This has been happening on the northern suburban fringe of my hometown of Melbourne and in rural areas I am very familiar with. Suburban train lines have been cut & several small towns have literally ceased to exist.
We knew this was coming. last week was the hottest on record in Victoria with 3 days in a row in Melbourne at or above 43C. Yesterday it hit 46.4 in Melbourne - the hottest day in out history. The hot winds from the north have been terrible.
The death toll is now at 50 & rising as cleanup crews pick through towns & suburbs destroyed by the fire. While a cool change has arrived, the rain will not be enough to stop some of the fires. The rain is just evaporating before it hits the ground. Worse, if there is lightning it may produce more fires. We just have to hope that the brave fire crews battling the blazes can get them under control.
Fortunately friends & family are OK, but the fire has come closer to a few than I would like. One who lost his family home in the devastating 1983 'Ash Wednesday' fires is OK, but the fires came close this time too. The reality of it was brought home to me today when I was visiting with family. My 13 year old niece was ringing around her friends - several had been evacuated, one had lost her home. One of my brothers will have a bag packed & ready to go at a moment's notice. relatives by marriage can see the glow of the fires from their home in the state's north.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/...027840608.html
We knew this was coming. last week was the hottest on record in Victoria with 3 days in a row in Melbourne at or above 43C. Yesterday it hit 46.4 in Melbourne - the hottest day in out history. The hot winds from the north have been terrible.
The death toll is now at 50 & rising as cleanup crews pick through towns & suburbs destroyed by the fire. While a cool change has arrived, the rain will not be enough to stop some of the fires. The rain is just evaporating before it hits the ground. Worse, if there is lightning it may produce more fires. We just have to hope that the brave fire crews battling the blazes can get them under control.
Fortunately friends & family are OK, but the fire has come closer to a few than I would like. One who lost his family home in the devastating 1983 'Ash Wednesday' fires is OK, but the fires came close this time too. The reality of it was brought home to me today when I was visiting with family. My 13 year old niece was ringing around her friends - several had been evacuated, one had lost her home. One of my brothers will have a bag packed & ready to go at a moment's notice. relatives by marriage can see the glow of the fires from their home in the state's north.
Hell's fury unleashed
February 8, 2009 - 4:24PM
Hell has unleashed its fury on Victoria, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said today.
Thirty-six people are confirmed dead in savage bushfires which have ripped across Victoria, with police expecting the toll to rise into the 40s.
"Hell and all its fury has visited the good people of Victoria in the last 24 hours," Mr Rudd told reporters in the fire-ravaged Yarra Valley.
"Many good people now lie dead. Many others lie injured.
"This is an appalling tragedy for Victoria but because of that it's an appalling tragedy for the nation.
"Australia the country stands behind Victoria at this awful time.
"Our first response as human beings is one of the deepest empathy for people whose lives have now been devastated.
"This loss of life, the numbers of injured, the horrific injuries, our thoughts and our prayers go out to each and every one of them as they now try and deal with this tragedy and recover from the damage which has occurred."
Twenty-five victims were killed in the Kinglake area north of Melbourne, one in the central regional city of Bendigo and another in the nearby town of Long Gully. Nine deaths were confirmed on Sunday afternoon in Gippsland.
Hundreds of homes have been destroyed and at least 200,000 hectares of land has been burnt out in more than 400 fires in every part of the state over the weekend.
Mr Rudd paid tribute to firefighters who have averted even further devastation and said the army would be deployed to help.
"Also as human beings we salute the extraordinary courage of all the emergency services workers," he said.
"Police, the Country Fire Authority, those who work in our hospitals, those in the SES (State Emergency Service).
"At times like this, the nation stands behind states like Victoria when the Australian Defence Force is needed.
"All the resources as required by the Victorian authorities from the Australian Defence Force will be provided, wherever that is, whichever community it is, whatever the defence force can do, we will do.
"Some of these communities don't have anything left.
"This is very large scale stuff."
Mr Rudd announced a joint federal-state $10 million relief fund, and appealed to Australians to give generously.
"My appeal to all Australians is to dig deep as people's lives have been shattered," he said.
"The national government will be with the Victorian government, through the awful and ugly days that lie ahead and in the longer path of recovery."
AAP
February 8, 2009 - 4:24PM
Hell has unleashed its fury on Victoria, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said today.
Thirty-six people are confirmed dead in savage bushfires which have ripped across Victoria, with police expecting the toll to rise into the 40s.
"Hell and all its fury has visited the good people of Victoria in the last 24 hours," Mr Rudd told reporters in the fire-ravaged Yarra Valley.
"Many good people now lie dead. Many others lie injured.
"This is an appalling tragedy for Victoria but because of that it's an appalling tragedy for the nation.
"Australia the country stands behind Victoria at this awful time.
"Our first response as human beings is one of the deepest empathy for people whose lives have now been devastated.
"This loss of life, the numbers of injured, the horrific injuries, our thoughts and our prayers go out to each and every one of them as they now try and deal with this tragedy and recover from the damage which has occurred."
Twenty-five victims were killed in the Kinglake area north of Melbourne, one in the central regional city of Bendigo and another in the nearby town of Long Gully. Nine deaths were confirmed on Sunday afternoon in Gippsland.
Hundreds of homes have been destroyed and at least 200,000 hectares of land has been burnt out in more than 400 fires in every part of the state over the weekend.
Mr Rudd paid tribute to firefighters who have averted even further devastation and said the army would be deployed to help.
"Also as human beings we salute the extraordinary courage of all the emergency services workers," he said.
"Police, the Country Fire Authority, those who work in our hospitals, those in the SES (State Emergency Service).
"At times like this, the nation stands behind states like Victoria when the Australian Defence Force is needed.
"All the resources as required by the Victorian authorities from the Australian Defence Force will be provided, wherever that is, whichever community it is, whatever the defence force can do, we will do.
"Some of these communities don't have anything left.
"This is very large scale stuff."
Mr Rudd announced a joint federal-state $10 million relief fund, and appealed to Australians to give generously.
"My appeal to all Australians is to dig deep as people's lives have been shattered," he said.
"The national government will be with the Victorian government, through the awful and ugly days that lie ahead and in the longer path of recovery."
AAP
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/...027840608.html
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