R i p

[NorthernBoater]

Here is some heartwarming story that has come out of this about some rescued Koalas. There is a video at the bottom of the article.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worl...bushfires.html

[Apples1]

Koala's are the least of anyone's problems right now, and are often Kulled in some parts in Victoria!

Let's keep our fingers crossed this week end as we try to deal with the fires still burning.

Sorry to be a downer , but this hits close to home. My parent were are about 25km from the main fire complex.

[J Solinger]

I've been watching this on the news. My heart goes out to you.

[Simon.O.]

. My parent were are about 25km from the main fire complex.

Were ?? Are?? I hope they are o.k John.
If the SES can not contain or create a break in the two big fires that apparently are about to converge then Victoria will have a problem. I know a little about the science of firestorms like these and I do want to see anymore people get hurt.
I have seen it before and do not want to see it again.
If your parents are near it, pull them out now. I mean it John.
These two fires may pass or they may converge. You can flip a coin and make a call. I would not.

PM sent too.

[Apples1]

they are fine and out of trouble, and it sounds like they managed to stop the fires combining, they most likely would been safe, they are surrounded by 80 acres of grass and only a dozen of cypress pines. thanks for your concern though.

[Apples1]

plus they got 55mm of rain last night and today

[Xzessperated]

The video in this clip gives us a sample of what it is like in a firestorm.

They are reporting 1800 homes destroyed. A big jump since the 750 they were telling us about yesterday. They have not released the final death toll as it will be sometime before they have searched all the burned houses.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/video.aspx?videoid=c7255933-2f59-4437-be45-6afdb6dd75f4

[Ub Hauled]

I feel bad for all the people that are suffering because of this... I had fires in the mountains right behind me last year as well, but it looked like a match stick by comparison...

[Xzessperated]

I feel bad for all the people that are suffering because of this... I had fires in the mountains right behind me last year as well, but it looked like a match stick by comparison...

Jan it is not all doom and gloom as Doby pointed out. Destruction like this also brings out the best in people. The people here have all pulled together across the nation, and over $50 million has been raised by the public just in donations.
Farmers from all over the country are sending hay for the farm animals. One of our big national supermarkets donated today’s profits to the victims. Big and small businesses all over the country are making donations.
Our friends and neighbors around the world have helped in many ways and we thank you all for that. Firefighters here have often flown to help out in some of the bad Californian fires. That is a two way street as they also learn new things while they are helping out. Disasters build friendships between people and nations too.

[Xzessperated]

Update Feb 15 2009 6.20am

About a dozen bushfires continue to burn out of control in Victoria, but mild weather is expected to assist fire fighters.

As Victoria's bushfire emergency continues into its eighth day thousands of fire fighters, including some from interstate, New Zealand and the United States, will help efforts on Sunday.

Our thanks to the overseas firefighters.

[Xzessperated]

Update Wednesday Feb 18

Victoria's bushfire death toll now stands at 200, with 11 new deaths confirmed by police from the savage Kinglake Complex bushfires.
The toll at Marysville, which stands at 39, is expected to rise sharply as the search for the remains of missing people continues.
Meanwhile, firefighters say they are getting on top of the Victorian bushfires, with just six major blazes still burning out of control.
"It is getting quieter, yes. We have got six going fires. That is certainly a break from last week," said a Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) spokesman.
The number of firefighters tackling the blazes stood at 3,248, including those from interstate and overseas.
More than 1,800 homes are believed to have been destroyed by the bushfires.