Bush fires

[DavidG]

Just saw the bush fires on the news. (SA and VIC)
To all woodies and others in those areas.
I hope you are all Ok and safe from the fires.
Best wishes:)

[RufflyRustic]

Likewise..........
RR

[bennylaird]

Don't be heros if it gets close, get out and think of all the new tools you can buy with the insurance and all the projects you can build?

[Eastie]

Truly terrifying and amazing stories from the Black Friday fires:

http://www.abc.net.au/blackfriday/story/default.htm

[journeyman Mick]

And to all those living in rural/semi-rural areas, think about joining your local rural fire brigade. You don't need to be young and fit (middle aged and active is fine and even old and smart is good :D ) and the house/property you save might just be your own.

Mick

[Farm boy]

my thoughts are with you mexicans during this fire season man it looks bad on the television

[ozwinner]

my thoughts are with you mexicans during this fire season man it looks bad on the television

I thought the thread was about Vic and South Oz fires?? :confused:

Al :confused:

[echnidna]

Don't be heros if it gets close, get out and think of all the new tools you can buy with the insurance and all the projects you can build?

By the time you actually realise its too close you probably have to stay.

A few people down here died on ash wednesday as the fire outran their cars.
There's a permanent memorial here to some of those victims.

If you're gunna run you gotta leave real early otherwise your car can get caught and you've had it.

I'd stay despite this being a bush block but I'd relocate as much small stuff as possible to one of the 2 buildings that I regard as very safe.
One of them survived ash wednesday and nowadays theres no trees surrounding it, though its time some of the landscape shrubs were junked.
If necessary we could probably safely harbor a few hundred people.

I suspect we could lose the machinery shed and the house is high risk too as they're just too close to large trees.

But its hard yakka plus smart actions to go through a bushfire and come out ok. At least these days theres support for people.

Its frightening when whole communities need to be evacuated.

[bennylaird]

My sisters farm is at the foot of the Grampians. If the wind picks up tomorrow they will be in it's path. The fire is huge and I can only admire the CFA firefighters and their selfless commitment. I was in the CFA as a teenager but now a city dweller.

Here's whats already been burnt.

[bennylaird]

http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/CA256F310024B628/0/138C8CFFFB4496CCCA2570FF006EC770/$File/mtlubra29_linescan_2330_20060123_a3overview.pdf

here's the site.

[Iain]

We are about 80-90 km from the Erica fire but when the wind drops at night we are enveloped in thick smoke, the smoke alarm has gone off a few times at night causing us to get up and run around for a look.
The grass around our place is very short and I don't think poses a risk but if the cypress trees go up I don't know if we will still have a house.
I don't really give a toss if I lose the house, worst case scenario we will take up rresidence in the caravan and shed until the insurance build another.
A bit uncomfortable but better than being dead.
Been in too many bushfires and know enough about them to know they have a mind of their own and don't follow what should be logical.

[bennylaird]

Given the right (read very very BAD) conditions tomorrow we might be looking at another Ash Wednesday on a Thursday. What's the bet some bloody idiot will be out lighting fires.

The terrorists could have a field day. Hope they are not that smart (or is that insane?)

[Iain]

The terrorists could have a field day. Hope they are not that smart (or is that insane?)
If they really wanted to create havoc they would demolish the bridge at San Remo at lunchtime on the last day of any long weekend.
I reckon about 50% of the population of Melbourne get down there to 'get away':rolleyes:

[bennylaird]

Would be a good reason to go down there. Much better than blowing it on a Friday. Sorry Boss can't get to work!!!!!!

[ozwinner]

View from my place towards Kinglake, they have had fire for the last 2 days.

Hope they get in hand before tomorrow.

Al :(

[bennylaird]

All quiet on the Grampiams fire front for now. The weather actually came good and saved what could have been a catastrophy.

The ones who should wake up to themselves are the DSE and the Greenies. If they (DSE) didn't pander to the Greenie and allowed some controlled burns to regenerate the bush and create safety firebreaks then the problems wouldn't have been as bad. Friends in Pomonal who were lucky to have their property saved told us how it was as dark as night with only red glows of flame shining throught the dark smoke.

She is going out with the chain saw to remove all the natives from the property now. Cannot mention the DSE without adding lots of discriptive words....

[Iain]

If they (DSE) didn't pander to the Greenie
I spent a couple of years with what is now DSE and have to agree with you, but, and it is a big but, the greenie element has infiltrated the DSE over a number of years and they are actually in control.
One greenie with a degree gets into a position of power then when a vacancy becomes available another greenie is applicant of choice, over a period of years this compounds and it effectively becomes a closed shop.
Another similar group is the Alpine Planning Committee, you will never, ever get to be a member of that group who control the National Parks in the snowfields unless you are one of the clique.
These are the rabid university protesters who complained about exactly the same thing then are the worst perpetrators themselves.

[Tonyz]

Why do you think we had so much trouble Jan. last year with the big fire down here. The greenies saying you cant cut that down its native! shiet!
a farmer in the south east last week on ABC news "its about bl.... time we stuffed the greenies and made decent fire breaks, I can over these!"
Tonto

[bennylaird]

My brother in law spent all friday burning firebreaks along the roads on farmers property. At least it killed some of the locusts as well. However it also means less grazing land. If the breaks were in the bush then they wouldn't have needed too. You only have to look at the regrowth and the seeds which only propagate thru fire to see the benefits of regular burns. The animals at least have a chance to avoid a controlled burn rather than perish in a full blown firestorm.

[Felder]

Isn't it amazing how after a major fire you can't find a greenie anywhere? There were greenies everywhere in the Blue Mountains before the big fires in 2001/2002, and then they suddenly disappeared!

True story - December 2001 when large fires affected Warrimoo (township in the Blue Mountains of whose local Bush Fire Brigade I am a member) there was a bulldozer cutting an emergency trail behind some houses (about 50m into the bush) so the fire-trucks could get in and start an urgent back-burn. One particulary 'green' resident grudgingly admitted that the trail needed to be implemented, but wanted to know when all the trees would be re-planted again.:eek: Cue smart reply from a visiting South Australian fire-fighter; "Contact your local Brigade. I'm sure they will be happy to re-plant them tomorrow morning." He didn't know that the local Brigade was in ear-shot - he almost got a clip over the ear.

[echnidna]

Control burns are still done by CFA,
I am currently negotiating a systematic control burn system here.

The rain might have let some fires come under control but it created accessibility problems (muddy tracks) around the Grampians and slowed down the pracicality of burning firebreaks.

Theres still a lot of fire season to go and if the weather goes bad some of the fires regarded as being under control can erupt again.

[Iain]

Weather is incredible, yesterday I was scorching and today I am considering putting on a pair of long pants to keep warm.
Wife went up to Shepparton yesterday in daughters car via KInglake, no air, claims that even though there was no sign of fire you could feel the heat, I had air and loved it, towing up one horse, no air in the float he was glad to get out.
We can still smell the smoke here though.

[ozwinner]

I went up to Kinglake yesterday too, when I left home it was all smoky.
When I went up the mountain it was all clear.

Al :)

[Clinton1]

today I am considering putting on a pair of pants to keep warm

So, did you type that post naked? :eek:

Smelly seats at your house?

[Iain]

Don't know what you mean:rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Whilst I am here and on the subject of fires, I just put this on ebay.
I never had to use it thank goodness but always carried it with me in the bush just in case.
I don't know how good they are but I figured it couldn't hurt to carry one anyway.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4608403191&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

[echnidna]

you only got the one of them Iain?
I'd like a few of them!

[Iain]

Used to carry it everywhere with me, cost about $450 now, cheap for what they offer I suppose.
Only one.

[ozwinner]

But what about me 'orse, will it fit??

Al :p

[Iain]

Check the link and have a look.....

[echnidna]

But what about me 'orse, will it fit??

Al :p

Hey Al yer s'posed ter save yerself in the shelter
and eat the horse once its cooked.