Bushfires near Tolmie

[TassieKiwi]

All the best mate - you're a real bushie now! Don't forget the socks full of sand in the downpipes/full gutters. I will stay to defend our house too (100Ha of bush over the road, so much fuel you'd cry). Like me, I hope you don't ever have to, but it sounds like you're prepared! Don't forget a ladder to check the roofspace.

[Iain]

Don't forget the socks full of sand in the downpipes/full gutters.

Balls, tennis balls, much easier.

[Christopha]

Balls, tennis balls, much easier.

Tennis balls don't do too well in a 90mm pop mate, I once fished nearly 2 dozen out of my tanks when my sons were small and did back yard cricket.

[Iain]

Didn't think about that, ours accept a tennis ball quite happily, but our gutter leak so it probably wouldn't matter anyway.

[Felder]

Tennis balls don't do too well in a 90mm pop mate, I once fished nearly 2 dozen out of my tanks when my sons were small and did back yard cricket.

Didn't know you were a cricket fan, Chris.

[jow104]

Rob & Meg
What a start to your new residence in the area you know Janet & I send our best hopes for a speedy end to the present difficulties.
This is one instance when you dont say, "keep the home fires burning"

[Christopha]

Didn't know you were a cricket fan, Chris.

Brendan, that was about as quick as I expected! I wondered how long it would take!!!

Anyway, Rob, all the best mate, take care and no matter what, BE SAFE!

[Carry Pine]

Wood Borer,

Keep a look out for my young bloke. (piccie). if you are lucky enough to meet him he knows more than any three adults over 40 combined. But a good kid nevertheless. He's from Corryong and does 5 days on and one day off at the moment down your way.

Carry Pine

[Toggy]

The local tv news ran an item on the Tolmie residents' briefings.

And who should be sitting in the front row; none other than Mr & Mrs WB.
Not a lot of smiles; but looking well.

Ken

[Wood Borer]

Thanks for the words of encouragement. My cousin is up for a couple of days and I am keeping an eye out for embers until 3AM and he will take over.

Yes Ken, we were on the telly at the briefing, I will wear my UBeaut hat for the meeting at 9AM today.

The weekend should be interesting but putting it all in perspective, it will be a good yarn one day.

I'll keep an eye out for your young bloke Carry Pine.

Dadpad, we will catch up after the fires for sure.

Lucky you weren't staying with us now Jow, Janet's crook leg wouldn't be very stable climbing the ladder with a fire hose.

I too have have the 90 mm downpipes Christopha so I made some plugs from some scrap oregon using the bandsaw and of course finished them with an LN spokeshave. I suppose I will have to get one of those machines one day that make the wood spin around and all you do is hold a chisel up to them. My plugs held the water overnight last night which is near enough.

Iain, I have some steps ready a previous employer kindly gave to me to check out the roof space.

[Schtoo]

Dunno what else to say but good luck.

[dadpad]

sat 11.30 am the smoke is so thick you could cut it with a chisel. there is no wind to speak of in the mansfield township. Everyone is seeing this as a "CALM BEFORE THE STORM" moment. The wind may come later tonight or tomorrow.
Here's what things looked like yesterday.

[Cliff Rogers]

Another web site for following fires.
You can zone it anywhere in Australia.

http://sentinel1.ga.gov.au/Sentinel/imf.jsp

[outback]

Has anyone heard how Rob is going?

[Gumby]

Not lately but the wind isn't one of those blustery northerly's, although it was this morning. Now it seems pretty calm and i heard on the radio that they had managed to make a few new containment lines overnight.

I've been up on the roof all morning, clearing gutters etc. Tomorrow is the bad one. They say strong winds which is just right for some lunatic to get his jollies.

We have a local CFA meeting tomorrow, just in case.

In the meantime, i hope no news is good news for Rob and Meg.