Holy crap!!!

[ozzie]

The temperature hit just over 47 deg today, that's 117 deg F, spent most of the day in the pool with the kids.
Now we have some of the worst bush fires raging out of control through out our state.
Prayers to all the firemen and emergency workers fighting the fires.

[shredd]

The temperature hit just over 47 deg today, that's 117 deg F, spent most of the day in the pool with the kids.
Now we have some of the worst bush fires raging out of control through out our state.
Prayers to all the firemen and emergency workers fighting the fires.
BRUTAL. Sounds like the fires California had last year.
There's few people in the world with bigger b***s than firefighters. I admire them without reserve.
I hope things turn around in Oz before it gets too bad.

I'd hate to think that the devastation would be bad enough that you couldn't get around to sending me a cute little sheila. :R

[Tingly]

In Australia?

The BBC showed some footage of fires in Australia that was just mind blowing...

[freya181]

those damn arsonists...

[ozzie]

In Australia?

The BBC showed some footage of fires in Australia that was just mind blowing...

Yes Tingly, I live in Victoria, so far 100's of homes lost and 25 confirmed dead and the toll is expected to be over 40 people.
The sad thing is, some of the confirmed have been young families.

[ozzie]

Latest figures, over 650 houses lost and 65 confirmed deaths so far.

[Laws]

This is terrible.

Laws

[shredd]

This is terrible.
This IS terrible. As of this morning, the death toll was nearing 100 and the fires aren't under control yet.

It'd be easy to blame global warming, but it's just as likely a lightning strike or even an arsonist. In the middle of a years-long draught, it wouldn't take much.

This also reminds me of something Dan Rather once said, right on live TV. It was during those horrible Mississippi River floods that went for a whole summer, about late 90's. One newscaster was saying what an awful disaster it was, and Rather looked wryly at him and said "isn't it interesting how a natural disaster is only a disaster if there's people there?"
Point being, the earth has been doing floods and fires and earthquakes and forest fires and tsunamis and blizzards and hailstorms and and and, for millions of years...it's when it happens right on top of people that it becomes a "disaster". These fires in Oz would be nothing more than a natural occurance, except they're raging through towns, burning down homes, and killing people. It's tragic.
-------
ADDED:
I just spent some time looking at pics of the devastation there. It's insane. I don't know if any of you pups are old enough to remember the Yellowstone fire (I lived right down the road at the time) but the devastation was similar. What a mess. :eek:

[ozzie]

Latest figures, 181 confirmed dead, authorities are predicting over 300 deaths and well over 1,000 homes.

I live near the Churchill fires which threatened the state power station and a gas plant which supplies gas to most of the southern states.

Breaking news:

A MAN arrested in relation to a bushfire that killed at least 21 people will appear in court later today.

A 39-year-old Churchill man will appear in the Morwell Magistrates Court this afternoon after he was arrested in Churchill late this morning.

Police have questioned the man in relation to the Churchill fires that killed at least 21 people.

No charges have yet been laid.

Police say he will be taken to court via an underground tunnel from Morwell police station.

The court hearing will be closed.

[freya181]

i'm still assuming arson.