Bush Fires in Australia kill 14 today could be up to 40

[wazza]

Whilst the UK is smothered in snow and ice, Australia has raging bush fires in many states , Queensland still has ongoing flooding issues.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25 ... 77,00.html

Old Mother Nature is taking it out on a few locations this week.

[jackspratt]

Please also refer to post:

http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/v ... 60#p148660

wazza, I am not sure OMN has a lot to do with this. More like Greedy Human Beings causing accelerated global warming.

[Bandung_Dero]

This was a time bomb waiting to go off. Bloody greenies and social engineers not allowing forestry rangers carry out controlled burning of vegetation debris on an annual basis is a recipe for disaster.

I know there is a ---- fight in Western Australia every year between CALM (The government body responsible for trying to keep the forests clean) and do gooders who just appear to want to see one raging inferno every 5 years or so.

Bloody slow learners.

[wazza]

Now 50 Dead , 640 homes destroyed and still counting

Quiet sad, especially in these economic times, they need a natural disaster like they need a hole in the head.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25 ... 77,00.html

[jackspratt]

Now 65 dead

[saint]

sorry for peoples loss , but is this not a situation that happens more frequently these days ? nothing to do with climate change though !!!!!!

[wazza]

84 and counting, entire towns wiped out,

[wazza]

Pict copied from www.news.com,au

[jepp]

A lot of Aussies may remember Brian Naylor reporter and news reader. He and his wife perished in the fire.

[Kevro]

Some media photos from the area

http://www.news.com.au/gallery/0,23607, ... 44,00.html

http://www.news.com.au/gallery/0,23607, ... 42,00.html

http://www.news.com.au/gallery/0,23607, ... 38,00.html

http://www.news.com.au/gallery/0,23607, ... 21,00.html

http://www.news.com.au/gallery/0,23607, ... 20,00.html

Kevro

[Watson.]

Terrible events, now 84 people died and 750 homes destroyed, it is very sad. However what is worse, many fires are started by arsonists. Over half of the 20,000 to 30,000 bush fires a year are thought to be the work of arsonists! What a poor reflection on humanity that is.

[beer monkey]

Just watched Kevin Rudd being asked about what he felt when he visited some areas....he couldn't speak and seemed like he broke down and sure he started crying but the report went off...don't know a thing about him but from that 30 seconds what i saw of him i thought he was one genuine guy.
All those homes and lifetime possessions gone....hard to imagine loosing every thing you got even down to the smallest of items, and not forgetting all those lifes lost also.

[wazza]

BM

They are saying its a once in a century bush fire and its unparralel ( spelling ) in any comparison.

Jebb confirmed that the 1 day cricket match this week will see the proceeds to the victims and survivors.

I have no doubt that Aussies will rally to the cause here and help their fellow compatriates in their time of need, like they have done so for the last 100 years or so


To those who lost loved ones and relatives,

RIP

To those arsonist who have been identified , may u burn in hell for your actions

[westerby]

Just been watching it on the BBC News tonight. It's an awful thing to happen. Did you see the firemen that narrowly escaped the inferno when it went over the top of the fire engine! Scary stuff.

Are the Aussies running a donation line or anything?

[wazza]

108 deceased as at 0545 hrs Thai Time Monday

Westers there are many donations and fund raising being made available for people to donate etc

Red Cross - are in need of blood donations , this would apply Australia wide and urgent blood donations airfreighted to where they are needed - Victorian Hospitals etc

The Salvos ( Salvation Army ) have this:

"People wishing to donate money should call "13 Salvos "or visit website www.salvation army.org. au"

I've been at the sharp end of some natural disasters and I assure you the Ozzie motto " Thank God for the Salvos" was a welcome phrase. Forget the religious side of this , these people get down and dirty when it counts.

"More than 250 Salvation Army and 500 Red Cross volunteers worked rotating rosters at the weekend to deliver about 12,500 meals to firefighters and refugees " just an example

Nice to see the Brits chipping in also.

[rufus]

The fact that some ba*****s have deliberately lit some of these fires is unbelievable. I am against capital punishment, but in this case I could be persuaded.
My best friend in Oz is a Country Fire Authority volunteer. He and his crew put their lives on the line everytime something like this happens.

[Philrjones]

Now 126 confirmed dead and fears the number could rise to 200. Horrific.

One arsonist has been caught - responsible for bushfires in NSW, not the Vic ones. He's being held in custody and refused bail. Army has been called in to help sort out. I hope they've been given the ok to shoot arsonists on sight!

[jackspratt]

A quote taken from ABC news:

The Country Fire Authority (CFA) says the fire index during the day was about 300 and normally a reading of 50 would be considered extreme.

[Bandung_Dero]

Just been speaking to my Mum, it has been reported that two have been caught now. A middle aged man and 15 year old boy, both could be charged with murder.

[jackspratt]

Mum may have got the wrong handle BD - maybe watching too much Today Tonight or A Current Affair.

Both fires were in NSW, where there hasn't been any fatalities. The fire lit by the middle aged man was put out, and the one by the 15 yo was as a result of a small explosion - also quickly put out.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009 ... ion=justin