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20 Nov 09 - 02:26 AM (#2769635) Subject: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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20 Nov 09 - 02:40 AM (#2769640) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney Bushfire Recovery Feb 2009 fires |
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20 Nov 09 - 03:28 AM (#2769653) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: GREEN WELLIES 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. |
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20 Nov 09 - 05:09 PM (#2770077) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: JennieG Boroowa is a lovely little town, but it can be quite warm in summer....I know. Cheers JennieG |
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20 Nov 09 - 09:53 PM (#2770227) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Janie 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. |
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21 Nov 09 - 12:54 AM (#2770274) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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21 Nov 09 - 04:35 AM (#2770317) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Rowan 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 |
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21 Nov 09 - 06:07 AM (#2770346) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Arnie 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..... |
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21 Nov 09 - 07:14 PM (#2770801) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Tangledwood 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. |
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21 Nov 09 - 08:21 PM (#2770838) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Ebbie lol, Tangledwood. Seems that most Australian animals are obese, eh? Janie, :). Eb |
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21 Nov 09 - 08:36 PM (#2770846) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Janie 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. |
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21 Nov 09 - 09:17 PM (#2770858) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Ross Campbell 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 |
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21 Nov 09 - 11:02 PM (#2770893) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: katlaughing 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. |
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21 Nov 09 - 11:18 PM (#2770900) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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22 Nov 09 - 03:11 AM (#2770949) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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22 Nov 09 - 07:29 AM (#2771030) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: freda underhill 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. |
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22 Nov 09 - 09:09 AM (#2771074) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney wow - both the sculptures & your smoky weekend. sandra |
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22 Nov 09 - 05:37 PM (#2771375) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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. |
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09 Dec 09 - 06:15 PM (#2784944) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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09 Dec 09 - 06:20 PM (#2784950) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Janie 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. |
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09 Dec 09 - 06:43 PM (#2784966) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Rowan 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 |
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10 Dec 09 - 04:42 AM (#2785190) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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11 Dec 09 - 12:21 AM (#2785912) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Janie Thankee, Rowan and Sandra. |
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12 Dec 09 - 08:34 AM (#2786819) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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. |
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16 Dec 09 - 08:53 AM (#2789589) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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16 Dec 09 - 03:48 PM (#2789833) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Joybell 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 |
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16 Dec 09 - 03:53 PM (#2789838) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Rowan 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 |
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16 Dec 09 - 03:54 PM (#2789839) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Rowan Change Bundarra to Bingara and my post will make better sense. Cheers, Rowan |
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16 Dec 09 - 10:57 PM (#2790067) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Hrothgar Idyllic bushland setting = firetrap. |
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17 Dec 09 - 01:46 AM (#2790124) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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17 Dec 09 - 06:42 AM (#2790214) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Janie Wow! And so far, is this a typical fire season? (Glad you are getting rain, Joybell.) |
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17 Dec 09 - 09:21 AM (#2790300) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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17 Dec 09 - 03:01 PM (#2790589) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Rowan 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 |
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23 Dec 09 - 12:32 AM (#2794791) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-Nov-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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23 Dec 09 - 07:41 PM (#2795298) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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23 Dec 09 - 09:35 PM (#2795353) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Joybell 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 |
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23 Dec 09 - 09:43 PM (#2795358) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: JennieG 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 |
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24 Dec 09 - 02:03 AM (#2795424) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney Joy - get back inside & let the rain reach the ground! |
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25 Dec 09 - 04:13 AM (#2796143) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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29 Dec 09 - 07:13 AM (#2798304) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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29 Dec 09 - 10:26 AM (#2798453) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: SINSULL Wish we could share our rain and snow with you. Sometimes I wish we could it all to you. SINS |
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29 Dec 09 - 08:57 PM (#2798920) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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29 Dec 09 - 11:34 PM (#2799007) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: quokka Now they think it could be up to forty houses. Very scary. More than 10,000 hectares burned. |
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30 Dec 09 - 07:49 AM (#2799178) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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. |
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30 Dec 09 - 04:14 PM (#2799548) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: SINSULL 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! |
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30 Dec 09 - 07:55 PM (#2799714) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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30 Dec 09 - 08:21 PM (#2799725) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Janie 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. |
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30 Dec 09 - 09:09 PM (#2799745) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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04 Jan 10 - 08:35 AM (#2802906) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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) |
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04 Jan 10 - 10:01 PM (#2803617) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Rowan 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 |
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05 Jan 10 - 08:01 AM (#2803846) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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05 Jan 10 - 09:12 AM (#2803906) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: SINSULL 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. |
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05 Jan 10 - 08:13 PM (#2804434) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Rowan 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 |
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09 Jan 10 - 11:56 PM (#2808006) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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." |
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10 Jan 10 - 07:40 PM (#2808674) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Joybell 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 |
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10 Jan 10 - 09:22 PM (#2808722) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney I'd assumed the fire areas were too far from you to cause worry. big hugs sandra |
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11 Jan 10 - 01:25 AM (#2808804) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Joybell 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 |
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11 Jan 10 - 04:56 PM (#2809429) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Tangledwood 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. |
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11 Jan 10 - 05:02 PM (#2809434) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: SINSULL Keeping you in my thoughts, OZ. |
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11 Jan 10 - 07:04 PM (#2809539) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Joybell 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 |
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12 Jan 10 - 12:13 AM (#2809706) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: JennieG 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 |
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12 Jan 10 - 01:00 AM (#2809718) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney me, too! |
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12 Jan 10 - 01:00 AM (#2809719) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: mousethief 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= |
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12 Jan 10 - 01:24 AM (#2809722) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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12 Jan 10 - 03:31 AM (#2809762) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Tangledwood 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 |
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12 Jan 10 - 08:53 PM (#2810527) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Rowan 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 |
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13 Jan 10 - 01:26 AM (#2810654) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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'. |
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13 Jan 10 - 05:34 PM (#2811270) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Rowan 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 |
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13 Jan 10 - 05:40 PM (#2811279) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Joybell 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 |
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13 Jan 10 - 07:48 PM (#2811373) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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13 Jan 10 - 10:20 PM (#2811475) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Tangledwood 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. |
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21 Jan 10 - 08:00 AM (#2817459) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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22 Jan 10 - 06:50 PM (#2818958) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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 |
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22 Jan 10 - 10:32 PM (#2819081) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Tangledwood Stay cool and safe down there. It wasn't that long ago that the Grampians last copped it was it? |
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22 Jan 10 - 11:15 PM (#2819108) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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. |
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28 Jan 10 - 02:47 AM (#2823220) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney 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." |
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31 Jan 10 - 06:35 AM (#2826251) Subject: RE: BS: Bushfires in Australia-summer2009/10 From: Sandra in Sydney Bushfires threaten Tasmanian properties Gippsland marks bushfire anniversary Video - Victorian premier tours Gippsland fire-ravaged areas 1 year later posted 2 hours ago |