Marysville, over 80 people gathered in the church to escape the fire and it seems all perished.
Sometimes people are quick to criticize in general the human nature of people today (anywhere in the world) either because they forget that people do help or just think that people in the main are self centre, too busy to care or a whole host of other reasons. Whilst its easy to say its a shame that it seems only in times of great adversity or natural disasters people 'step up' and do the right thing. Its good to see human kindness is alive and well in Austrailia with communities pulling together to overcome the terrible times they have been subjected to. I hope they can look back after the fires have been extinguished and the grieving process has subsided and be proud as a nation how they have pulled together. From what I have seen on the news you all have my utmost admiration. Cheers Andy
This was the sunset in Melbourne last night as bush fires still rage in some areas and the death toll is now up to 208. The temperatures are getting up to the 30's again so we just pray for a great deal of rain.
There is another out of control blaze in one of our beautiful National Parks on the south coast which is threatening a few townships. Firefighters still battling Wilsons Prom blaze - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Our news here in Canada this morning was about more fires and extreme temps. Know that we are thinking about our cousins down under. Stay safe. phil
The temperatures were more moderate than expected (30c) however the threat to communities still exists. We pray for rain which is the only way they will extinguish the fires according to one of the firefighter I was speaking to.
Our news here in Canada this morning was about more fires and extreme temps. Know that we are thinking about our cousins down under. Stay safe. phil Same news coverage here in Germany. Like Phil has said, we are all thinking of your safe well-being and a quick extinction of the fires. Regards Tom
