Fires in Australia, everyone OK?

[mitchedwards]

Are all our Australian members OK?

[English Paul]

It must be a very distressing time. Here's hoping everyone is OK.
It was very saddening to watch this on the news this morning.

[ScottA]

I was just thinking this. I hope everyone is safe and accounted for.

[toys2cool]

I was reading this last night,that's freakin scary and sad

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

I am okay...Will is the only one in the same state as them.

There are massive floods in Dave's state.

It is pretty devastating, and I really feel for those who are suffering.

[Meule]

Glad to hear you're OK Cat. Dave's in the danger zone? With all that has happened to him already, this is the last thing he needs.

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

No, I don't think Dave is in danger Thomas...

[thunderbolt]

glad you guys and gals are ok. BTW, what the heck happened to Dave again?

[UnderdogDJLSW]

Very sad losses there. My heart goes out to anyone hurt by this.

[Sowth]

Hi MM Friends,

Thanks for asking after us, and sending the kind thoughts. I'm in Melbourne and it's been a very tough week.

My family is safe and sound, we live in the inner suburbs and we're not in any danger. Unfortunately I have a friend who has lost two young cousins, and we have several other friends who live in the affected areas. One good mate (who I meet through toy collecting 15 years ago) lives in an area that was last night listed as being under 'urgent threat' by the fire authorities. He has made it through the night though and depending on how the wind blows he should be OK.

I work at a University and we found out today that we have lost staff to the fire, we also have 1200 students living in the affected areas so we are hoping against the statistics that they have all made it through. There are many guys from work who have property in the affected areas, and they have been off fighting the fires with the local volunteer brigades.

It has been surreal in Melbourne over the last two weeks, we've had drought for 10 years and then last week we had four days in a row of extreme heat (44c+) which dried everything to a crisp. Then on Saturday last, the fire took hold. Even in the city the sky was a terrible dirty orange glow, and the heat was unlike anything I've experienced, 47 degrees and oppressive, the hottest day ever recorded in Melbourne. I was at my parent's place with my kids when the winds started howling, it was just a ferocius and swirling wind storm. We just looked at the trees and the sky and said God help anyone in the bush today.

Shortly thereafter the news radio started to report fires in several spots, by that night there were 400 across the state. The talkback radio was difficult to listen to, I heard one young woman calling from a house with eight children under 10 years old sheltering in it, she had no way to get out and the fire was 500 metres away. She was pleading for help and it was gut-wrenching to hear. I stopped listening for a while, I'm not a soft guy but I'm a dad and it has stuck with me all week. I found out later that they survived, apparently her brother rescued the whole lot on a tractor just before the house burnt down.

I've spoken with friends from the affected area, one has a brother who is a policeman and the couple of stories she told me have numbed me since. The stories are simply tragic, I'm not a weepy guy but they just make you want to drop down and cry. People who have died trying to help family, their neighbours or strangers, and other tragedies that I will not haunt you guys with here. There are roads and highways littered with cars driven by people who tried to run as the fire hit, cars and motobikes that exploded as they drove, or crashed in the smoke and chaos, whole families etc. This is tough to write, it has been an extremely distressing week.

Anyway thanks to all those who have thought about the poor souls caught up in this thing, there as been an overwhelming outpouring of support here for the victims and the firefighters that has been incredibly heart-warming. There has been a lot of support internationally, and I'm sure those affected would appreciate it all.

Cheers guys,
Will

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

Will I am so sorry to hear your devasting news :( My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.

[saildog]

The talkback radio was difficult to listen to, I heard one young woman calling from a house with eight children under 10 years old sheltering in it, she had no way to get out and the fire was 500 metres away. She was pleading for help and it was gut-wrenching to hear. I stopped listening for a while, I'm not a soft guy but I'm a dad and it has stuck with me all week. I found out later that they survived, apparently her brother rescued the whole lot on a tractor just before the house burnt down.

I'd like to buy that fellow a beer.

[Sowth]

Thanks so much Cat,

We're all fine, it's just been a terrible, terrible week for this neck of the woods. I've reached that point where you struggle to hear any more harrowing stories, it reminds me of that time a few days after 9/11 when you could not watch that footage of the planes anymore. The media has deliberately stopped reporting the death toll (after it went past 180 or so) it was just too distressing hearing every few hours of more deaths. They'll update it when they've had more time to get into some of the horror areas and get something near a final figure.

People have started looking for good news stories now, and luckily there are heaps of them too. Narrow escapes, incredible bravery and generousity etc,etc. If you haven't seen it yet the Koala drinking water by hand from the CFA (Country Fire Authority) Volunteer is pretty cool and has come to symbolise the spirit of survival for the residents; human and animal :-)

Cheers all,
Will

PS. Koalas usually don't drink water, they get their moisture from leaves, plus they rarely interact with people. This one drank 3 bottles of water.