[OT] Australia burns!

[Krug]

Hope all is well for all aussie Enworlders.

 

[Eternalknight]

Thanks guys, I got in touch with one of my mates in Bright (near the victorian fires) and he is ok. One down, three to go....

 

[Agback]

What is going on in Canberra?

Well, we've had fires in the National Parks west of here for about ten days (one of the regulars from the RuneQuest game I'm in has missed two Friday nights running, off in Namaji National Park with the VBFB).

Yesterday, driven by strong westerly and nor-westerly winds, the fires joined up and blew into Canberra. About 400 houses in the western, southern, and northern suburbs have been destroyed, plus at least two high schools, the RSPCA animal shelter, Mt Stomlo Observatory, a sewage treatment works, a water pumping station, the centre that used to make insulin and other serum products, at least one fire station, etc, etc. Three people have been confirmed dead so far, and thousands have been evacuated. Many suburbs are without electricity, water, running sewers, and 'phones.

Yesterday I was at a wedding reception in the Southern Cross Club in Woden (get out your maps), where proceedings were overshadowed by a magnificent view of a wall of fire racing down the slopes of Mount Taylor about 2 km away. And festivities were somewhat subdued by the MC occasionally issuing updates of which areas had been put under fire alert: after each of which guests would leave.

My RuneQuest GM had to evacuate and is staying at my house. Visibility is about 1000m through the smoke, and blackened gum leaves are falling from the sky, here about 12km from the nearest fire. The government has declared a state of emergency, giving dictatorial powers to the Alternative Territory Controller.

The official information is at <http://www.esb.act.gov.au/media/bushfire.htm>.

Regards,


Agback

 

[Terraism]

Gads... nature can be an amazing thing, but sometimes... best of luck to all of those suffering from this.

 

[Eternalknight]

Well, we've had fires in the National Parks west of here for about ten days (one of the regulars from the RuneQuest game I'm in has missed two Friday nights running, off in Namaji National Park with the VBFB).

Yesterday, driven by strong westerly and nor-westerly winds, the fires joined up and blew into Canberra. About 400 houses in the western, southern, and northern suburbs have been destroyed, plus at least two high schools, the RSPCA animal shelter, Mt Stomlo Observatory, a sewage treatment works, a water pumping station, the centre that used to make insulin and other serum products, at least one fire station, etc, etc. Three people have been confirmed dead so far, and thousands have been evacuated. Many suburbs are without electricity, water, running sewers, and 'phones.

Yesterday I was at a wedding reception in the Southern Cross Club in Woden (get out your maps), where proceedings were overshadowed by a magnificent view of a wall of fire racing down the slopes of Mount Taylor about 2 km away. And festivities were somewhat subdued by the MC occasionally issuing updates of which areas had been put under fire alert: after each of which guests would leave.

My RuneQuest GM had to evacuate and is staying at my house. Visibility is about 1000m through the smoke, and blackened gum leaves are falling from the sky, here about 12km from the nearest fire. The government has declared a state of emergency, giving dictatorial powers to the Alternative Territory Controller.

The official information is at <http://www.esb.act.gov.au/media/bushfire.htm>.

Regards,


Agback

And, to add to all of this, things are expected to get worse before they get any better. Tempreatures are expected to climb into the high 30's (centigrade) tomorrow.

Agback, hope you and all your friends and family are alright and remain so.

 

[Agback]

And, to add to all of this, things are expected to get worse before they get any better. Tempreatures are expected to climb into the high 30's (centigrade) tomorrow.

It was about 38 when I picked my GM up last night (and 44 at his house, about 150 metres from the fire front in Lyons). Things eased about 8pm when a cool change came through and the winds swung sou-easterly. But it's blowing from the west again now, and freshening. Visibility outside my house is down to about 500m owing to smoke haze, and cinders are falling on the roof and lawns.

We are not expecting another cool change until Tuesday or Tuesday night, and only the most wildly optimistic and the most wildly pessimistic dare suggest that possible thunderstorms will come to pass. Also, some of the volunteer bush fire brigades from around the district that have been helping out have had to be called home to protect their own home towns. The worst is perhaps not over.

Regards,


Agback

 

[Eternalknight]

It was about 38 when I picked my GM up last night (and 44 at his house, about 150 metres from the fire front in Lyons). Things eased about 8pm when a cool change came through and the winds swung sou-easterly. But it's blowing from the west again now, and freshening. Visibility outside my house is down to about 500m owing to smoke haze, and cinders are falling on the roof and lawns.

We are not expecting another cool change until Tuesday or Tuesday night, and only the most wildly optimistic and the most wildly pessimistic dare suggest that possible thunderstorms will come to pass. Also, some of the volunteer bush fire brigades from around the district that have been helping out have had to be called home to protect their own home towns. The worst is perhaps not over.

Regards,


Agback

what have the fire brigade been like? There were a few Canberrans complaining on the news earlier that they weren't doing enough. I find this hard to believe however.

Just over a week ago we had fires within 10km of where I live, with smoke and ash everywhere, so I know what you are going through.

 

[Eternalknight]

A quick update: The wind is expected to cahnge direction within half an hour in canberra and is also expected to get stronger.

For the north east of victoria, tomorrow is supposed to be 39 degrees and windy. A change is due to pass through tomorrow evening, though no rain is expected, and there is the possibilty of dry thunderstorms. This is also supposed to affect Canberra on Tuesday.

Up to 25% of homes in Canberra are without power, gas, phones and sewrage facilities.

 

[maransreth]

This may sound rude or offensive and I apologise for any misunderstanding of my question, but do you guys in NSW, ACT and VIC actually do any backburning or that months before the summer seasons?

Yes you can't help against scumnuts from lighting the fires, but they could be lessened if proper precautions were in place months beforehand. In SE Qld we havent had any especially bad fires since I have been back (2000) and that could be attributed to the backburning and that done in the months leading up to summer. We still do have fires, but they don't rage out of control.

Just a question is all, no offense meant and hopefully none taken.

 

[Eternalknight]

This may sound rude or offensive and I apologise for any misunderstanding of my question, but do you guys in NSW, ACT and VIC actually do any backburning or that months before the summer seasons?

Yes you can't help against scumnuts from lighting the fires, but they could be lessened if proper precautions were in place months beforehand. In SE Qld we havent had any especially bad fires since I have been back (2000) and that could be attributed to the backburning and that done in the months leading up to summer. We still do have fires, but they don't rage out of control.

Just a question is all, no offense meant and hopefully none taken.

In Victoria, yes. I have a friend in the fire brigade that has spent most of the summer doing just that. And these weren't deliberatly lit, it was lightning.