Heavy Bushfires in Victoria

Sir Canvas Corpsey · 02-08-2009, 12:53 AM

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...24-661,00.html

This is the latest on the online info that I find straight off the bat with google, however the numbers that report are way off now. There is a death count of 65 people and they estimate it will reach into the triple digits, at least two towns (one being Marysville) have had almost all structures incinerated effectively wiping the town off the map (however the mass of the population has been safely evacuated to refugee sites).

I live about 45 minutes away from the center of Melbourne city (via train), and yet around 15-30 minutes (also via train) away from me is Healesville and similar areas that were at risk from the fires not too long ago. That should give you some scope on how far the fire can reach.

There are reports of arsonists revisiting sites where the fire has been stopped and attempting to relight these catastrophic infernos. A great deal of the fires are believed to have been purposefully lit and there appears to be no rain in sight for the next week at least.

Queensland has been flooding and while there is ample water there to fight the fires, there are not enough to water bomber helicopters and planes to make effective us of this. In the past few hours we've heard at LEAST 5 planes/helicopters (most likely water bombers) pass over our house.

This is the information i've basically taken from watching the news on TV, I'll try and keep this updated and I ask you all to offer your hopes and/or prayers for the people still trapped in the fire zones, the people who have died or who are mourning loves ones, the now orphaned children and the people who have lost everything except what they are standing in right now.

Maxim_Macabre · 02-08-2009, 02:06 AM

Saturday was a bitch huh?

Sir Canvas Corpsey · 02-08-2009, 02:37 AM

Yeah and it's been too long since I heard from you Max, but Myspace is a better place than this thread.

The death toll (last time I checked) has risen by one however there is a large of section of housing and estates that they havent been able to reach yet.

Cicero · 02-08-2009, 03:28 AM

84 confirmed dead now, and they haven't even got access to half the places that have been razed to the ground to do the further body count. It's so completely fucked.

My boyfriend's stepdad was working in Kinglake yesterday and only just got away in time.

Sir Canvas Corpsey · 02-08-2009, 03:28 PM

Over 100 are confirmed dead as of this morning, I also found out the fire got very close to a good friend of mine's, I was absoloutely terrified for their life, they were up Healesville way in badger creek territory.

Cicero · 02-08-2009, 05:04 PM

I'm glad your friend got through it alright, Sir Canvas. My aunt and uncle in Yackandandah were fighting the fire on their property all night after the southerly wind sent the fire right in their direction. Finally got a call 7am this morning and they're okay. Another aunt and uncle lived just 5km from the fires in Bendigo, they're also fine.

I think everyone in Victoria will have known at least one person affected by it. The scale of it all is just massive.

HumanePain · 02-08-2009, 08:54 PM

Such a tragedy. i wonder if California can send experienced crews and equipment down under to help you all?

Sir Canvas Corpsey · 02-08-2009, 11:02 PM

No idea HP< however the death toll is now at 131 and they were showing footage of the town of Marysville, the streets are basically empty, everyhting is just reduced to ash and rubble except the Bakery and the Motel and a car were left basically untouched somehow.

Cicero · 02-08-2009, 11:20 PM

Half the state will need rebuilding.

It's funny, people thought it was sensationalism when the press started talking about the state going up in flames last week. Now it literally has.