Bushfires near Tolmie

[graemet]

Checking here every day to see how you are doing.

Me too. Keeping the fingers crossed for you. You seem to be as prepared as you can.
Cheers
Graeme

[dadpad]

Tolimie residents are not yet out of the woods so to speak but the pressure is off for the time being.

Fires ran and spotted to the north east today.

All crews were pulled off the Jamieson fires today prior to the change.

the situation is very tense at present cause no-one (including the bureau) knows what the wind is gonna do.

Currently (Close to midnight) there is not a breath of wind. speculation has it that this means a southerly change but I dont think so.

[Wood Borer]

We are still safe but as dadpad said, anything could still happen. It is looking better but a wind change could turn the whole situation around.

The communities South of us seem to be in a serious position, the people running our community meetings also do their's and I am sure the messages received at those meetings will greatly assist those intending to stay and defend.

At the meeting this morning everyone looked very tired and we probably all had a rest this afternoon but still keeping someone posted to keep a look out.

It is a waiting and hoping game. The CFA and DSE are continuing their hard work. I hear what Iain said but our experience with the DSE (Department of Sustainability and Environment) has been very positive.

You are correct in stating that the Tolmie Community is a wondeful supportive community. Here we are new comers but made to feel most welcome by everyone we meet. They must be all woodworkers

Our pythons don't seem to be affected by all the smoke as they still have healthy appetites and are still very friendly.

The smoke also hasn't affected the tools either, the LNs were getting a bit of a workout today on some redgum in between checking for embers or any major changes on the horizon.

I have noticed just how dry the air is up here. All my plane handles, chisel handles and hammer handles have been loose since moving up here. I have fixed them all of course.

[dadpad]

here is the most current situation. Blue arrows indicate trouble spots.

[Eastie]

Glad to hear your going well Rob - waiting is hell isn't it!

I ended up up back up near home on a grader since Friday night as everyone was anticipating that it would break through. I was talking to my old man about his memory of black friday yesterday and he couldn't talk about it without his hands trembling. People were concerned in the 2003 fires, but they are dead scared of these ones. The ammount of work being put in both in fighting and preparing for this fire has to be seen to be believed. We're a bit over 150 km's east south-east as the crow flies from Rob - to give you an idea the fire would have travelled that distance in a couple of hours if the winds came as predicted.

The offer is still on if you need a break to get some proper rest as there's no more the be done up home.

[scooter]

Thanks for posting those maps dadpad

Rob & Meg, glad you're still OK.

[dadpad]

All is calm and quiet in Mansfield. we really have been lucky with the wind situation.

I can hear choppers buzzing in and out of town going to and from the airstrip for fuel, pilot relief atc.

Cooler temps and no wind.

[DougZ]

Hi from your ex-workmates Rob. Sounds like you and Meg won't have to worry about the garden for a while.

[dadpad]

cross your fingers for Rob and meg, in fact cross your legs and arms.
I dont know exactly where rob and meg (west of Tolmie) are but the current wind direction will carry embers etc to the west of Tolmie township. If it jumps containment the fire will run in their direction.

4.00 pm monday
DSE and CFA advise residents in the Whitlands, Burders Lane, Powers Lookout Road, and Mansfield to Whitfield Road and they may be threatened by this fire. These residents are advised to activate their fire plans immediately.

[Iain]

they still have healthy appetites and are still very friendly.

Just don't let them lull you into a sense of false security

[dadpad]

all/most truck have gone from Tolmie. which must mean its tidy up there Apparently all trucks have been sent to jamieson.

[Gumby]

Just shows you that while a wind change may be good for some it's usually equally bad for others.

[Wood Borer]

G'day Doug and welcome to the Bulletin Board - it took a fire to finally get you into the woodwork seriously:eek: There are always positives, a pity we don't always see them. I've been working on getting Doug into the woodwork for about 15 years.

With all those trips to the US you make, I am sure you can bring back some bargain priced quality tools. I sent you an EMAIL tonight.

Dadpad, I sent you a PM with our address and phone number.

Mark (Eastie) thanks for the kind offer mate, I don't think there is much more that can be done but if you want to drop across for a cuppa you are most welcome, there is always a bed for you too.

Iain, the girls seem to be taking the fires in their stride, they are just coiled up in a relaxed pose. They take less looking after than your neddies, they don't kick either.

Obviously we are still safe. Tonight is quite cool (jumper weather) but the winds seem to be gusting now and then ranging from the East around to the North West. We are constantly keeping watch.

Pumping water from the dam for the garden and keeping long hours chews into woodworking time but I am getting some done slowly.

The two photos show my temporary workshop and the redgum and mountainash tray I am making to be raffled at the Tolmie Tavern in aid of the fire effort.

[RETIRED]

No cobwebs, floor space and a nice view. Can't be Robs workshop.

[ernknot]

I wonder how many greenies and tree huggers are up there saving the trees?????
Scammander in the south east of Tasmania copped it last night, lots of houses gone, could be up to 23 they say. This is bloody awful. The undergrowth here in the south is pretty thick. It is unsually lush, even fruit trees are carrying more fruit than normal. One of my neighbours has started cutting hay and says he has to really give it to the tractor to cut through. I feel for those people up there in the beautiful NE Vic mountain side. I feel for anyone caught up in this nightmare and hope they get through it OK. The rotten part is that summer has only just started.