BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10

Subject: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 02:26 AM

The summer bushfire season started very early - maybe the summer 2008/09 season didn't really end.

We've had bad fires in different states over the past few months & Janie asked in the previous thread - BS: Bushfires in Australia - Feb 2009 - about the current situation

Bushfire Emergency - full news coverage, video, audio and photos

List of current incidents in New South Wales - updated as required

Fire-weary residents too terrified to sleep We have fires in 3 states & fire warning levels of Catastrophic (highest level) in some regions. Temperatures are also in the 40's in some places.

Today's weather - Hot, dry northwesterlies are gusty in northern SA, NSW and QLD leading to extreme fire danger. A trough is generating storms with damaging winds in NSW, VIC and SA.

The strong winds & electrical storms in the Sydney metropolitan area led to 2 house fires (Castle Cove, north of the harbour & Campbelltown, far south west) according to a news report earlier.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 02:40 AM

Bushfire Recovery Feb 2009 fires

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: GREEN WELLIES
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 03:28 AM

My mom is currently on holiday from the UK. She's in Boroowa NSW visiting family, having a fab time but did say in her last call how hot it was. If it gets too hot she'll be coming home early.   The last thing you guys need is to be watching out for an 86 year old Brit if things get bad.

Take care all of you.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: JennieG
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 05:09 PM

Boroowa is a lovely little town, but it can be quite warm in summer....I know.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Janie
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 09:53 PM

Dadgum. That much heat, that low humidity, all that resin-laden fauna!

A fire prone and fire dependent habitat to a degree unknown to us in the eastern USA in terms of ecology and evolution. Aside from my real concern for the people, fauna and flora, I am also fascinated by what is to me the exotic ecosystem and appreciate what all of you there teach me when you post.

I just finally got smart and bookmarked a C to F converter.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 12:54 AM

Janie, I was working in the clerical side of the Weather Bureau when Oz changed from F to C in the 70's. I still have a badge "Meteorology goes metric" & still remember a fast conversion. Double it & add 30, ie 20C = approx 70F, works fine with lower temperatures, but higher conversions are too high! 40C is not 110F, but it's close!

Fire situation still Catastrophic in some places

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Rowan
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 04:35 AM

40C is not 110F, but it's close!
It just feels like it.

And, while Sandra's 'quick and dirty' conversion is within cooee for much of the comfort zone, -40 degrees is accurately the same for both scales; that's where they cross paths. But it'll be a while before any of us down here see zero Celsius again.

And you poor characters in Cumbria could do with some of our dry while we could certainly use some of your wet.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Arnie
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 06:07 AM

Are there parts of Oz that are presently inhabited but will become uninhabitable if these bush fires become an annual event? I've had a look at Rylstone and Kandos on Google Earth and see that these towns are planted right out in the bush. Perhaps sticking to the coast like the early settlers would be the way forward? The alternative I suppose would be massive deforestation around the towns to rid the area of combustible material - but I suspect that would simply bring a whole raft of other problems.....

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Tangledwood
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 07:14 PM

all that resin-laden fauna!

I'd never considered that! Help! I'm being threatened by explosive koalas! I suspect it would be eucalyptus oil rather than resin though. :)

Arnie, even on the outskirts of major cities many people choose to live in timbered areas for the beauty and lifestyle - I'm guilty of that. It would take a change of mind-set for these people to move. That probably wouldn't happen when the risk is seen to be low but if it becomes an annual event I guess it could. An interim step would be to increase pressure on land managers to improve fire control measures, for example controlled burns to reduce vegetation litter.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 08:21 PM

lol, Tangledwood. Seems that most Australian animals are obese, eh?

Janie, :).

Eb

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Janie
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 08:36 PM

I had just caught my gaffe this minute, Tanglewood, and was scrolling down to poke fun at myself. You beat me to the punch!

Now I have to go search sap, tree resin and tree oil and educate myself a bit.

I've read a (very) little about the severe and on-going drought conditions in parts of Australia, mainly with respect to the issue of water use and water resources.   It seems to me that at some point, perhaps already very near, this ecosystem that is naturally fire-prone is going to get so dry that there will be few realistic measures to take that could manage fire risk sufficiently to povide reasonable safety to a fairly large population interspersed throughout these areas.

I posed that as a statement, but it is really a question. I don't know enough to support that hypothesis.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 09:17 PM

Deforestation? Maybe not. As Tangledwood says, many people choose to live there because of the flora and fauna that surrounds them. Sydney is surrounded by bush, much of it extending right into and around the harbour itself. Large tracts of former government land are only now being released for public use - and not all for development. If you imagine clasped hands and the way the fingers interlock, that's how the settled areas and the bush look like from above. Much of the remaining bush has long been set aside as National Park areas, with very limited development allowed. Even if you could make the cultural leap to destroy such places to create fire-breaks, bush has the lucky habit of regenerating extremely quickly after fire, so such clearance could never be a once-for-all project. I've been amazed to see trees with trunks 95% burnt through, still sprouting new growth above the blackened stumps.

Ross

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 11:02 PM

That's Mother Nature for ya...Hope Spings Eternal...all those green things, again.:-)

Sandra, thanks for keeping us up to date on what is happening. I hope everyone can stay safe and there will be a respite, soon.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 11:18 PM

Video - NSW firecrews brace for scorching day

Bushfire emergency - Sunday 20th Nov Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says conditions across the state are expected to deteriorate later today. "Come the early afternoon, mid-afternoon period is generally where temperatures are at their hottest the humidity's at its lowest," he said.

Sydney is expecting hot northwesterly winds & 41 across all sections of the Metrop area today - usually the coast is a few degrees cooler. We also have fire bans & fire warnings across most of the state.

I'm inside with curtains drawn & fan going (washing machine & dryer are also going 2 rooms away but are not affecting my coolish living room) - I'm not going outside till early evening.

3pm Radio news says fire at Ryleston, Kandos & surrounding villages has jumped containment lines & fire fighters are pulling back.

Sydney radio coverage of fires - "Current conditions suggest the fire could take two to three hours to reach Rylstone and Kandos." - I assume this story was posted before the 3pm news.

Major fire updates - NSW

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 03:11 AM

Scorched state awaits winds of change - updated about 40 mins ago.
Fire crews and residents across much of New South Wales are awaiting a change in wind direction, after a strenuous day of battling heat, low humidity and strong winds.

About 1,000 firefighters are on the ground as almost 100 blazes continue, the worst of them in the state's central west.

It has been a scorcher across much of the state today, with temperatures hovering around 40 degrees.

In Sydney the mercury climbed to 42.5 degrees at the airport, while at Walgett in the state's north-west it was 43 degrees.

The weather bureau's Chris Webb says two changes are expected to move through the state in the next 12 hours, eventually bringing showers and cooler temperatures.

A coastal southerly is due to push through early tomorrow morning, but in the meantime a south-westerly is moving across the state, bringing thunderstorms and lightning strikes.

It's almost 7pm & I'm heading out for a walk after being cooped up here all day long.

Monday we're expecting 19-21 in the City & 18-22 in the western suburbs, tho 'Very warm to hot in the far northeast of the state before a south to southeast change', with 24 the highest temperature in region containing Rylstone.

Radio says there's hope that a southerly change in fire zones will bring the 2 major fires near Rylestone & Orange under control. 1 house has been lost.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: freda underhill
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 07:29 AM

40 degrees celcius is 104f, Sandra. and 42.5 is 108.5.

I've been in Wollombi for three days (looking at sculpture in the vineyards). at one of the places we went to, their outside table spontaneously combusted in the heat on Saturday - they think a dry leaf on it caught fire but the table was significantly damaged.

It was very hot, and the fire engine was called out locally four timnes today before we left. we drove through Laguna (mentioned on the alerts list) on the way home this evening, with the smell of smoke in the air and a smoke haze on the horizon.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 09:09 AM

wow - both the sculptures & your smoky weekend.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 05:37 PM

Fire crews relieved by cool change The New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) says a cool change in the weather has helped firefighters battling about 80 fires burning across New South Wales.

An emergency warning has now been lifted for a fire burning between Lake Windemere and the western edges of Kandos and Rylstone in the state's central west.

The RFS says it is still working to contain that fire but the threat to the two towns has eased.

Temperatures will be in the low 20's rather than 40-43.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 06:15 PM

Fires haven't gone away - we've had quite a few over the past few weeks.

Conditions to worsen as 120 fires burn across the state Firefighters are bracing for weather conditions to worsen today as they work on more than 120 fires burning across New South Wales.

Nearly 2000 firefighters have been working to contain the blazes - with more than 20 new fires discovered overnight.

The fires of most concern were near Tweed Heads on the far north coast and Bathurst in the central west.

Both of those fires have now been downgraded to 'Watch and Act' and firefighters spent the night strengthening their containment lines in the cooler weather.

Attention is now being turned to fires in the Namoi and Gwydir regions of the state's north west.

About 21 new fires were detected in the area north west of Armidale last night.

recent articles

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Janie
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 06:20 PM

Thanks for posting, Sandra. I've been occasionally checking ABC, but given that the bushfires are natural seasonal phenomena they apparently don't have much to say unless the fires, or fire risk are really bad.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Rowan
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 06:43 PM

Janie, the Oz ABC is a multifacetted organisation and has a wide range just of radio networks; it's the "Local Radio" stations that maintain the Emergency Alerts and the map might be of use to you if you have an interest in a particular area. Today, we were informed on Radio National that NSW has about 100 fires going.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 04:42 AM

Fire crews shore up containment lines

Janie - the
Rural Fire Service the world's largest fire service. Our 70,000 volunteer members provide emergency services to over 95 percent of NSW.

Their website has current fire data, continually updated

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Janie
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 12:21 AM

Thankee, Rowan and Sandra.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Dec 09 - 08:34 AM

Crews to battle 80 blazes overnight Fire crews will work through the night to contain more than 80 fires still burning in New South Wales, ahead of further hot and dry conditions next week.

Fire emergency warning system tested this weekend Residents at Esk in the Brisbane Valley in south-east Queensland are preparing to test the new fire emergency warning system this weekend.

The national scheme sends an alert to mobile phones and landlines if there is a serious or life-threatening fire in the area.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Dec 09 - 08:53 AM

Crews contain nature reserve blaze Firefighters will work into the night to mop up two bushfires in Sydney before conditions worsen tomorrow.

A blaze that destroyed some sheds on rural properties at Bringelly in the city's southwest has been contained and six crews will patrol the scene overnight. One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation.

More Bushfire stories

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Joybell
Date: 16 Dec 09 - 03:48 PM

We're getting a bit of a break here in Victoria. Close to 40 degrees yesterday -- but it's RAINING now. Young birds that have never experienced rain before are running around in puddles and shrieking with delight.
Janie, one of the worrying things about our situation in Aus, is that not all of the vegetation is adapted to fire. Also the timing of fires is critical even for the plants that are.
Animals, birds and insects can't adapt to fire at all. In the past some could avoid it.
Stories focus on adaptation to fire because it's hopeful and exciting. But that can't keep happening for ever.
We stand to lose whole eco-systems.
It may be that all we'll end up with is cities bare of anything green -- and only on the east coast. Desert for the rest.
But for now -- it's raining in Victoria and all's well.
Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Rowan
Date: 16 Dec 09 - 03:53 PM

Those of you who know of Bill Bright's abilities making harpsichords will be relieved to know that the fires near Bundarra have left him and the property where his workshop produces them unscathed. The friend of mine who compiled the Bushfire Risk Management Plan for that area a decade ago was horrified to learn that the local bushfire brigades regarded Bill as "just a crazy bloke who wasn't much of a farmer" and hadn't known anything about harpsichords; my mate put some effort into changing their minds.

When they found out that people, who were highly regarded overseas, frequently flew into Sydney and caught a taxi the 650km to Bundarra, just to see the bloke who worked in the tin shed, and that his were arguably the best such instruments currently made, they decided to regard his property as worth protecting with special effort.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Rowan
Date: 16 Dec 09 - 03:54 PM

Change Bundarra to Bingara and my post will make better sense.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Hrothgar
Date: 16 Dec 09 - 10:57 PM

Idyllic bushland setting = firetrap.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 01:46 AM

latest articles - several houses lots in fires in different areas across the state & some fires deliberately lit, scroll down for map showing fires in NSW & Victoria

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Janie
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 06:42 AM

Wow! And so far, is this a typical fire season?


(Glad you are getting rain, Joybell.)

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 09:21 AM

our radio programming has been constantly been interrupted tonight to give warnings for fires in a number of areas

Fire surrounds crews as blaze heads north (updated 3 hours ago) NSW & ACT fires - see also links to video coverage with this story

Cool change eases Vic fire threat (updated 4 hours ago)

to answer your question, Janie - bushfires are normal across Australia every year - some are relatively minor (except to folks in the local area) - others make news across the world.

Wikipedia - Bushfires

Natural disasters - scroll down to Bushfires


sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Rowan
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 03:01 PM

And, while Sandra is correct (bushfires are normal across Australia every year ) the season has started, with more fires, a bit earlier this year than has been routine in the past.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 23 Dec 09 - 12:32 AM

SA fire conditions 'like Black Saturday' posted 10 hours ago, updated 4 hours ago -
Catastrophic fire danger ratings have been issued for eight South Australian districts today, stretching in places from the West Australian border to Victoria.

Severe or extreme fire danger ratings will apply in the state's seven other districts, with temperatures expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius and strong winds around much of the state.

Residents 'flee for lives' as bushfire rages Port Lincoln residents are "fleeing for their lives" as a bushfire burns out of control just outside the South Australian town.

Two properties have been destroyed by the fire, which is near DK Quarries and Western Approach Road, and is travelling east towards Kurrara and Robertson Roads.

The Country Fire Service (CFS) says the fire is about two kilometres from Port Lincoln and is extremely dangerous.

The most recent radio story says up to 6 houses have been destroyed

Local radio - Adelaide, South Australia

South Australian Country Fire Service

Fires in other states -

Specialists tackle wide fire front (posted 25 mins ago) Specialist fire fighters are trekking into inaccessible bushland near Michelago, south of Canberra, to tackle a wide fire front ahead of hot and windy conditions tomorrow.

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service says 80 volunteers are trying to contain the fire.

Remote Area Firefighting Teams (RAFT) are attempting to fight the fire front with hand tools.

Spokesman Alex Chesser says the crews have a busy 24 hours ahead of them.

"The fire is about 7,000 hectares in size, although the active fire remains to be on the northern side of that fire where the RAFT teams are working," he said.

"Fire crews have worked very well to mop up and cool down any hot spots and are working to do that ahead of any warmer weather tomorrow."

Water bombers fight Gippsland fires (posted 5 hours ago - Victoria)

recovery in areas recently burnt in New South Wales

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 23 Dec 09 - 07:41 PM

Campers evacuated as fire threat intensifies - Victoria Fire authorities are evacuating campers in parts of Victoria this morning as hundreds of firefighters brace for today's extreme conditions.

The bushfire threat in Victoria comes as South Australian crews begin to assess the full extent of damage caused by two fires at Port Lincoln and Kingston on the Lower Eyre Peninsula yesterday.

The Port Lincoln blaze destroyed 12 houses and nine sheds, including a State Emergency Service base, and several firefighters suffered smoke inhalation.

Temperatures in Victoria today are expected to reach the high 30s and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) says the risk will be extreme in the Mallee, Northern Country, North Central and North East districts.

Photo Gallery - Fires in SE Australia, hot & dry conditions make life dangerous caption available if you put your curser on top of photo.



sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Joybell
Date: 23 Dec 09 - 09:35 PM

Thanks, Janie. Yes -- it's raining a bit again today after yesterday's searing heat. Those fires in south-east South Australia are a bit close. We're just over the border and down-wind of them. They should be under control soon. Our situation is not too bad -- cleared paddocks all around. Oh!! wow!! It's started to REALLY rain. Off to play in it.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: JennieG
Date: 23 Dec 09 - 09:43 PM

We're in the wild wild western suburbs of Sydney - fires are nowhere near us, but we can smell them.
Rowan, a thousand years ago (in the late 60s) I worked at the library in Tamworth when it was the headquarters of a regional library service, two of the branches were in Barraba and Bingara. We used to get requests from a bloke at one of those branches - I forget which one, it was a long time ago - for books on building harpsichords, occasionally other instruments but usually harpsichords. They were quite esoteric requests in a country town in those days, as you can imagine, and we were very rarely successful in getting them by inter-library loan. Years later he became famous as you said, it was Bill Bright.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Dec 09 - 02:03 AM

Joy - get back inside & let the rain reach the ground!

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 25 Dec 09 - 04:13 AM

some good news on one front - Rain douses fire threat in Victoria

but there are still other fires around Bushfire emergency page

One of the friends I had christmas lunch with almost lost her home in the Canberra fires of 2003. She lives in the suburb that lost most homes, & her neighbour saved both their homes, but many others in the street lost theirs. She lost her shed, garage & all her garden but the house was untouched.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 07:13 AM

fires are now in Western Australia -

Homes destroyed in WA blazes Homes have been destroyed in Western Australia as two bushfires burn out of control across WA's wheatbelt.

One fire has ripped through Toodyay, about 50 kilometres north-east of Perth, and at least five water-bombing aircraft have been sent to help contain the blazes.

There are reports eight homes have been destroyed, but authorities say they cannot confirm the number of homes lost until they can access the area.

and in South Australia -
Residents warned to leave early as fire rages The Country Fire Service (CFS) says a bushfire at Tungkillo near the Tepko/Mount Torrens Road on the outskirts of Adelaide poses a threat to public safety.

The CFS says the Tungkillo fire has burnt about 30 hectares and is travelling north-west, towards Collins and Range Roads.

No properties are currently at risk but people in the area have been advised that leaving now may be their safest option.

but in New South Wales we have rains & floods
West feels the heat as NSW cops a drenching

some of which might just get into the Murray-Darling system
Rain sparks 'refilling process' for Murray The rain that has been bucketing down in the north of New South Wales is falling in the Darling River catchment, but it is hard to say if the water will make it all the way down the Murray River.

Even so, there is optimism that the rain will soak the system, making it easier for future falls to flow south.

more stories here

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: SINSULL
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 10:26 AM

Wish we could share our rain and snow with you. Sometimes I wish we could it all to you.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 08:57 PM

snow would be happily received!
Locals wait for news from bushfire zone Firefighters are still trying to work out exactly how many homes have been destroyed by a raging bushfire at Toodyay, about 80 kilometres north-east of Perth.

There are fears more than 20 houses have been destroyed by the fire, which has also caused minor injuries to three firefighters and a local woman.

Alan Gale from the Fire and Emergency Services Authority says dozens of residents are waiting to find out if they lost their homes in the bushfire.

"There are a number of homes up in Majestic Heights, a lot more than 20 homes up there and we fear that most of those have been badly burnt if not destroyed," he said.

Firefighters are still battling the flames and say they still do not know how long it will take to bring the blaze under control.

see the videos & audio with this article


Campers escape fire near Yarrawonga, Vic

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: quokka
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 11:34 PM

Now they think it could be up to forty houses. Very scary. More than 10,000 hectares burned.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 07:49 AM

quokka, do you have friends in the fire affected areas?

There are likely to be more fires in the state as the Weather Bureau has issued catastrophic fire danger rating for parts of the Goldfields region for tomorrow.

WA fire declared a natural disaster Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett has declared a fire that destroyed more than 37 homes at Toodyay, 80km north-east of Perth, a natural disaster.
Authorities say it appears the blaze began near power lines.
Three firefighters and a woman from the town suffered minor injuries in the fire, which has burnt 3,000 hectares of bushland.

Out of control Vic blaze contained - this fire is in the broad region where Joybell lives, but about 100km from her home

Public helps nab alleged teen arsonist in Victoria Police have caught a 14-year-old boy they allege was seen lighting a fire in grassland in south-east Tasmania on Tuesday.
Witnesses assisted police to locate the boy shortly after the fire broke out in Brighton on Tuesday.
Fire services put out the blaze before it caused any property damage.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 04:14 PM

So sorry, Sandra.
This happens every year in the western US as well. Why the hell can't they figure out a way to prevent or at least minimize the damage?
SINS, frustrated.

That young man needs some serious mental health help and possibly a good spanking. Damn!

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 07:55 PM

a spanking would be the last thing he'd get - back in the olden days when my brother & his mate (both under 10) set fire to the grass next to our suburban home they probably got spankings from their dads, as well as a good telling off from the Firemen. And never did anything like that again.

Police probe cause of Echuca fire Police are investigating whether a fire in northern Victoria overnight is the work of a serial arsonist.
The Country Fire Authority was called to the grass and scrub fire on Echuca Road near Rochester about 2:00am (AEDT).
The fire did not damage any structures or properties, and police will investigate what caused it today.
A separate ongoing police investigation is trying to find a person responsible for nearly 20 deliberate fires near the town over the past two months.

WA fire victims to return to homes check out the pic of the fallen windmill

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Janie
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 08:21 PM

re: the link to the campers, are fires and open flame not banned during fire season?

Without downplaying the impact and dangers of the fires anywhere, or minimizing the fire season in the American West, I think it may pale in comparision to what the fire-prone areas of Australia experience on a yearly basis.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 09:09 PM

Janie - Fire restrictions - general advice see 'Can I or can't I' for further info. Open fires are not allowed in periods of Total Fire Bans but other ways of cooking are allowed.

A few months ago an old wooden building in a large community centre, a former WW1 Army base, burned to the ground. The occupants had a separate brick BBQ area & it was undamaged.

Rowen explained on one of the other fire threads about our eucalyptus trees & how they react in fires. When he gets back from the Nariel Creek Festival in the next few days he can join the discussion.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 08:35 AM

Moore River fire burning out of control - Western Australia

WA warned : More bushfires on the way Emergency services are warning West Australians conditions are ripe for more bushfires in coming days.

Maximum temperatures of 38 degrees are expected on Tuesday and Wednesday before a cooler change on Thursday, along with gusty winds.

Craig Hynes from the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) says people should ensure they have a fire action plan in place and be ready to evacuate quickly.

Fire crews retreat from York Town blaze, Tasmania

Aircraft tackle Lake Mokoan blaze (Victoria)

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Rowan
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 10:01 PM

Well, I've just got back from Nariel and I could hav done with some of your snow, SINS; I took an afternoon nap in my tent and the sun came out and cooked me enough to experience serious heat stress. Fortunately, the two ex theatre nurses in our part of the camp (both excellent dancers, BTW) took no nonsense from me and dumped me in the creek; it has a wonderful "spa bath" section.

Most of my travelling from the New England to Nariel (and back) was controlled by a wish to avoid flood-blocked roads rather than anything to do with fires, most of which were well out of Nariel's way. In fact, our departure was hastened by a 40mm (1.5") drop of rain in two hours, starting at 4am after New Year's Day. My other tent, pitched for my daughters and friend, was designed for 4 people but 8 teenagers were in it when it collapsed under the weight of the rain. To their credit, they reorganised themselves into other tents and cars without waking any adults. But too much was sodden and the weather was unlikely to allow any drying so, to minimise mildew, we packed up and headed for home that day.

They'll all talk about the event until they're old and grey but the rest of the festival was great as well.

It looks like Sandra has kept you all well and truly posted on the various fires around the country. leaving me with little to say, for a change.

Happy New Year to you all.

Cheers, Rowan