2009 Victorian Bush Fires. Death Toll edging up to 300

[That_Australian_Kid]

On the 7th of February 2009 a series of bush fires, including 31 main fires, ignited in Victoria, Australia. So far the fires have resulted in at least 173 deaths, and 78 people have been admitted to hospitals across Victoria with burns, at least 20 in a critical condition, and 9 on life support or in intensive care.

More than 1000 homes have been destroyed. The fires have been lit by various sources including arson, cigarette butts and lightning strike.

The fires occurred during a heat wave, breaking dozens of temperature records in Victoria.

Melbourne's all-time weather record has been broken and the city is sweltering under the twin effects of high temperatures and hot north-west winds.

The city hit 46.4 degrees at 3.04pm - the hottest day since the Bureau of Meteorology started keeping records 150 years ago.

The previous record was 45.6, set on January 13, 1939 - a day otherwise known as Black Friday.

"I've got a massive spreadsheet here of maximum temperatures and it doesn't mean anything any more. The whole thing's gonna have to be rewritten," BoM senior forecaster Terry Ryan said.

"Most places around the state will break all-time records."

The town of Avalon, 50km south-west of Melbourne also broke its hottest-day record, reaching 47.9 degrees at 2.50pm.

Wind gusts of up to 82kmh have also been reported at Melbourne Airport, where it was a sweltering 46.8 degrees at 3.03pm.

Other top temperatures around the state include 47.6 at Hopetoun airport (2.30pm), 47.1 at Geelong airport (2.40pm), 46.8 at Laverton (2.41pm), 46.4 at Longerenong in the Wimmera (2.30pm), 46 at Mildura (2.35pm) and 46.3 at Swan Hill (2.30pm).

The temperature also topped 45 at locations including Horsham, Nhill, Scoresby and Stawell.

Melbourne's peak also breaks the previous February record of 43.2, set on February 8, 1983 - remembered by many as the day of a massive dust storm.

Today's record is also hotter than Ash Wednesday, on February 16, 1983.

The highest recorded temperature the Victoria has ever experienced was on January 7, 1906, when the mercury hit 50.7C in Mildura.

Relief, however, is on the way with the cool change reported to have passed through Warnambool and Port Fairy in Victoria's south-west.

This should put it on target to reach the city about 6pm, Mr Ryan said.

Temperatures are expected to drop by around 15 degrees in the first hour, though little rain is expected.

No relief from the wind is expected at all as strong gusts, albeit from the opposite direction, will accompany the cool change.

These fires have been the deadliest fires in Australian history, over the Ash Wednesday fires on the 16th of february 1963. Within 12 hours, more than 180 fires had ignited and fanned by winds of up to 110km/h (68miles) had spread across the states of SA and VIC, these are the Ash Wednesday fires.



Please keep the survivors and mourners of these fires in your thoughts and prayers.



rip.

 

[That_Australian_Kid]

oh yeah, i forgot to mention:


My two favourite radio stations combined forces today to do a telepledge thingy to raise money for the red cross who are helping the survivors.

Australians pledged over two million dollars! Can you believe it! When a state is in need, we arent just states any more, we're a country who are willing to help out those in need.

 

[chisnpeke]

I was thinking about you Australians and wondering if you were ok. Those fires are horrific. People burned alive in their cars....one of the worst things I can think of.

I heard they suspect some of them are arsons. That just makes me ill. Stay safe!

 

[Smiley.Socks]

I heared that some of these first were started delibratley (sp?).
I think that's disgusting, when you put the outcome into perspective. The Australian Prime Minister called it "Mass Murder".

 

[marypops!]

I remember watching a TV show about how Sydney could be affected by a firestorm someday in the future, and they said that about 90% of all wildfires are caused by arsonists.

It's very terrible. There's also been a flood in Queensland I believe, and crocodiles have got into the flooded area.

 

[pigletgirl]

So so devastating! Prayers to the australian people.

 

[That_Australian_Kid]

I remember watching a TV show about how Sydney could be affected by a firestorm someday in the future, and they said that about 90% of all wildfires are caused by arsonists.

It's very terrible. There's also been a flood in Queensland I believe, and crocodiles have got into the flooded area.

correctomundo

FLoods and storms in QLD
19 degres temps in NSW
Fires in vic

I heared that some of these first were started delibratley (sp?).
I think that's disgusting, when you put the outcome into perspective. The Australian Prime Minister called it "Mass Murder".

They were.
I cant believe people actually want to kill people like this.
and burn down houses and animals and GAH ITS SO STUIPID!

and they think the death toll is edging towards 300

 

[chisnpeke]

correctomundo

FLoods and storms in QLD
19 degres temps in NSW
Fires in vic




They were.
I cant believe people actually want to kill people like this.
and burn down houses and animals and GAH ITS SO STUIPID!

and they think the death toll is edging towards 300

That's so sad. Those poor poor people. It's even sadder that a lot of this was intentional.

 

[bananda]

its horrible. and people are still deliberately starting fires.
i had no idea about the floods in qld.

 

[chisnpeke]

its horrible. and people are still deliberately starting fires.
i had no idea about the floods in qld.

STILL? Oh my goodness. That really just makes me want to be physically sick. It's so sad. All of the people and animals. I saw a picture of a koala getting water from a fireman and it just broke my heart. How devastating.

 

[bananda]

apparently the smoke has blown all the way to new zealand.
and i have friends in adelaide that say its not as hot there anymore which is good

 

[chisnpeke]

I went to the news.com.au and the front page had a family who all died.

Two sisters died together trying to save their horses.

I'm looking at all of these poor people who should still be here. It crushes me.

 

[That_Australian_Kid]

its horrible. and people are still deliberately starting fires.
i had no idea about the floods in qld.

I cant believe it!

Is there even anything left to light or catch on fire???

 

[bananda]

I cant believe it!

Is there even anything left to light or catch on fire???

it might be in different states but im pretty sure thats what i heard. its disgusting

 

[That_Australian_Kid]

rrr! And looters!
*** WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!
ITS SO ****ING RIDICULOUS! They have nothing! And you take what was still there. THESE PEOPLE DIED! THEY ARE STEALING FROM DEAD PEOPLE! HOW ****ING DISRESPECTFUL CAN YOU GET???

Atleast some people out there actually care and are digging deep to help those in need.

The Red Cross said this morning its bushfire appeal had raised $31 million so far, not including corporate and government donations. About $6 million was raised at last night's Australia-New Zealand cricket match in Adelaide.

It was reported that Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue and Natalie Imbruglia could team up for a benefit concert in London for bushfire victims. It was also reported that the Queen was planning a private donation.

Mr Rudd pledged an extra $5 million and promised unlimited money to rebuild communities "brick by brick". He rejected Liberal fears he would use the disaster to get his $42 billion economic stimulus package through Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Country Fire Authority was forced to defend itself after residents of Kinglake criticised emergency services for not giving them enough time to escape the inferno.

Tammy Reece, from Kinglake West, said she was away from her home when the fire broke out, but her partner and six children at the house were unaware of the threat. "No one came past and said, 'Get out'. They should have got around and should have done more," she said.

CFA chief fire officer Russell Rees defended the firefighters and the policy of encouraging residents to "stay and defend" their properties. He said the policy was based on sound evidence.

"People need to understand that a late departure is the most deadly. You may not receive a warning and you may not have a fire truck at your front gate."

And what really gets me is that I have been to all these small, and not so small, towns! My dad does volunteer work at the bendigo tramway museum and we drive down every now and again, he goes more often. I know people who live in these towns and Im seriously hoping that they are alright.

WHole towns just disappear. Its insane.

(this is kinda ironic, cus im posting on a disney board, But a 19 and 22 year old girls went back to there house and one of the only things left was a ceramic model of pluto. Theyre parents had died. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25038336-2702,00.html)

 

[That_Australian_Kid]

its horrible. and people are still deliberately starting fires.
i had no idea about the floods in qld.

it might be in different states but im pretty sure thats what i heard. its disgusting

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25037412-421,00.html

Beechworth.
Home of the Beechworth bakery.

The best place in the world to get a caramel slice.

I also got a cool doormat from there.

 

[chisnpeke]

rrr! And looters!
*** WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!
ITS SO ****ING RIDICULOUS! They have nothing! And you take what was still there. THESE PEOPLE DIED! THEY ARE STEALING FROM DEAD PEOPLE! HOW ****ING DISRESPECTFUL CAN YOU GET???

Atleast some people out there actually care and are digging deep to help those in need.


And what really gets me is that I have been to all these small, and not so small, towns! My dad does volunteer work at the bendigo tramway museum and we drive down every now and again, he goes more often. I know people who live in these towns and Im seriously hoping that they are alright.

WHole towns just disappear. Its insane.

(this is kinda ironic, cus im posting on a disney board, But a 19 and 22 year old girls went back to there house and one of the only things left was a ceramic model of pluto. Theyre parents had died. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25038336-2702,00.html)

Looters also came to New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit. I have no idea why people want to be in the midst of devastation and take what is left from people who have lost everything.

 

[That_Australian_Kid]

Looters also came to New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit. I have no idea why people want to be in the midst of devastation and take what is left from people who have lost everything.

Its so stupid!

 

[chisnpeke]

Its so stupid!

Yea, it is.

 

[marypops!]

http://www.cracked.com/article_16708_6-your-favorite-things-that-are-secretly-making-you-fat.html