Hope Allan at Wallan Is OK-Fires- Allan is OK

[DJ’s Timber]

Going by the fire reports, Hidden Valley where Allan at Wallan (http://www.woodworkforums.com/member.php?u=16352) lives, it is not looking good :no:

Hope you are OK Allan :2tsup: :fingerscrossed:

[springwater]

yeah I can't imagine the ferocity of fire combined with today's heat. When I walked outside early this morning there was a strange feel about the day. Hope all is well.

[Big Shed]

Going by the fire reports, Hidden Valley where Allan at Wallan (http://www.woodworkforums.com/member.php?u=16352) lives, it is not looking good :no:

Hope you are OK Allan :2tsup: :fingerscrossed:

Yeah, hope he's OK, according to the weather radar it is raining close the Wallan, also where you are DJ, so let's hope that will help the situation.

[RETIRED]

That is not rain but smoke.

[DJ’s Timber]

Haven't seen any rain of yet but it is very eerie and dark here :hmmm:

Here is some shots that I just took

95826 95823 95824 95825

[Groggy]

hope you are keeping cool there DJ

[RETIRED]

Cool change has come through here, but the sun is obscured by smoke.

[Big Shed]

That is not rain but smoke.

Radar sure sees it as rain.

[watson]

Hope Allan Is Ok...& you too DJ

[mic-d]

Yep, hope you both come through OK.:(

Cheers
Michael

[RETIRED]

Radar sure sees it as rain.Doeppler radar also picks up smoke and ash.

[Mulgabill]

Right-on !:2tsup:

[Gra]

Just saw this on the CFA Website..

Urgent Threat Message to communities of Wesburn, Millgrove, Warburton, East Warburton, Big Pat's Creek and Gladysdale
<small>07/02/2009


DJ, hope you Ok...
</small>

[DJ’s Timber]

At this stage all is fine, cannot see any fires or glow from one, have been constantly on the prowl checking for embers.

[mic-d]

Good to hear DJ. What about Allan, you know anything?

Cheers
Michael

[Cruzi]

Its getting very nasty down there, hope everyone gets through OK.

14 Dead possibly 40 in total (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25023216-29277,00.html)

Take care please.

[DJ’s Timber]

Just come in from another ember check and it is very calm at the moment and the temperature has dropped down a lot.

Cannot see any glow from fire anywhere.

No idea on how Allan is getting along, he is right in the middle of it from what I have heard :C

Anyone else heard from him lately?

[Pheonix]

Been away all day just found out the 14 deaths,what a tragedy.Suspect fires were started by arsonist

[mic-d]

Just had a look at the doppler radar in loop mode to help differentiate between rain and smoke:
http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR023.loop.shtml

Looks like Wallan is clear at the moment (??) Hope so.

Cheers
Michael

[DJ’s Timber]

Just a quick note to let you know that I'm fine here, nothing new to report.

No smoke visible today and is all relatively calm at this stage.

[Pheonix]

Sister in law is at Healesville had their bags packed since yesterday arvo ,fire is at Mt Riddell not far from them ,had an email at 2.30 am this morning they are staying up all night on firewatch.Maryville apparently was destroyed.Good luck to all:2tsup:

[watson]

Just Got Allan at Wallan's phone number from his sister in Avoca.
Allan is OK ...just spoke to him.....the fire skirted around them.last night......he'll be off the air today as well as he is doing family stuff today.

[mic-d]

Thanks Noel, that's good to know.

Cheers
Michael

[wheelinround]

Thanks Noel had sent e-mail as yet no reply good to know they are ok.

Keep safe the lot of you

[springwater]

It must of been a terrifying day for some, good to know the ones we know are safe.

[wheelinround]

The Age (http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/incident_summary.htm) has listing of fires

[Gra]

The Age (http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/incident_summary.htm) has listing of fires

OR

http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/incident_summary.htm

and

http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/incident_updates.htm#1476636706573

[Cruzi]

Just learnt my cousins who are expecting their 2nd child in April lost their home.:C

They are rangers and he was out fighting other fires when it happened, his missus had been evacuated.

[jerryc]

To all forum members affected in some way with the fires, but especially Allan and DJ, our thoughts and best wishes are with you.

Jerry

[rsser]

My son's just leaving Alexandra for Melb. in case. The fire's at Taggerty, 10 mins away by car. A firebreak has been dozed around Alex which AFAIK is surrounded just by paddocks.

A number of local roads are closed but he hopes to loop around to the Hume.

Latest estimate is 30+ lives lost. Marysville has mostly burned to the ground; buildings gone in Kinglake and Kinglake W.

Police believe arsonists are still active FFS.

[mic-d]

Police believe arsonists are still active FFS.

If that's the case I vote for rope, spikes and meat ant nest:((

Cheers
Michael

[echnidna]

nope, just let them get caught by victims families

[Mollywood]

[quote=rsser;893460]My son's just leaving Alexandra for Melb. in case. The fire's at Taggerty, 10 mins away by car.

In my opinion, this is the RIGHT thing to do.
Waiting till the fire is at your backdoor puts lives at risk. Totally not worth it. :no:
We live in the Dandenong Ranges and knowing what sort of day it was going to be, packed the cars and spent the day OUT of the hills.
Unless one lives in a very open space with no close trees, I don't understand why anyone would stay to save their house. It's too dangerous.
I would be saddened to lose the house we have lived in for 33 years, but it definitely wouldn't be a TRAGEDY, which is what occurs when people lose their lives.:C

My sincere Sympathy and Prayers go out to those who have lost loved ones.

[rsser]

Est of death toll now around 50.

12 fires still out of control.

[seriph1]

as at 5:30 there are a few drops of rain falling in Kilmore - Elvis just took off again. Rain is getting heavier as I type this, but have no idea if it is getting to the fires, now a few k's away

[echnidna]

I hope all the fires get a good rain, till then they could travel anywhere.

[rsser]

Good luck Steve.

I'm not a praying kind of bloke but my thoughts are with you.

Geez, and inch or two of solid rain would be worth my giving up my principles.

[seriph1]

... to give some idea as to the extent of the devestation in our region alone. Hard to get the scale, but we went to Hidden Valley last night ... we reckon the fires were only a couple of K's from there. At 120 kilmoteres per hour, that means contact could take place within a minute or two. The poor beggars who stayed had no chance

[watson]

At 5:30.ABC 774 confirmed 65 dead.:C

[rsser]

Good grief. Worse than Ash Wednesday.

...

We were lucky then; sat up all night in Lorne; fire burned into the Nth side of town but then the wind changed. 18th month old kid in tow.

Then in 03 we were in Mt Beauty when the biggie started. Son no. 2 was calling in fire spots when he was up Mt Mackay on his postie bike.

..

Dederang is threatened.

Hope Jefferson is OK.

[Pheonix]

In this situation arsonists should be shot on sight ,the bas....s are relighting the fires that have just been put out ,how sick are some people?:((

[Gingermick]

I too hope that all members here are OK, and that any loved ones in the area are safe too. Glad to hear alan at wallan is fine so I'll be enjoying more of his jokes:2tsup:
Any prick who starts fires like that should be buried up to their necks in concrete in the desert and kept alive for a few months.

[seriph1]

looks like the fires have moved away from here at least for now, so the choppers will probably leave tonight/tomorrow morning, and go on to their next acts of heroism.

Tomorrow's another day

Here is a pic I just took with my phone of clouds to the east of us (toward the fires) at the time of today's sunset. Have never seen anything like it .... kinda says it all I guess.

[PenTurner]

Spoke to Allan this morning, he is ok, he was putting up two other families that either had lost or were not able to get to their homes, Amos:)

[Wood Borer]

I was at the Gippsland fires last week (arson) and spent all day at Taggerty today mainly blacking out.

I think we will be busy for quite some time but a beer sure goes down well at the end of the day:wink:

[Allan at Wallan]

Hey everyone! Sorry my computer server has been off the air
for two days and could not check Emails or the Forum site.
I expected that the server had overheated because of the extreme
temperatures. I checked with my favourite Call Centre operator
and ended up hanging up on him. Had another try tonight and
finally had success.

What a couple of days. The extreme temperature and roaring wind
gave every indication of a calamity in the making. Sure enough the
sirens started and before long 104 appliances were despatched to
the start of the fire at Kilmore East. The fire was advancing South
of there to the small town of Wandong. My son and his family live
in the next area called Heathcote Junction.

I drove to the top of "Pretty Sally Hill" and took a couple of photos
along with about 50 others who had a good vantage point. I went
back an hour later and the fire had roared through Wandong,
mainly across the paddocks behind the main shops and homes
but nevertheless taking 30 homes and 4 lives.

My son and family were given orders to evacuate as they live in a
heavily forested part of Heathcote Junction with limited escape roads.
His next door neighbour and wife also took off with them and they
stayed at our home in Wallan for the next two days. Fortunately
the fire bypassed them but they were not permitted back until tonight.

The fire then advanced onto Mt Disappointment which we view from
our kitchen windows. Spot fires from embers, propelled by the
enormous winds, raced across the mountain into Upper Plenty
which is 5 minutes from Wallan. Friends of mine who owned
five acres of beautiful bushland in Clarke's Road lost everything.
Anyone who has travelled in there to their property, "Glenbillie
Gardens" would be horrified to see the ruins.

The fire then claimed more towns in its destructive path. Whittlesea,
Humevale,Kinglake, Coldstream, Marysville, Narbethong and others with a
massive loss of people, homes and livestock. Well known TV
newsreader Brian Naylor and his wife Moiree perished at Kinglake.
From our kitchen window we saw the mountain at Kinglake
roaring like a furnace and could only watch in amazement.

Many thanks to those who made enquiries re our welfare. The phone
has been ringing flat out from relatives, friends and the woodturning
fraternity. Thanks to Amos (Woodenink) and Noel (Watson) for
your calls and Emails from Barry (Hicks), John (Munruben) and
Ray (Wheelinaround). I appreciate the many comments from
other Forumites too.

Physically we came out of all this unscathed. Our
thoughts go out to all those who have lost loved ones and trust
they can successfully rebuild their lives.

Allan

[wheelinround]

:U:2tsup: Good to hear your ok Allan and great work helping others out in their time of need.

[PenTurner]

Allan, we are all glad you are ok, Amos:) Thanks for that detailed report.

[Allan at Wallan]

Going by the fire reports, Hidden Valley where Allan at Wallan (http://www.woodworkforums.com/member.php?u=16352) lives, it is not looking good :no:

Hope you are OK Allan :2tsup: :fingerscrossed:

Hi DJ,

Thanks for your interest and I do apologise for seeming to be
pedantic but I just wanted to correct something.

Hidden Valley is nestled in a valley to the East of the Northern
Highway. Contrary to news reports the fire did not really get too
close to residents in that area.

I live on Pretty Sally Hill which is to the West of the Northern
Highway and therefore even further away from the firefront.

Hidden Valley is a "posh" part of Wallan - too many covenants
on the building of homes there - it has to be Tuscan style,
too many restrictions.

Regards,

Allan

[Allan at Wallan]

Just a couple of pics to go with this thread.

One is the first indication of the fire taken from the driveway
of my home. It was taken looking up Pretty Sally Hill
toward Kilmore East and Wandong areas. Hidden Valley
cant be seen but is to the right of the picture beyond the
tree line.

Second photo is of the unusual cloud in the sky that night.
I also took the same photo as Steve from Kilmore of the
orange coloured cloud.

Allan

[HandyAndrea]

in NZ are watching from afar with heavy hearts as this all unfolds. We are sending what help we can, in the form of expert rural firecrews, money, forensic staff and a huge helicopter with firebucket (which is normally used for logging and fire duties in the Central North Island). It just seems so little, when you see the news reports of the devastation. And what sort of a maniac goes around relighting fires which have already killed so many people and caused so much damage?

Our thoughts are with you.

[artme]

Great to hear that our fellow forumites are OK but what a gutwrenching feeling we all get when we hear that fires have been delibeately lit and that so much death and destruction has resulted.:((:((:((

[Claw Hama]

Glad to hear you guys are good, no doubt many of your friends and neighbours are not. We can only hope that anyone starting these horific events get what is coming to them. Stay safe guys and girls.