The Victorian Bushfire disaster. - Page 6

vztrt · 09-02-2009, 01:40 AM

Condolences to all those that have been effected by the bush fire.

Also praise to all the volunteers that have been apart in trying to stop this fire (and all other incidents). These guys don't do this for money. During the current bushfire they have give their own money so that food can be bought for them as this isn't provided to them (but this is normal). These guys risk their lives for others and are real hero's (not sportsman hero's).

Hopefully these bush fires are contained and put out ASAP as this is already terrible and doesn't need to get any more worse.

geckoGT · 09-02-2009, 01:49 AM

I can not find the words to convey my sympathies and best wishes to all our countrymen that are faced with this incredible scene of devastation and loss. I truly hope that no more lives are lost and property is saved.

Also a big thanks from everyone to all those emergency services, both paid and volunteer. It takes a special person to put your own life in harms way to help others.

I know Tori and I will be making a donation to the appeal and I also support a state cruise etc to help raise some money for those that have been affected. Time to dig deep australia.

87xfdriver · 09-02-2009, 02:55 AM

Here's some links to help our fellow Australians rebuild their lives and communities that have been reduced to ashes. Hundreds lost homes, business', and all possesions. Eighty Five lives lost at last count.

http://www.redcross.org.au/vic/services_emergencyservices_victorian-bushfires-appeal-2009.htm

http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/SALV/HOMEPAGE/pc=HOME

http://relieffund.org.au/

http://www.donateblood.com.au/

http://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/cms/index.php

Redrum · 09-02-2009, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zetec

For all those considering donating in some way but not able to spare any cash, consider donating blood. It's a free donation, only takes half an hour of your time and can help those poor souls in the Alfred hospital with serious burns.

http://www.giveblood.com.au/

Book in tomorrow, Lunchtime or even after work.

I have just registered, I have not given blood before, but feel this is the time.

**Full Noise** · 09-02-2009, 07:22 AM

Unbelievable. 108 people at 7:00 AM today.

Nine MSN

The Age

FPV8U · 09-02-2009, 07:30 AM

Terrible news and hard to explain the amount of anger many people down here are feeling at the moment towards whoever caused this unnessisary loss.

Yesterday i snuck in a back way with a friend of mine down to a town called Gormandale to help a friend repaire fences to try and keep the cattle away from areas that are still at risk after fires came through Saterday night.

The they're some of the lucky ones, right on the edge of the fire band and sitting in the bottom of the valley so it literally jumped about 50% of the property.

Didn't see much damage besides burnt bushland yesterday, but going on local reports from authorities the news to come out of traralgon south will be horrific when released, wish some terrible stories out of the area already.

Once again my thoughts with all of those who have been affected.

Jason[98.EL] · 09-02-2009, 07:54 AM

i have been trying to get onto one of my work mates with no luck

he went up to whittlesea to help his parents but we have lost contact with him now the last we heard the fire was bearing down on his house

i hope that we get in contact with him soon

Jason

**Bluepower** · 09-02-2009, 08:33 AM

Thank god for the CFA, thank god for the volunteers.............

the death toll will nearly double from where it is - i was lending a hand over the weekend, and there are so many inhabited places that are "no go" because of danger.......

worst thing ive ever seen - went into wandong to help a mate get his dogs out, got him and the dogs, and the pursuit got caned by flames on the way out, but we got out. My white pursuit with blue stripes is now grey with black stripes......

My wife taught at the wandong PS last year, and left due to pregnancy, and Annie beaman, who's husband is a reporter for channel 7 is one of her colleagues at the local PS we couldn't find her, thank god we found out she was safe.

We have lost 3 friends at this stage with many missing........

Short work day for me today, anyone feel like helping out can jump in their car and head to the CFA and command centre in Wallan, bring some muesli bars for the kids etc, i can be called on 0438 351 351 if anyone wants to follow me back up.

Fortunately for us, the change on saturday saved us, but spelt the death knell for others, just unbelieveable stuff.

If you guys are looking for missing people, 1800 727 077. These guys are great, but brace yourselves, this one is going to be bad.

Chris

**DJR-351** · 09-02-2009, 08:49 AM

108.....devastating, lost for words.

Donation made through NAB.....

BSB: 082 001
ACCOUNT: 860 046 797

Dig deep fellas....

Keepleft · 09-02-2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocket67

On another note - Just saw on the news a story of a couple who survived the fire by going into a cellar within their house. They were OK.

Obviously escaping by car was not a good idea unless you left early in the piece, so it seems logical to me that a cellar in (or near) homes would be a great lifesaver in these situations. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Rocket.

Yes, 'a basement' or supplied underground module/tube should become, perhaps, a mandatory part of the BCA (Building Code) for 'designated' fire prone areas; or

that small village communities have a persons only, town version of same.

Some companies offer such underground modules, on which you then build your regular house. Were not that expensive. See Google. For the private home builder, right now - would see Council resistance in some form, so that would require inter GovCo negotiation. Could of course do absolutely nothing.

We know US states mandate same owing tornado's.

Steve · 09-02-2009, 09:01 AM

I've heard there's a drop off point at the Hurstbridge town hall for clothes, nappies, towls, linen etc. Is anyone heading that way? I'd love to get some stuff together.

xbgs351 · 09-02-2009, 09:15 AM

The scary thing is that these fires are very small in the scheme of things. Black Friday was around six times as large and Black Thursday was fifteen times as large.

Melz · 09-02-2009, 09:24 AM

As the news plays in the background, I just can't believe that there are such fools in the world who would ruin peoples lives by lighting these fires.

We had a close call on Saturday night in Bendigo, with most of my family up till the early hours of Sunday morning on ember watch. We were 5 minutes away from where they ending up controlling the fire.

50 homes have been lost in Bendigo, but I guess that is a small figure compared to the devastation that is currently ripping through Marysville and surrounding towns.

I wish I can be down there to help, but I'm layed up after knee surgery. So my thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has lost loved ones, lost their homes and to those who are helping them. God bless.

Falcon4L · 09-02-2009, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xbgs351

The scary thing is that these fires are very small in the scheme of things. Black Friday was around six times as large and Black Thursday was fifteen times as large.

yeh but these fires were just incredibly quick. You wouldnt be able to outrun them by foot. And once kinglake filled up with smoke you wouldnt have been able to see your own nose. These circumstances made it a death trap to be outdoors.

Grimus where abouts in whittlesea did he live? I'm in humevale maybe I've heard or seen something. PM if you like

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melz

As the news plays in the background, I just can't believe that there are such fools in the world who would ruin peoples lives by lighting these fires.

We had a close call on Saturday night in Bendigo, with most of my family up till the early hours of Sunday morning on ember watch. We were 5 minutes away from where they ending up controlling the fire.

50 homes have been lost in Bendigo, but I guess that is a small figure compared to the devastation that is currently ripping through Marysville and surrounding towns.

I wish I can be down there to help, but I'm layed up after knee surgery. So my thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has lost loved ones, lost their homes and to those who are helping them. God bless.

It's frustrating being down here anyway mate, you want to help but there's only so much you can do

Jason[98.EL] · 09-02-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon4L

yeh but these fires were just incredibly quick. You wouldnt be able to outrun them by foot. And once kinglake filled up with smoke you wouldnt have been able to see your own nose. These circumstances made it a death trap to be outdoors.

Grimus where abouts in whittlesea did he live? I'm in humevale maybe I've heard or seen something. PM if you like

It's frustrating being down here anyway mate, you want to help but there's only so much you can do

not to sure all i know is they run a small winery from their house

spoke to my manager this morning and he said his house was saved and his family is o/k but he has lost a few mate

that was on his facebook but no one has actually spoken to him

so we have had some good news now just to speak to him would be good

Jason

Cobra · 09-02-2009, 09:49 AM

Such an absolute tragedy. My heart goes out to all those who have been affected by this. I will be making a donation later today and i urge everyone else to do the same if they can. We have to dig deep for our fellow Australians when they need us the most.

Falcon4L · 09-02-2009, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimus

not to sure all i know is they run a small winery from their house

spoke to my manager this morning and he said his house was saved and his family is o/k but he has lost a few mate

that was on his facebook but no one has actually spoken to him

so we have had some good news now just to speak to him would be good

Jason

Thats good news at least.. not much of that going around at the moment

JTFG · 09-02-2009, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

I've heard there's a drop off point at the Hurstbridge town hall for clothes, nappies, towls, linen etc. Is anyone heading that way? I'd love to get some stuff together.

If this can be confirmed that it's running then i'd head out over to Hurstbridge to drop off clothes.

xbgs351 · 09-02-2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon4L

yeh but these fires were just incredibly quick. You wouldnt be able to outrun them by foot. And once kinglake filled up with smoke you wouldnt have been able to see your own nose. These circumstances made it a death trap to be outdoors.

As where Black Friday and Black Thursday. I suspect the big difference is how many people are now living on lifestyle properties in these areas.

punktured · 09-02-2009, 12:15 PM

My heart goes out to all those who have had to experience this unfortunate tragedy, and having family and friends who have quite literally survived by a miracle, myself, and the rest of my family, have had many sleepless night and have been pretty emotional, but thankful knowing they are all safe. The stories of their survival, what they went through and what they saw is something you wouldn't wish upon anyone.

The ferocity of this fire was unbelievable, my boss watched it from his house in Whittlesea. He said it started out as a bit of smoke, he went to tell his family and came back to see a 1km front heading towards Kinglake and fast! He was calling everyone he knew to get out of there.

We are waiting for the roads to get cleared now so we can get some supplies to some of my family who stayed to protect their homes. The area is being treated as a crime scene so no one is allowed up there until the coroner has the unfortunate job of going through everything. Thankfully the CFA are bringing supplies up to the town and are putting on breakfasts etc for those who are left there.

The CFA and volunteers have done an outstanding job out there, especially on saturday night where they had no regard for their own lives and did everything the could to protect the 100s taking refuge in the Kinglake CFA station. They are hero's in my eyes and i can't thank them enough for what they have done. They, and everyone else who has been involved in any way will need a lot of support once all this is over, what they have experienced and witnessed is something that nothing in this world could ever prepare you for.

rodderz · 09-02-2009, 01:10 PM

To put things in perspective, one of my brothers mates was telling him last night that the radiant heat was so hot, that the trees were burning 50m before the flames got there, just from the heat. Everything in its path was getting pre-heated and ignited before the fire front passed, even worse if the fire was going uphill.

Apparently it was going at a rate of 1km in 5 mins and faster on the grasslands

rodderz · 09-02-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodderz

Just heard my apprentice's uncle died with his family at Kinglake, they were in the process of leaving but being on a hill it came too quick to leave

Lucky this morning we found out he and his family are actually fine. He is the local chippy and stayed to protect his pride and joy, probably was stuck there for a while and with phones cut, no power couldnt tell anyone.

There are quite a few others we dont know about yet. I have a mate who lives on Bald Spur Rd I havent heard from yet.

muzzarxp · 09-02-2009, 01:28 PM

Does anybody know how the fires in Hirstbridge/St Andrews are going now, a mate of mine we spoke to yesterday was blocked in and literally fighting to survive, luckily they had a dam and some sort of equipment that saved the house, but many streets around him were taken out.

Also to those wishing to donate around Hurstbridge i would suggest calling first, especially with the Red Cross as ive been told they have been turning people away (referring to clothes, unsure about other supplies). May come down to most of hurstbridge being told to leave according to the GFs best friend who lives near the local CFA, she also witnessed a volunteer dying on the floor of the station after other fighters tried to revive him. Blood bank is a good idea as well, though also hear they are almost impossible to get onto, so will need to be persistant and patient.

Road_Warrior · 09-02-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodderz

To put things in perspective, one of my brothers mates was telling him last night that the radiant heat was so hot, that the trees were burning 50m before the flames got there, just from the heat. Everything in its path was getting pre-heated and ignited before the fire front passed, even worse if the fire was going uphill.

Apparently it was going at a rate of 1km in 5 mins and faster on the grasslands

Unreal. That's spontaneous combustion at work, true firestorm conditions. Little wonder people had no chance.

Paxton · 09-02-2009, 01:57 PM

Christ All mighty.

First the good - they've revised down the estimate for the deceased. 107, whilst still bad, isn't anywhere near as bad as they were (170). I thought 40 was bad, but this...

The destruction has left us awestruck. The people who light these are lower than scum, should be tried for Murder, and have the key thrown away. My Sincere Condolences to all the lost. The footage on Sky News is close to reducing me to tears, and the News readers are almost lost for words. Gary Wilkinson is only just holding up. I've not seen destruction like this since 1994, when I could see fire across the bay in the Royal National Park.

For those close to the fires - stay safe. Please look after yourself.

XRFutura · 09-02-2009, 02:15 PM

I'm so shocked by this, its unbelievable. I hope anybody that is near the fire front gets out safely. Being in the blue mountains I've been through the 1994 and 03/04 bushfires, but nothing compares to this.

I just hope that the death toll doesn't rise.

RG · 09-02-2009, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XRFutura

I'm so shocked by this, its unbelievable. I hope anybody that is near the fire front gets out safely. Being in the blue mountains I've been through the 1994 and 03/04 bushfires, but nothing compares to this.

I just hope that the death toll doesn't rise.

It has, now at 128 confirmed deaths.

Expect this to rise significantly though.

4Vman · 09-02-2009, 02:53 PM

Allot more to go, they won't confirm a death till the body has been identified....
The toll is tipped to exceed 200....

RG · 09-02-2009, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell

It has, now at 128 confirmed deaths.

Expect this to rise significantly though.

Revised to 126.

I have come into some info from someone at where I work (I can't say who) that has told me that the media figure is a lot lower than the actual figure. There are a number of reasons for this but considering who this person it the info I have received is correct.

JD86 · 09-02-2009, 03:21 PM

i am located in wallan, just near the kilmore and wandong fires

this disaster is devastating, a girl i went to school with has died in kinglake, and so far 2 of my mates and families have lost their homes

lots of people are at the community centre at the bottom of my street and the red cross were there this morning cooking food for people

i have donated money to CFA and i will donate blood in the next few days

i ask all of you who can, to spare some money and donate to the CFA

i hope i dont recieve anymore bad news about family or friends