Australian Bush Fires-Hope everyone is well

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

02/08/2009 07:02:37 AM · #1

Don't know if there already is a thread about this, but I hope and pray that all dpc members, their families and friends are safe and well. Let us know......
I live in the South East suburbs and although we saw a lot of smoke the fires didn't get too close to us. I have never before experienced the ferocity of the heat (about 46c ) and the combined winds. It felt like you were in a fan forced oven!
The news of the deaths (84 to date ) have been terrible and my thoughts and prayers are with those affected people.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

02/08/2009 10:05:26 AM · #2

I just heard this on the news. Temperatures soaring to 50C and that some of the fires are arson.

I hope everyone from dpc is safe.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

02/08/2009 12:17:56 PM · #3

Satellite photos from NASA:

Fires in SE Australia -- Jan. 30, 2009

Bushfires in SE Australia, Feb. 7,2009

Exceptional Australian Heat Wave

Retroesque

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/08/2009 02:18:47 PM · #4

Naomi,

Glad to hear all is well with you and yours.

My family are in Healesville, it's been a tense weekend to say the least. It's been awful to know that they're blocked off and we can't get to them and they can't get out (not that they've wanted to - Mum's been amazingly calm - the fire has been on the hills behind her home).

My best friends sister lost her home and dogs in Yarra Glen on Saturday and her husband has burns to both hands and arms.

It's shocking watching the numbers of dead rise. Let's hope it can all be brought to an end swiftly.

THANK GOD for firefighters and others who donate their time to humanitarian work!

Stagolee

Kodak Easyshare C180

Canon EF 50mm f1.2L

02/08/2009 02:22:03 PM · #5

OMG!!! just watching the news death toll now at 108 and rising!!! Praying that all our members down in Victoria are safe!

Retroesque

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/08/2009 02:38:56 PM · #6

Images

naomik

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

02/08/2009 02:53:58 PM · #7

Originally posted by iamwoman:

Lisa, so glad that you and your family are well. Watching the news right now and we are unfortunately up to 108.
So sorry, Lisa to hear of your friend and her pets. The devastation to wildlife is ghastly.
Our heroes are the firefighters who havwe worked so hard and have put their lives on the line.
Please keep safe everyone.

Judi

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/08/2009 04:08:48 PM · #8

I have been watching this situation on the news over the last couple of days. It is on my TV at the moment. What I feel weird about...is we are getting phone calls from loved ones about our flood situation. 60% of our state is under water at the moment. So I have floods to the North of me and deadly fires to the south. I don't know which way to turn. This is such a bizarre situation and is affecting so many Australians. My heart goes out to all the Aussies....those directly involved and those who are fretting for loved ones.

pmichaud

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/08/2009 04:17:10 PM · #9

Please know we are keeping all of you in our hearts and in our prayers. Please let us know how we can help. We aren't strangers to wildfires or floods, and know how devastating both can be for a very long time.

joynim

Olympus E-500 EVOLT

Olympus 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5 Zuiko Digital

02/08/2009 04:44:34 PM · #10

I lived on the outskirts of Melbourne as a teenager during Ash Wednesday. My thoughts are with all those affected, this is such an awful time for all.

vlado

Canon EOS-70D

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

02/08/2009 07:04:35 PM · #11

Still waiting to hear about a work colleagues and a few friends family members that live in the areas affected.

Had to ring 000 to report a fire near us on Saturday. Were returning from the shops and spotted a grass fire between the Caterpillar factory and Westfield Airport West... about 710 meters from our home (as the crow flies according to Google Earth). Took almost 10 minutes to get through to the MFB, in which time we watch the fire race towards the railway and Melrose drive. Once off the phone we drove across the road to inform the people in the houses of the fire. MFB were in the scene in about 5 minutes. Yesterday, when driving past, noticed that the fire had jumped the rail lines and a road and had gotten to within meters of the local pub and the shopping centre.

Then last night, while at my niece's birthday party, everyone just sat in shock as we saw the devastation that had taken place the past 24-48 hours. Our hearts just go out to all that have lost loved ones. So many dead, and so many yet to be accounted for.

And what's worse still, the fires are still going. Driving in to work today, I heard that the area near my folk holiday house in the Victorian high country is once again experiencing bushfires... third or 4th time in 6 years. This time it's a bit further up the valley. Kancoona is one of the places placed on "Urgent Notice"... my Jan FS entry was of a shack in Kancoona

. We drove up to Wodonga, through Running Creek, Coral Bank, Dederang on Australia Day. We bought wine at Rosewhite the following day... drove through Happy Valley.

So scary. Thought and prayers are with those in areas affected.

hotpasta

02/08/2009 07:20:30 PM · #12

Originally posted by Judi:

That's the bizarre thing Judi, floods in the north and extreme drought and fires in the south. It's like the whole world is out of balance. Nature is groaning.

The death toll is now 108 dead, but I think that is going to sharply increase as they go into homes and cars. It's an eerie feeling walking in the streets as we all seem pretty glum here in Melbourne. At least it is cooler.

Our hearts and prayers are with all the victims, firefighters and workers and volunteers. VICTORIA IS RESILIANT, WE WILL BOUNCE BACK.

hotpasta

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/08/2009 07:21:48 PM · #13

One of the young guys in our church messaged us about his friend who was house sitting and was killed. He only had time to ring his family and say goodbye...

Judi

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

02/08/2009 07:26:05 PM · #14

Originally posted by hotpasta:

Originally posted by Judi:
I have been watching this situation on the news over the last couple of days. It is on my TV at the moment. What I feel weird about...is we are getting phone calls from loved ones about our flood situation. 60% of our state is under water at the moment. So I have floods to the North of me and deadly fires to the south. I don't know which way to turn. This is such a bizarre situation and is affecting so many Australians. My heart goes out to all the Aussies....those directly involved and those who are fretting for loved ones.

That's the bizarre thing Judi, floods in the north and extreme drought and fires in the south. It's like the whole world is out of balance. Nature is groaning.

The death toll is now 108 dead, but I think that is going to sharply increase as they go into homes and cars. It's an eerie feeling walking in the streets as we all seem pretty glum here in Melbourne. At least it is cooler.

Our hearts and prayers are with all the victims, firefighters and workers and volunteers. VICTORIA IS RESILIANT, WE WILL BOUNCE BACK.

I remember this happening a couple of years ago...there was snow in places it shouldn't have been...and drought in other areas...and then huge storms...it was all out of whack...the very next year...we flooded....! We are in the middle of this...not knowing which way to turn. The sky last night was weird...sunset colour on wrong side of the earth before eventually coming alive in the right place...but not before the clouds went a muddy brown....the skies are weird....!

BarbB

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/08/2009 07:49:30 PM · #15

The news footage is just devastating to watch. My thoughts and prayers are with all those involved.

millsa

Nikon D7100

Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR

02/08/2009 08:08:52 PM · #16

I heard this morning of a couple of people I know loosing their houses or coming close to it all survived thankfully, its been a shocking weekend.

Makka

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/08/2009 10:39:24 PM · #17

They're now saying atleast 128 dead and could go as high as 230! Unbelievable! I heard this morning people saying that the fire that hit Kinglake covered 25kms of ground within 15 minutes! No wonder so many have died!

hotpasta

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR

02/08/2009 10:43:30 PM · #18

Originally posted by Makka:

Current;y at 126 on the herald sun website...25km in 15 minutes is frightening. You wouldn't get away on those country roads if you tried. No wonder Brian Naylor and his wife died.

andrewt

Nikon D810

02/08/2009 10:46:14 PM · #19

Take care all!! This is just terrible.

Retroesque

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/08/2009 11:12:35 PM · #20

My brother works in the bush in the fire zone. I spoke to him today - he's been into Kinglake, Chum Creek, Toolangi and other areas and said that nothing we've seen on the TV can begin to describe the devastation.

He was in the bush on both Saturday night and last night - he's a big strong man, but said he was SO SCARED.

My mother had the fire on the ridge above her home and said the sound was like nothing she'd ever heard before. She witnessed 'Elvis' and his friends do their thing

Each night she can see the fire, saturday night she could see spot flares - shocking.

It's beyond awful - everyone having to be so hyper-vigilant, everyone waiting to hear who died, how many, how old ...

It's just dreadful.

Let's PRAY that this cooler weather stays and that no wind in on the horizon.

digitalpins

Canon EOS-60D

02/08/2009 11:15:08 PM · #21

I wish you all in Australia are doing ok I just saw this on the news here, I thought about DPC right away and came here and found this thread

Message edited by author 2009-02-08 23:15:47.

jomari

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR

02/08/2009 11:19:05 PM · #22

The Age says 128 dead, and that could well end up double. Saturday was a day from hell, with record high temperatures all over Victoria to fuel those terrible fires. In Ballarat, I am not particularly close to the fire areas but could smell and see the smoke.We were warned that we were going to cop such a day, unfortunately one has to wonder if this acted as a ready-set-go to those lunatic arsonists, or if they would have been just waiting for this anyway. I hope that all fires can be controlled soon without any more losses, and that all DPCers and their loved ones are safe.

Message edited by author 2009-02-08 23:28:17.

citymars

Nikon D700