BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 05 Jan 10 - 08:01 AM

welcome back!

Bushfire emergency still lots of fires around the country.

One story on this page relates to the blame of the local electricity supply organisation for the Toodyay fires. When I was talking to Bob Bolton today he brought this up - how fallen wires are always/often blamed for the fire, when the wires fell because their supports were burned.

On another matter, I'm currently reading a Library copy of Firestorm - Black Saturday's Tragedy about the March 2009 fires - all profits to Country Fire Authority groups to replace lost equipment. I've just bought my copy.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: SINSULL
Date: 05 Jan 10 - 09:12 AM

I would be happy to share our snow with you guys but we really did not get that much. The midwest was clobbered. We got about a foot. Not nearly as bad as predicted.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Rowan
Date: 05 Jan 10 - 08:13 PM

You mightn't have got much snow, SINSULL, but you're much cooler than most of us here.

There's a couple of books about fire behaviour that are worth reading; they are both set in Oz but they deal with the effects of ember attack and firestorms on structures and are thus relevant in other places where wildfires are common.

http://www.judyoz.com/ccp0-prodshow/complete-bushfire-safety-book-joan-webster-n was originally written just after the Ash Wednesday fires of 1983 but has been updated and is now published by CSIRO. [My link maker isn't working properly; the URL above links to info about The Complete Bushfire Safety Book by Joan Webster.]

http://books.google.com/books?id=hWZ331BOl10C&dq=Paul+Collins+bushfire&printsec= was written after the 2003 fires that devastated Canberra and is published by Allen and Unwin. [Ditto, but here the title is Burn: the epic story of bushfire in Australia by Paul Collins.]

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 11:56 PM

Victoria braces for catastrophic fire warning Fire authorities are preparing to issue a Catastrophic Code Red warning in Victoria for the first time.

The fire danger rating is likely to be in force in the Wimmera district, in the state's west, tomorrow when the Weather Bureau finalises its forecast this afternoon. (more)


Catastrophic fire warning as SA swelters Firefighters are on high alert across South Australia today, with nearly every major regional centre expected to top 40 degrees Celsius.

The highest danger is on the west coast, which has been issued a catastrophic fire warning.

Renmark and Port Augusta are forecast to hit 44C, while Adelaide is expecting a top of 43C, nearly 14C above average, according to the weather bureau.

This will be Adelaide's fourth day of temperatures above 35C. (more)


Suspected arsonist arrested in Dandenong Ranges Police have arrested a man on suspicion of trying to light a bushfire in the Dandenong Ranges this morning.

Investigators allege the 26-year-old St Kilda man was seen trying to set fire to a park bench at the Sherbrooke State Forest just before 9.00am (AEST).


Undercover police on bushfire arson watch Undercover police in Victoria will watch for arsonists in the coming days, with escalating temperatures posing a severe bushfire risk.

Temperatures will be in the 30s today and reach into the 40s over the weekend.

Melbourne is expecting a top of 41 degrees on Monday. (more)


Rain eases fire season threat The wet start to the new year could see an early end to the bushfire season in southern Queensland.

Firefighters have been battling blazes since late August but Superintendent Wayne Waltisbuhl says there is enough moisture on the ground to prevent any flare-ups.

But he says crews will continue to monitor the situation.

"Without sticking my neck out too far, I would definitely say the fire situation is probably now finished as far as the real fire season threat goes," he said.

"As this weather system sort of goes away and the moisture gets sucked into the ground, there'll still be opportunities by the end of January, early February, that we may even be able to do some hazard reduction burning."

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Joybell
Date: 10 Jan 10 - 07:40 PM

We're South of the Wimmera and East of the South Australian coast. That puts us between the two danger areas. Bit of a worry. Any fires to the North or West could be a problem, especially as that's the way the wind's blowing. No problems yet except that the temperature's soaring to over 43 degrees. We're not near forest, though. We should be OK.
Off to put ice-blocks in the bird watering dishes.
The young Mudlark I had in care, with heat exhaustion, last year has produced three babies. He and his wife are flying back and forth with food for them. Wish we could get close enough to spray them with water. Hell of a time to raise a family.
Cheers, Joy

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

I'd assumed the fire areas were too far from you to cause worry.

big hugs

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Joybell
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 01:25 AM

Thanks Sandra. Looks like we've been lucky again. Temperature reached about 47. It's late afternoon and it hasn't come down much. Tomorrow should be cooler. No fires, thankfully.
Funny -- I was comparing the temperature here with the highs in Alice Springs and Darwin and Brisbane. It's far hotter down South here. It's not supposed to be desert!!
Baby Mudlarks are huddled down in their mud nest. Hope they're ok.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Tangledwood
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 04:56 PM

I was comparing the temperature here with the highs in Alice Springs and Darwin and Brisbane. It's far hotter down South here. It's not supposed to be desert!!

Darwin and Brizzy don't get so high as the proximity of the sea moderates their temperature. You may not be in the desert (yet) but that is where your airmass is coming from when you have the northerlies. 47C - poor you! Hope today is more kind to you.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 05:02 PM

Keeping you in my thoughts, OZ.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Joybell
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 07:04 PM

Thanks, Tangledwood. I should add to my comment about our location. We are also near the sea. The sea that is between us and Antarctica. An afternoon sea breeze from the South-west is usual for us and West is where the weather fronts come from. North winds all the way from the interior are not usual.
It's raining a bit today. Still hot but not 47. Baby Mudlarks have fledged. I can hear Mother-bird calling to them. Don't know if all three made it but 2 are safely away.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: JennieG
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 12:13 AM

Geez Joy....47! That is way too hot for anyone's comfort. Hope it improves soon.

If anyone can tell me about a place that goes from spring to autumn, bypassing summer, I would move there in a flash.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 01:00 AM

me, too!

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: mousethief
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 01:00 AM

47C? That's leaving the "atmospheric" range and entering the "baking oven" range! Mercies, I hope for your sake it cools off soon.

Is that "Brushfire" song by Eric Bogle in the Digitrad? Awesome song. Every time I hear or play it I think of my friends in Australia and whisper a little prayer that they'll be spared.

O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 01:24 AM

Cooler weather predicted but in some areas the fire danger will rise due to winds.

Crews still alert to code red bushfire threat (southern Australia) Fire authorities say a cool change that is due to sweep across southern Australia later today is likely to increase the risk of bushfires.

The catastrophic code red fire rating applies to the north and north-east regions of Victoria as well as most of the New South Wales south west.

The fire risk is rated as extreme in Victoria's Mallee and North Central regions. (Joybell lives in a nearby region) (more)

Wagga Wagga on alert as winds whip up fires (NSW) A catastrophic fire rating is in force for most of the south west of New South Wales as winds pick up and temperatures remain above 40 degrees. (more)

Eric Bogle lyrics here in .pdf

Listen to snippet of 'The BushfireSong' by Nigel Foote

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Tangledwood
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 03:31 AM

Hi Joy, I thought you were further north, Wimmera/Mallee, so I'm pleased to hear that you get the chance of some relief in the afternoon. Of course, if you have a forty knot northerly a sea breeze is going to have little chance. Part of my job qualifications were met observer hence my interest. Now in Brisbane but lived in all states except WA.

cheers
Mal

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Rowan
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 08:53 PM

We are also near the sea. The sea that is between us and Antarctica.
The Southern Ocean, in fact and, I presume, a bit west of Bass Strait itself.

All the best, Joybell.

Part of my job qualifications were met observer hence my interest. Now in Brisbane but lived in all states except WA.
So, Mal, I suspect you might have met Chris Bain and Evan Lee?

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 01:26 AM

Underground fire causing ground to collapse Fire authorities say a bushfire at Port Lincoln in South Australia before Christmas has reignited and is burning underground in vegetation roots.

Two fire crews are trying to put out the blaze in New West Road.

The Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) says it is causing parts of a riverbank to collapse.

Residents had reported seeing a big volume of smoke coming from underground.

The MFS says people need to keep clear of the area as there could be a further collapse.

Crews battle Central Highlands fires (Tasmania)

East Gippsland bushfire under control (Victoria)


Bushfire effort blows out council budget (NSW) The Cootamundra Shire Council's costs for fighting the Wallendbeen bushfire last month are expected to reach $25,000.

Mayor Paul Braybrooks says the council cannot cover all its costs with disaster funding from the State Government, forcing it to take money from this year's road maintenance budget.

The council this week heard how several staff escaped serious injury during the bushfire when burning trees collapsed near their vehicles.

Cr Braybooks says the council had officially thanked staff for their involvement in the emergency.

"A bushfire is a very dangerous place, especially when trees are alight and trees and bows of trees are collapsing," he said.

"So we are extremely grateful for everybody who volunteered their time at the bushfire out on the old Gundagai road."

Cootamundra council heard this week that recent criticism of its response and clean-up from a landholder was 'completely unreasonable'.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Rowan
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 05:34 PM

Underground fire causing ground to collapse

Common in areas where trees are large enough to have large roots, eg the tall forests of SE Australia. The heartwood of a large tree (and eucalypts can be very large) is essentially dead wood (trunks, branches and roots) and can become hollowed out. A fire in a branch or trunk can become a chimney and accelarate burning material quite high up; it's a major part of the blacking out to ensure no chimneys are still burning. When the fire penetrates into the root system it can go unnoticed for many days. Some roots can be quite large and extend in a "plate" for some distance from large trees.

In the 1962 fires in the Dandenongs a bloke was walking through a forested area a few days after the fires had been extinguished (to all intents and purposes) when his foot went through the topsoil and into a bed of coals still burning in the root system; he had proper gear on but his leg was still burned almost up to the hip.

When training those who spend much of their time in grasslands I make sure they understand this particular aspect of forest fires.

On a similar matter, I remember seeing the skeleton of a tree perched on top of a 40' high tor in the Picton Range is southern Tasmania. It transpired that the Tasmanian equivalent of Victoria's Black Friday fires (started 13 January 1939), before February 1967, had been in 1932 and that fire on Mt Picton had been left to burn and had burned through 40' deep peaty organic Cool Temperate Rainforest soil over several months. Similar fires in similar (but tropical) soils are still burning in parts of Indonesia.

Cheers, Rowan

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Joybell
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 05:40 PM

Well, yes Rowan, there is Bass Strait between us and the Southern Ocean. Thank you for the input, to you and Mal. I think I was trying to explain to our Northern friends that our weather in the South of Victoria usually comes across the sea from the West. Australia being tilted downwards (or upwards if you hold the map upside down). The fronts moving, over the desert, from Western Australia, and from South Australia cross way North of us. That's a bit simplistic, of course.
It really rained a few days back. We're safe and cool. The tanks are full.
Thank you everyone for your concern. Wishing you a bit of warm in the snow.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 07:48 PM

Sydney had a fair bit of rain last night.

Some of us are heading to Bulli for the Illawarra Folk Festival today & it doesn't look like the region had rain, but showers & maybe thunderstorms are forecast for the next few days! Days max. 24C so it will be good (as long as it doesn't pour!)

I have some great pics from previous festivals after downpours - MUD, MUD, GLORIOUS MUD.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Tangledwood
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 10:20 PM

Part of my job qualifications were met observer hence my interest. Now in Brisbane but lived in all states except WA.
So, Mal, I suspect you might have met Chris Bain and Evan Lee?

Cheers, Rowan

Good detective work Rowan but now you will have me puzzling all day. Evan Lee doesn't ring a bell but Chris Bain definitely does. For the life of me I can't think where from. It would be an aviation link if it's the same person.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 08:00 AM

more hot weather forecast & more fire warnings -

Bushfire emergency

CFA warns of looming fire threat - Victoria Fire authorities are warning residents across northern Victoria to start preparing for the worst of Code Red fire days expected tomorrow.

The Country Fire Authority (CFA) says early indications show the north-western district could experience catastrophic fire conditions tomorrow, while extreme fire danger is expected in the north-east.


Fire Danger Ratings for Districts - Victoria

We also have Severe & Catastrophic warnings in some NSW regions New South Wales Fire Danger Ratings

map of fires in NSW

map of fires in Victoria

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 06:50 PM

Crews contain Grampians blaze - Victoria A fire in Western Victoria has been contained after threatening a town overnight.

The blaze, which was started by dry lightning around 6:40pm (AEDT) on Friday in the Grampians National Park, had earlier been burning out-of-control sparking an emergency warning for the Dadswells Bridge, Heatherlie and Ledcourt areas.

Water bombers and other fire fighting aircraft helped to fight the blaze, which has now been contained.

The CFA's Richard Bourke says about 1,900 hectares of land was burned.

"The wind was very very strong last night and early this morning. the fire initially went in the direction of a south easterly direction and then when the wind swung around it pushed it towards a northeasterly direction which then pushed it towards Dadswell bridge," he said.


Severe fire warning as Sydney swelters The heat is rising in New South Wales with temperatures expected to hit 43 degrees in parts of Sydney.

Much of the state is on alert with severe and extreme fire dangers declared in 13 districts. (more)

Weather report this morning said we had 31.7C at midnight & according to Weather Bureau site was 34.6C ten mins ago - fortunately we've not had high humidity with these temperatures.

Forecasts are 39c (over 100F) in the CBD where I live, & 43C in the west of Sydney.
Partly cloudy with the chance of a shower or thunderstorm developing
in the afternoon. Very hot moderate to fresh northwest winds ahead of
a gusty, cooler southerly change during the afternoon.

I haven't been out yet & won't be leaving my coolish place till dusk - tho I'll check the observations before I go for my walk as last very hot day it was still extremely hot when I went for a walk at 7.30.

Some regions have Catastrophic Fire Danger Warnings. Fire bans as NSW prepares for a scorcher

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Tangledwood
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 10:32 PM

Stay cool and safe down there. It wasn't that long ago that the Grampians last copped it was it?

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 11:15 PM

cool? - it is in my living room with the desk fan blowing on me, but according to Bureau of Met site it was 40.1C at Observatory Hill, beside Sydney harbour, a km or 2 from my harbourside suburb about 15 mins ago.

42.3 at Sydney Airport, also next to the ocean & not all that much hotter in Sydney's west where harbour & ocean breezes don't reach. Fortunately the famous Sydney humidity is very low across Sydney.

Message form NSW Rural Fire Service says the cool change is reaching Sydney's Southern suburbs & we'll be dropping about 10 degrees.   Temperature has fallen about 2C since I started typing!


Fire warning for tourists (Western Australia) Western Australia's Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) is warning holiday makers to be aware of bushfire risks.

FESA says WA is in the middle of the bushfire season and holiday makers in areas susceptible to fires need to have a survival plan.

FESA Spokesman Allen Gale says it is important for them to familiarise themselves with the area in which they are staying.

"Know where you are, know what the roads are like, know the way you can get out and get away to somewhere that's safer," he said.

"The most important thing is that if a fire starts, then you just need to go to somewhere that's going to be safe."

Catastrophic rating in inland Gascoyne

The Fire and Emergency Services Authority has issued a catastrophic fire warning for the inland Gascoyne.

People living adjacent to bushland have been told to put their bushfire survival plan into action.

FESA has also warned those in the central west of the state that they are facing severe fire danger.

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Jan 10 - 02:47 AM

Police probe bushfire device find (Western Australia) Dongara police are appealing for help from the public to find the person or persons responsible for making a device apparently designed to start bushfires.

The device was found by a couple after it landed in their paddock north of Dongara on Monday.

Sergeant Martin Haime says both police and fire authorities have examined the device and believe it has been specifically made to start fires from a remote location.

He says the discovery of the device is being treated seriously.

"Indications are it's been made using ... sort of household items and using the principles of how a hot air balloon operates

"Thankfully in this case this one was recovered from the middle of a paddock and in this case didn't start a bushfire but there's certainly some serious potential there and it's certainly particularly concerning to our FESA [Fire and Emergency Services Authority] volunteers who have had a look at it as well."

Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 31 Jan 10 - 06:35 AM

Bushfires threaten Tasmanian properties

Gippsland marks bushfire anniversary

Video - Victorian premier tours Gippsland fire-ravaged areas 1 year later posted 2 hours ago