I don't know if it's made the news anywhere but here, but we have some terrible bushfires going on here right now. In the last 2 days, almost 40 people have been killed, and fires are raging across most of the state (Victoria).
Multiple towns have been utterly destroyed by fire - Marysville, Narbethong and Kinglake are all gone, and at least 12 people were killed in Kinglake.
We got sent home from work early today because the smoke in the air was too thick and was coming into the store.
I mentioned last week about the heatwave we were having, well those temperatures were nothing compared to what we've been suffering through since Thursday. Melbourne recorded it's highest ever temperature of 45C (about 115F). And to top it all off, there has not been one drop of rain for weeks.
God, it's only 2 hours since I wrote the above, and the death toll has been upgraded to 65.
The closest fire to me is about 30km away so it's not too much of a concern... but if the Warby Ranges to our west goes up, my house will most likely be gone.
Will keep you posted.
[ 07. February 2009, 23:00: Message edited by: Stitch Groover ]
Posted by Stitch Groover (Member # 2895) on :
New update for you guys, it's now just after 10pm Sunday night. The wind is picking up and changing direction, it's just a matter of waiting to see which way it settles.
It's terrible to say that I hope it goes the other way, because that means it will head towards Mt Beauty and Yackandandah.
My wonderful partner Sean is not with me at the moment, he is visiting relatives in Warragul which is about 4 hours to the south, and yesterday that town was surrounded by fire, but was luckily saved. I don't know when he'll be able to come home because he doesn't drive, and the railway lines have been destroyed. And even if he did drive, the roads have been melted and can't be driven on. Even the Hume Freeway, the major road that runs from Melbourne to Sydney is partly destroyed.
Bushfires are a part of life in Australia, but this one has me terrified. Its the most vicious and fast paced fire in history. The poor people in Maryville and Kinglake didn't stand a chance. They died if they stayed in their homes, they died if they tried to escape. They were doomed.
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Itīs on the news here and it looks very bad. I read that the blaze was so big it was visible from space. Thatīs just insane.
I hope that weīve seen the worst of it, Stitch!
Posted by Riptide (Member # 457) on :
Terrible destruction, hope it won't get worse than that.
Posted by Riptide (Member # 457) on :
The death toll is up to 84 now, with sadly many more to be accounted for. Maryville, the town of about 800 was completely wiped off the map due to the fires. Rough going Stich, give us some updates on your friends and loved ones.
Posted by Ronnie (Member # 465) on :
i just read about victoria this morning... my deepest sympathies to those that were lost and those that have lost others.. it's horrible.
Posted by Stitch Groover (Member # 2895) on :
Hey guys, it's 9am Monday morning... the death toll in Victoria alone is up to 108 now.
The Beechworth fire is heading away from us - but is heading towards Yackandandah.
At least 2 people have died in fires only 60km from me.
[ 08. February 2009, 13:57: Message edited by: Stitch Groover ]
Posted by ISIS (Member # 1780) on :
Wow, I just heard about this. Do they know what started it?
I hope you stay safe Stitch. That's scary stuff.
Keep everyone posted!
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
Stay safe Stitch.
Posted by Stitch Groover (Member # 2895) on :
Hey there gang
It's nearly 6pm Monday, and things are quiet right now because the fires have been racing through uninhabited bushland mostly, except for Yackandandah which was evacuated. If the winds had blown the other way, it would be me being evacuated instead of Yackandandah.
The horror of it all is just so hard to comprehend. I can't imagine the terror and the pain of all those people who died so horrendously - men, women, children, the elderly.....
For those who are interested, and if the link is still active, here is a slideshow of photos from the Herald Sun newspaper. The slideshow is constantly being updated, but one of the photos, it was 16 when I last looked, was taken at Warragul, where my partner has been trapped since Saturday.
I just can't bear to watch or read anymore about it. I don't want to hear about it anymore. Everyone is so emotional about it, we had customers in tears today just talking about it, they didn't even know anyone who was affected. I'm in tears right now, I'm watching it on the TV and on the internet, and I know I have to stop but these were my people that have died! Everyday Victorians like me! With their own lives and dramas and good days and bad days, and all of sudden they've just gone. And it's an insult to them if I just change the channel and watch Neighbours.
OK feeling better now, this has taken me nearly an hour to write. Thanks everyone for your support. I do count myself lucky that the fires haven't come to very close to us yet. I've grown up around bushfires my whole life as my family is a big part of the Country Fire Authority in my area, but these are the first fires that have really had me scared.
Posted by Stitch Groover (Member # 2895) on :
This is the view about 30km from here (20 miles)
That last picture is of Tawonga where my grandmother grew up. 3 weeks ago my cousins took her for a drive there to see the old family farm -
Posted by jdocster (Member # 5752) on :
My sympathies for those who lost their lives. It's a terrible tragedy. Stay safe my friend...
Posted by 80'sRocked (Member # 6979) on :
Wow are those horrible images. I mean, I have always been fascinated with fire ever since I was a kid.....you could even label me a bit of a pyro. But to see the destruction like that is very sad. Good luck to you Stitch and everyone else out there.
Posted by Riptide (Member # 457) on :
Unbelievable series of events Stitch. I guess the very rapid pace of the fire was due to no rain for several weeks? I've heard something too about some of the fires being deliberately set, any news on that? I hope people will be fully prosecuted if that's the case. Hope they put the fires out soon and you guys get some relief.
Posted by Stitch Groover (Member # 2895) on :
One fire was allegedly started by someone using a power tool outside on a day of Total Fire Ban, when it's illegal to use any tools that can create sparks.
The police apparantly have a number of suspects that they are following up. I really hope they do catch the people responsible. The police commissioner has stated that anyone arrested over these fires may be charged with the murders of those who died.
The death toll right now is 173. That's only going to grow as authorities search all the buildings in the destroyed towns, and scour tracks in search of vehicles.
I know what you mean 80'sRocked, I had a fascination with fire too when I was younger. I still find it hypnotic.
Posted by 80'sRocked (Member # 6979) on :
quote:Originally posted by Stitch Groover: I know what you mean 80'sRocked, I had a fascination with fire too when I was younger. I still find it hypnotic.
I agree.....very hypnotic. If I am sitting around a bonfire, I will stare into it and mess around with it for hours! Gimme some beers too and I will be entertained.
Posted by Stitch Groover (Member # 2895) on :
The survival stories are coming through now, it's so good to here some happy stories amidst all the carnage.
One couple were seperated by the flames on their property on Saturday, he managed to find a vehicle and drive away with badly burnt hands, while she was stuck on foot and had to walk through an ember attack in the dark. At one point she lost her shoes and severely burnt her feet. Each thought the other was dead, until the found each other in the same hospital on Tuesday. They had arrived within 30 seconds of each other. And it turned out that while they were seperated they were actually only less than 100 metres apart, but obviously had no idea of knowing.
I had the sisters of one of the local victims come to see me at work today, they were printing photos and I helped them scan some old photos for the funerals.
And I heard the story today of a man from Wangaratta, where I live, who moved to Kinglake on Friday. The fires destroyed the town on Saturday, and he was killed.
One person I've been thinking about is Mel1972 who is a recent member here. I haven't seen her post since the fires started. I've sent her a PM but haven't had a reply. Hopefully it's just a coincidence.
[ 11. February 2009, 01:09: Message edited by: Stitch Groover ]
Posted by ISIS (Member # 1780) on :
Stitch- Those are amazing, but horrific photos.
My mom has been watching the news about the fires, she is freaking out over all the Koala Bears that have died.
Fire scares me...my brother and my father and all the men in my family are/were all firemen.
I remember my Dad coming home smelling like smoke all the time. He went in to a burning home, and thought he had found a baby under a blanket, and wrapped it up and came out with it, it was a dog- but he saved it's life.
When I was a kid, my Dad was fighting a field fire out in the middle of a giant field, and the fireman who was in front of him, he stepped on a downed power line, and was electrocuted right in front of my Dad...my Dad had to run for help...everyone was spread out all over, he couldn't even speak when he got to help, because he was in shock.
We heard about it over the scanner, and I remember my mom thought it was my Dad, and we couldn't contact anyone, and had to wait, it was horrible not knowing if he was alive.
Please becareful Stitch.
Posted by Stitch Groover (Member # 2895) on :
This is sick - a woman has been charged with fraud by claiming that her father was killed in the fires and trying to get compensation. Fortunately the fraud was detected fairly quickly.
After all the suffering everyone here has gone through, it makes us all sick to think that this woman was trying to take advantage of the situation. But she's not the only one taking advantage - it seems property developers are swooping in on the destroyed towns and offering to buy up land for a fraction of the cost.
