It's just strange how cruel nature can be to us, as well as some of those people who deliberatly started fires.
I give my sorrows to those who have lost family and friends during this ordeal. I do hope the fires are out very soon.
Glad to hear you're safe though. Just keep youself aware of the fires. I honestly can't imagine being in your situation, but I'm sure it's devastating nonetheless.
I wish you and other victims safety. Again, it is good to hear from you.
--- In SkunkworksAMA_at_yahoogroups.com, "longtom2222" <bigverybadtom@...> wrote:
>
> 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 - 21:47:12 CST