Fires and floods in Australia

Fires and floods in Australia (Full Version)

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Vendaval -> Fires and floods in Australia (2/9/2009 8:22:43 AM)
The reports from Australia are that the death toll is climbing and some of the fires may have been deliberately set, other areas of the country are battling floods. Hoping that our members down under, their families, friends and homes are all safe and not in harm's way. "(CNN) -- Investigators in Australia believe some of the deadly wildfires ravaging dry southeastern bushland may have been set deliberately, a conclusion prompting Australia's prime minister to call such acts "mass murder." Officials in Victoria state have launched arson investigations into some of the blazes, which have killed least 156 people, decimated massive spans of land and left thousands of people homeless." http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/09/australia.wildfires/index.html#cnnSTCText "Northern Australia, on the other hand, is grappling with a much different problem. Sixty percent of the state of Queensland was flooded, officials reported, and residents were warned to be on the lookout for crocodiles in urban areas." http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/09/australia.wildfires.survivor/index.html

peppermint -> RE: Fires and floods in Australia (2/9/2009 8:26:23 AM)
I just saw the fires on TV. They said you can't even outrun the flames in a car. I do hope they find the person or persons who deliberately set some of the fires. They are mass murderers.

slaveboyforyou -> RE: Fires and floods in Australia (2/9/2009 8:37:30 AM)
I'll never understand why someone would deliberately start a wildfire. I remember about 10 years ago, we had a volunteer fireman setting fires than calling the fires in. I guess he wanted to be a hero. It's just disgusting that someone would risk the lives and property of other human beings to get their jollies.

Vendaval -> RE: Fires and floods in Australia (2/9/2009 8:39:32 AM)
Arson is a strange one and anyone who causes death and injuries from such actions is committing assault and mass murder IMO.

Aneirin -> RE: Fires and floods in Australia (2/9/2009 8:43:39 AM)
Yeah, when they do find these murderous arsonists, tie the buggers to a tree in the path of the fires so they can 'enjoy' the fruit of their labours. Douse them in a solution of alum first though, just to give them a chance.

fluffypet61 -> RE: Fires and floods in Australia (2/9/2009 8:52:25 AM)
My thoughts and prayers are with the folks in Australia. If any of you are involved or nearby, please let us know if you need anything.

Vendaval -> RE: Fires and floods in Australia (2/9/2009 7:31:19 PM)
Well, the latest word is that the Australian government is treating the whole area as a crime scene. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/us_australia_fires

MzMia -> RE: Fires and floods in Australia (2/9/2009 7:36:59 PM)
What a horrible tragedy. My thoughts and prayers for those suffering, in such a beautiful country.

TheUtopian -> RE: Fires and floods in Australia (2/9/2009 8:32:35 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: peppermint I just saw the fires on TV. They said you can't even outrun the flames in a car. I do hope they find the person or persons who deliberately set some of the fires. They are mass murderers. It looks to me like the Caliphate has placed a curse on Australia for John Howard's over-enthusiastic support/participation in/for '' The War on Terror. '' - R

ShellyD -> RE: Fires and floods in Australia (2/9/2009 8:56:51 PM)
It is strange times in Australia just now, I have friends and lived in both areas, the north ravaged by floods and the south ravaged by fires.....both resulted from extremes in weather patterns, being a cyclone up north and a heatwave and fast winds down south....I believe it is coincidence and not really part of the environmental issues we face as I believe they are a consistant temp/rain/storms etc whereas these seem to be isolated incidents and the scientists tell us it will only get worse!!!!! How much worse can it get???

slaveboyforyou -> RE: Fires and floods in Australia (2/9/2009 10:07:50 PM)
quote: How much worse can it get??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmf-HCCZYOg [:D] Sorry, I couldn't resist.

TheUtopian -> RE: Fires and floods in Australia (2/9/2009 10:14:47 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: ShellyD It is strange times in Australia just now, I have friends and lived in both areas, the north ravaged by floods and the south ravaged by fires.....both resulted from extremes in weather patterns, being a cyclone up north and a heatwave and fast winds down south....I believe it is coincidence and not really part of the environmental issues we face as I believe they are a consistant temp/rain/storms etc whereas these seem to be isolated incidents and the scientists tell us it will only get worse!!!!! How much worse can it get??? I'm telling you - When Howard capitulated, it sealed the motherland's fate. [:D] - R

MzMinx -> RE: Fires and floods in Australia (2/9/2009 10:31:05 PM)
thank you all for such kind thoughts .... I live in melbourne, the nearest large city to the fires .... it has been 7 or so years of drought in the state, and it has been the hottest january and feb on record (even though we have only started Feb) The day the fires started it was the hottest day on record 46.4 or about 115 degrees in the US scale and wind gusts over 80 k's (50 miles) ... many areas where even hotter ... The air is so dry that all the trees are dropping their leaves, which are like brittle brown paper as the trees draw what moisture there is out of them and the hot air does the rest .... the wind .. the long years of dryness and the extra ordinary heat with no humidity have all come together to make it such an extraordinary time Its hard to reconcile that the north east of Oz is flooded whilst the south east is parched .. both extremes breaking all known records ... includeing unfortunatly the sheer numbers of lost lives ... (of course we never recorded the numbers of aboriganals slaughtered in the begining of european settlement ) I would think that the sheer numbers of those made homeless in both disastrers, % wise according to population, would be up there with hurricane Katrina or perhaps even higher The temp houseing set up by the army in one area, with about 5 thousand people.. may itself be under threat as the winds have changed again, so its possable that people who have lost everything and had to run from fires may have to be moved again.

wandersalone -> RE: Fires and floods in Australia (2/10/2009 2:35:12 AM)
Yep the devastation and death toll are mind boggling. It seems like everyone I know knows of someone who has been directly affected by the fires. This is such a heartbreaking time for people. We are lucky to live in such a stunningly beautiful country but bushfires, drought and flood are a way of life for so many here.

Focus50 -> RE: Fires and floods in Australia (2/10/2009 3:03:13 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: peppermint I just saw the fires on TV. They said you can't even outrun the flames in a car. No, you can't outrun the flames with a car in fire-storm conditions. Along with the very hot, dry prevailing conditions, the predominant species of tree in Oz are some five to six hundred species of Eucalypts. Eucalyptus oil is flammable, which means even green trees will explode into fireballs when subjected to the furnace-like heat of an encroaching wildfire, thus feeding the maelstrom. As many a shell-shocked survivor noted, "It was just raining fire...." Latest official death toll stands at 173 and it seems as many died trying to flee as those who stayed to try and save their homes. Several country towns including the picturesque Marysville have been completely destroyed. I'm fortunate enough to live north of the fires (and south of the floods) but I still shudder from the TV vision - even though the camera never captures the true magnitude of a crown fire racing through a forest of eucalypts.... Focus.

CatdeMedici -> RE: Fires and floods in Australia (2/10/2009 3:23:35 AM)
What in the world is happening to Us? Is this from despair? Depression? Fear? or a pure lack of morality?

sirsholly -> RE: Fires and floods in Australia (2/10/2009 3:30:00 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: CatdeMedici What in the world is happening to Us? Is this from despair? Depression? Fear? or a pure lack of morality? failure to think of the end results of their actions? Hopefully the court system will make it very very clear. To all involved...prayers.

Vendaval -> RE: Fires and floods in Australia (2/10/2009 8:20:36 PM)
I have no idea Cat, such behavior is unfathomable to me. [>:]

BigSi2009 -> RE: Fires and floods in Australia (2/11/2009 4:16:04 PM)
I saw this: Koala Saved by Firefighter on BBC news today and thought of this thread. Hope that everyone affected by the fires is ok over there in Oz.

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