My condolences to everyone who suffered because of this. :(
Long Tom.
--- In SkunkworksAMA_at_yahoogroups.com, Scrapper Black Dragon
<scrapperbd_at_...> wrote:
>
> I apologise for being off-topic and not being as participant as I'd
like in recent history, but real life occasionally gets in the way.
>
> I've been spending time cleaning gutters and yards, clearing any
little collections of leaf litter, dry grass or other fuel, storing
drums of grey water (we are on tight water restrictions, so water is
a valuable commodity). I live in the suburbs, but they have cinder
storm alerts expected for this week. I didn't expect (I don't think
anyone did) that while living in the suburbs of a major city
(Melbourne, Victoria), bush fires would threaten to wipe out our
homes. The fires have come within 2km (1.5 miles) of my girlfriend's
house. Colleagues have had similar close calls, with houses only
blocks away being burnt. There are talks that if the fire moves
northwards, the main gas and water supplies to the city may be cut -
that could be interesting! :-/
>
> It all started about a week ago - record high temperatures of
47.9oC (~118oF) - with a 45kmh (30mph) wind. It was so hot, it made
your eyes smart. Human skin starts to burn at 50oC - this was only
2oC short of that mark! You had to shield your face from the wind.
Some fires were accidental and a few were deliberately lit, but the
results are devastating.
>
> The extent of the devastation has been vast. This is one of the
biggest bush fires by area on record in Australia. Highest loss of
life to fires (or any other single event) in Australia and they
haven't even accounted for everyone as yet. Last count was over 180
dead, and they haven't even cleaned up one of the major townships
(Marysville) that was razed. They are expecting the death toll to
exceed 300. Then there are those who have lost there homes and have
nothing more than the clothes they are standing in. The estimates
are around 2000 homes have been lost with about 9,000 people homeless
as a result. They estimate tens of thousands of animals have been
killed.
>
> The fire front, with the wind, had been travelling up to 100kmh
(60mph). If you can imagine standing on the side of a road watching
a car on the freeway - the time it takes to come into view and pass
you is the amount of time you would have to escape the fire front.
If you look at the images in the link below, I think you agree that
would be truly terrifying. The heat was equivalent of 20kW. That's
equivlant 10 'bar radiators' - imagine that on your skin - over your
entire body.
>
> They have fire fighters from interstate and even over seas (New
Zealand) helping out, along with the army and as much heavy equipment
as they can muster.
>
> A bloke I went to school with, Geoff Grady, and his partner Patrick
Jennings didn't escape the blaze. I am friends with his sister and
used to work with his father and know the whole family. They've
taken it pretty hard. Patrick's parents are currently living with
the Gradys since their home was also destroyed. The two articles
linked below give good account of their situation. More recently to
the articles, the men's remains have been found as of the weekend.
>
> For photos of the fires and their destruction:
>
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/02/bushfires_in_victoria_austral
i.html
>
> Two short articles about the bloke (Geoff Grady) I went to school
with and his partner (Patrick Jennings). The first article
accurately conveys the shock.
> http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25051472-2862,00.html
> http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25052175-
5018722,00.html
>
> For further reading or pictures, do a Google search for Victorian
Bush Fire - the first 10 pages of every major newspaper has been full
of articles and pictures for the last week.
>
> It is all pretty messed up, really.
>
> Scrapper, Black Dragon, "May you live in interesting times." -
Chinese Curse.
>
>
> Make Yahoo!7 your homepage and win a trip to the Quiksilver
Pro. Find out more
>
Received on Mon Feb 16 2009 - 19:37:54 CST