KB Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 We are used to bushfires in Victoria we get them almost every Summer, big ones too, some the size of small European countries. Yet yesterday a dangerous cocktail of up to 47C temperatures, extremely high winds and tinder dry grasslands was the powder keg that exploded across our state in what some are now saying is the worse bushfire day in our history. At it's peak there was 9 majors fires and up to 30 minor burns scattered right across the state, it still remains to be seen just how many of these were started by firebugs, but like always, there will be a few. It is still far to early for officials to give accurate numbers but they believe at least 40 people have died, over 100 homes have been destroyed, fire trucks (and at least one station) have been lost and thousands of hectares burned. Over night there has been a cool change here with a little rain so although the 9 majors fires are still raging it is hoped the change in conditions will help the men and women of our CFA, MFB, SES etc be in a position to get the upper hand on these burns. None of my friends or family (that I know of) have been affected by these fires, but I feel it is a shocking tragedy that needed reporting. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dluddy Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 Scary stuff KB... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cats Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 I saw it on the local news here in Holland. It's a real tragedy let's hope not too many lifes get involved. Carpe Diem Cats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shundi Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 Boy...reminds me of the Cali fires, except much larger...stay safe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB Posted February 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 Just an update to this. There is in fact 10 major fires raging and authorities have now confirmed 35 dead and hundreds of homes destroyed, they say it's still far to early to give a final total to the devastation as so far they have only been able to access the fringes of many of these fires. There is also news that the many fine men and women fighting these fires are being constantly hampered by arsonist coming along behind them and relighting the fires they put out. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornerstone Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 It is absolutely shocking - it came out of nowhere. An entire town has been destroyed, and 66 bodies so far. Horrific. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB Posted February 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 Yes we have just learned that Marysville has been wiped off the face of the map, my nephews in-laws owns a pub in Marysville. Still waiting on news there. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browngo1 Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 Just saw a report on this on TV. Horrific, especially if it's arson. I hope your relatives are ok and as Shundi said, stay safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trailboss Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 Sixty two dead and riseing now. So far all my brother and sister firefighters are alive with a few in hospital, some serious. They havn't called for us yet (we're 3000 klicks away). If they do I have a crew ready to go. Some pics and linkege. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/death-...027830612.htmll http://brisbanetimes.com.au/news/national/...4027817405.html http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/natio...4027816864.html http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/whole-...4027827803.html http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/natio...4027820428.html http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/natio...4027816864.html http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bushfi...3423565321.html http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/hells-...4027840608.html VIDEO. http://media.smh.com.au/?rid=45928 VIDEO Further Images: http://www.smh.com.au/news/photogallery/na...3423569062.html God help them all. Col. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
involt Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 Sorry to hear that your beautiful country is going through such a terrible time, and so many have lost so much, even their lives; but glad to hear that you, your friends and your related are well. I sympathize with you, still aware that words are useless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavilan Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 Looks like one of Melbournes most beloved newsreaders and his wife have perished in the fire. CHANNEL Nine veteran Brian Naylor and his wife Moiree have been confirmed dead in the fires at Kinglake West, Sky News reports. Grew up watching his news reports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonthebhoy Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 This is horrific. I sincerely hope that it isn't foul play. If it is it's another one of these situations that beggars belief and leaves me quite cold regarding the state of some peoples minds. My heartfelt sympathies go out to all the families who have lost loved ones. JTB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trailboss Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 (edited) The latest news story. Many Good people lie dead. AUSTRALIA has witnessed its greatest natural disaster. Worse than Black Friday. Worse than Ash Wednesday. Only in wartime has the toll of dead and wounded been greater. Last night the official death toll was 84, with at least 750 homes destroyed - 550 of those in Kinglake, north of Melbourne, and surrounding areas. And much worse is still to come. The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, said: "Hell in all its fury has visited the good people of Victoria in the last 24 hours, and many good people now lie dead; many others lie injured. "I fear in the days ahead that the news is going to be bad and, I believe, the nation needs to prepare itself as full facts become known," he said. Among the first victims identified last night were Channel Nine's former chief newsreader Brian Naylor, 78, of Kinglake West, and his wife, Moiree. Their daughter-in-law, who lived across the road, is believed to have survived with her two children. The first victim named was Peter Avola of Strathewen. And slowly, but surely, the names of the many other victims trickled in. Rae Carter of St Andrews. George Jackson of St Andrews. John and Sue Wilson, whose home at Barwidgee Creek was destroyed. Among the missing were the former Blue Heelers actor Reg Evans. The towns of Kinglake and Marysville have been wiped out as if they had been bombed, and -authorities are treating the disaster like a terrorist attack, with almost 312,000 hectares of land affected. The fires raged on last night. People in Yackandandah were bracing to resist a fire moving towards them at 9pm. Altogether 83 fires were still burning last night. Almost half of Victoria may be declared a crime scene, with arsonists believed responsible for several of the fires. Police said an offender implicated in the fatal fires could be charged with the offence of arson causing death, a crime with a maximum penalty of 25 years in jail. NSW was lucky to escape. Despite more than 50 fires blazing, there has been no loss of life or property, although one man was charged with arson over a blaze in Peats Ridge, on the Central Coast. Police have also charged a boy, 15, with arson over a small fire at Faulconbridge. He is expected to face Parramatta children's court in several weeks. Marie Jones of Canberra, who was visiting a friend at Kinglake, said a badly burnt man had arrived at the property where she was staying with his infant daughter, and told her his wife and other child had been killed. "He was so badly burnt. . . . his little girl was burnt, but not as badly as her dad, and he just came down and he said, 'Look, I've lost my wife, I've lost my other kid, I just need you to save [my daughter]'," Ms Jones said. More than 70 people died in the Black Friday fires of 1939, and 75 on Ash Wednesday in 1983 - 47 of them Victorians. Senior police sources told the Herald they feared the final figure would be double that. The military has been put on stand-by to provide assistance. The first of several interstate victim identification teams arrived yesterday to help Victoria Police and coronial staff under a terrorist contingency plan framed in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks of 2001. Bodies in burnt-out cars will have to be removed first so that roads can be opened to the public before gutted buildings can be combed for remains of the missing. Victoria's morgue was full last night - and hospitals and universities were being asked to store bodies until formal identifications could be made. Some of the 80 people in hospital were not expected to survive. Ten people remain in a critical condition. The once pretty alpine town of Marysville was reduced to a tangled mess of smoking rubble and twisted iron. Most residents were evacuated to nearby Alexandra, which was under threat from fire last night. But some of those who left too late or stayed to fight the fire lost their lives. The fire that began at the old Murrindindi sawmill near Yea earlier on Saturday raced across the Black Spur and razed the hamlet of Narbethong and then Marysville, house by house, street by street. After one terrible hour Marysville was no more. Few buildings escaped. Every public building - including the police station, post office, telephone exchange - and the much-loved guest houses and a hotel, had been destroyed. Worse was the fact that some of the gutted cars and buildings had human remains in them. Names were unavailable last night but the few residents who stayed and survived talked numbly yesterday of one firefighter's family being killed, of an age pensioner dying at home and of cars being found with human remains in them. They hoped the toll was as few as five - but it could be much higher, they said. Leigh Jowett, a third-generation resident, saved the old house he had grown up in - then helped his neighbours save theirs. "There might only be 15 or 20 houses left in Marysville," Mr Jowett said. "There's only three left in Falls Road - and the whole main street is gone apart from one motel." He listed the burnt-out buildings: the Marylands and the Cumberland guest houses, post office, police station, kindergarten, general store, time-share apartments, caravan park and the Marysville Hotel. Graham Haycraft, formerly of Marysville, was distressed to hear his old family home had been destroyed but counted himself lucky to have moved out. "My heart goes out to people who are part of my life." He expected to return to town for the funerals. Further news storys from todays papers: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/many-m...3423565321.html http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/death-...4027830612.html http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/horror...4027822979.html It just gets worse, Col. Edited February 8, 2009 by trailboss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FxrAndy Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 I have just been watching this, it is terrible, my thought go out to those affected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trailboss Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 This: http://media.brisbanetimes.com.au/?rid=45927 is chilling. Description below. Bushfire rescue live on air 2009-02-08 14:03:03 | Share In a series of calls to 3AW radio, a woman with children trapped by encircling bushfires pleads for help then describes a rescue attempt by her brother driving a tractor through the flames. Col. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB Posted February 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 GTV 9 used to have a jingle about their lead newsreader Brian Naylor, the end of it went "I know everything I need to know because Brian told me so" During Brian's years at the helm it was considered the social norm when discussing any hot topic to add that "Brian told me so", without a doubt he was one of Victorian best loved icons. Only a few short Months ago Brian and his wife lost their youngest son through a light aircraft accident, certainly the Naylor's didn't deserve the last year that was dealt them. But yet Brian was 78, his wife would have also been around that age so at least they lived full lives, my heart goes out to all the little children that are victims to these fires, the toll now is horrific there will be no words to describe the final count. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fireman_Fred Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 My heart goes out to all those affected by this terrible tragedy... I just hope the fires die down soon before more lives are lost... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikki6 Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 My thoughts and prayers are with you all out there Ken! I have several friends live in the Melbourne area, thankfully I have had text messages assuring me that they are ok. AOL had it on their news front page as well over a hundred are now dead, I really hope this is just sick tabloid journo, the waste of life is already way too high without going into treble figures! Stay safe Ken to you and all of yours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanikai Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 Saw these tragedies as soon as the presses started running.. it is horrific to say the least .. thanks Ken for letting us know you and your Kin are all safe.. I hope nature finds a way to be kind.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 I saw photos today and it suddenly became real to me. Please be careful, Ken and all our friends Down Under. My prayers are with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB Posted February 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 Niki I'm very sorry to say that the toll is indeed in treble figures but is expected to climb much higher with at least 100 still unaccounted for, this is beside the fact that the best estimate for getting these fires under control is around 3 to 4 days. To give an idea on the size of these fires, there have been reports of seeing an orange glow at night from....New Zealand Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikki6 Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 I just heard on the news that they are blaming firebugs for this atrocity!! There are some seriously sick people in this world!! Able to see them from New Zealand?!? That is almost incomprihensible! Hope you and yours are still ok Ken, I feel for you and your country! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB Posted February 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 The toll has now reached 131. Some very tragic stories coming out, one man packed his two kids into the car ran inside for something and straight back out only to find the car ablaze, another staggered up to a farm house so badly burned he had strips of skin hanging off him everywhere, he was carrying his daughter who was also burned but not as bad, he said to the lady who answered the door he had lost his wife and other child but please save his daughter. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornerstone Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 It's extraordinary. The real killer has been the speed. There will be a full inquiry and better figures over the next few days (everything's a bit anecdotal at the moment) but this fire moved fast. It's not a major deal for a fire to reach the edges of an urban area normally - that's what the preventative backburning and rural fire service are trying to achieve - as long as it doesn't reach the houses. [There are a lot of intra-urban bush fires too - there a lot of national parks within cities]. People next to bush areas are used to bush fires - a lot of them had fire pumps and the full gear to protect their property. Folk in town wouldn't perhaps expect it to reach the main street (I wouldn't). From what I've read, folk in one area knew that the fire was 80 km away. That's not something you would stress about...hardly an emergency. But they were fighting for their lives in a firestorm 30 minutes later. That's the shocker - few knew they were even in peril. [i suspect that by the time that they were told there was a fire 80 km away it had already travelled a fair distance] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonthebhoy Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 It's difficult to find any positives out of a tragedy like this but you can bet your boots that the fine men and women of the emergency services are saving hundreds nae thousands of live with their brave and unselfish actions. God bless them........again! JTB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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