Australia - NSW - Worst bushfire days in years.

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Fire map has changed a little from the last posting. Burned areas are now showing, and some fires are out. (Zoom out to see full effect of all of the fires, I have just zoomed in to see the worst ones.)

http://goo.gl/qdKwcN

Emergency Services minister is not mincing his words at all ....

"There should not be discussions around breakfast tables in the Blue Mountains or in other parts of the state affected by fire today (of) 'What are we going to do today if ...' That should have been done," Emergency Services minister Mike Gallacher said.

"If you don't have a plan, quite simply let me give you one: pack the car now, head down the mountain, come down and enjoy time in the metropolitan area and allow the firefighters the freedom to move through the community to protect your homes."


http://www.smh.com.au/environment/w...e-mountains-20131023-2vzz3.html#ixzz2iWMzvLlZ
 
God bless & a massive thankyou to this guy & all who are involved in fighting these horrid fires throughout NSW.

October 23, 2013

EVERY disaster needs a leader. A calm, reassuring voice amid the chaos.

As the New South Wales bushfire crisis escalates, NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons is doing a brilliant job of being that man.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...s-father-to-fire/story-fni0xqrc-1226745252614
 
FigTree said:
It has been raining at Katoomba - Leura tonight - it started about an hour ago, so it seems the ground will be damp - at least for a while tomorrow morning. I hope it helps just a little - we will need it.
I have done as much as I can for now. Boxes with cat supplies - cats are collared and labelled - big mobile pond ready for the big Koi's - other food for strays - water - spare boxes and blankets - 1st aid supplies for human and animals - emergency clothes and supplies...
I still have other little things to do, but I will get some rest and get up very early and put all the packed boxes in the car - and I'm ready to roll if anything happens.

I cant do anymore around the property (I am also looking after someone else's property who is away - so that has been pretty full on as well).

Be safe everyone.
Lets get through Wednesday.
Click to expand...

Figtree....on behalf of everyone at WS, we're thinking of you & all our other members who live in or near the fire zones. Please stay safe & take care.
 
October 23, 2013 5:25PM

A SOUTHERLY change overnight is expected to present a double-edged sword for firefighters.

RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said while a change to south-southwesterly winds would bring cooler conditions, it would put pressure on some areas

With fires still active in the Blue Mountains, residents who fled earlier on Wednesday have been asked not to return

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...its-own-problems/story-fni0cx12-1226744891504
 
SouthAussie said:
Fire map has changed a little from the last posting. Burned areas are now showing, and some fires are out. (Zoom out to see full effect of all of the fires, I have just zoomed in to see the worst ones.)

http://goo.gl/qdKwcN

Emergency Services minister is not mincing his words at all ....

"There should not be discussions around breakfast tables in the Blue Mountains or in other parts of the state affected by fire today (of) 'What are we going to do today if ...' That should have been done," Emergency Services minister Mike Gallacher said.

"If you don't have a plan, quite simply let me give you one: pack the car now, head down the mountain, come down and enjoy time in the metropolitan area and allow the firefighters the freedom to move through the community to protect your homes."


http://www.smh.com.au/environment/w...e-mountains-20131023-2vzz3.html#ixzz2iWMzvLlZ
Click to expand...

Good Lord! It looks like the entire coast of NSW is on fire. :please:
 
My thoughts and prayers are with our wonderful Aussie friends at this time. GB all of you and those brave firefighters!

:blowkiss:
 
marlywings said:
Figtree....on behalf of everyone at WS, we're thinking of you & all our other members who live in or near the fire zones. Please stay safe & take care.
Click to expand...

You guys seriously rock!! Thank-you for your wishes and kindness. I feel blessed indeed.

Double blessed actually .... I can only say that today turned out to be a clear blue sky day with a light wind (where I was in the Mountains) and that I am still amazed and so grateful that despite being vigilant just in case - it was a day of no fire and I was even able to do a little more clearing and feel extra safe.

Compared to how I felt last night - I never expected today to be OK - but I am so relieved that it was.

My heart and prayers go out to those communities, people and animals who were hit hard today with the fires - the stress of knowing that they are on the way is unbelievable - but to those people out there fighting them in your own backyard ... you guys deserve a medal - you are all heroes.

When I drove home tonight there were many fire engine crews at Katoomba station - probably on standby. As I write this, one fire truck with siren on is on its way down the Mountain.

I hope that tomorrow sees a better day with less fires.

We got through Wednesday - and I made it home to be on WS - Double Blessing!!
Thanks again everyone.
:tyou:
.
 
Great to see you back on board Figtree...so glad you made it safely through today!!

Here's hoping there's been no further loss of homes & everyone is safe.


Bring on the rain!!!!
 
October 23, 2013

PRINCE Charles is to make a "substantial donation" to the Australian Red Cross after reading the distressing reports of the wild bushfires ringing Sydney.

His Royal Highness had personally met NSW Rural Fire Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons during his visit to Australia in 2010 and said today he was moved to send a personal note to Fitzsimmons and make a contribution on behalf of the royal family

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...-bushfire-appeal/story-fni0xqrc-1226745513526
 
Things are sounding much more positive this morning (Thursday). Sounds as though the firefighters did an absolutely fantastic job of holding the fires at bay during the horrible conditions yesterday!! No more properties lost. They are saying that the multitude of fire crews from interstate joining the NSW crews on the ground made a significant difference. Good on our guys and gals from all over Australia! Always watching out for their mates. So proud of them all!

Conditions today are cooler are stiller - they are hoping to get on top of more of the fires, and gradually return NSW to its usual peaceful and beautiful state.
 
I'm not sure what happened - my other post disappeared.

An army training exercise caused a massive fire in the Blue Mountains that ripped through more than 47,000 hectares of bushland last week, a Rural Fire Service investigation has found.
The Defence Department initially refused to comment except to say its own investigation into an explosives training exercise at the Marrangaroo training area, north of Lithgow, was ongoing.

the RFS on Wednesday confirmed the fire began on the Australian Defence Force range and was sparked by explosive devices. ''That was the result of our investigation,'' an RFS spokesman said.
The Defence Department released a statement on Wednesday saying it was aware of the Rural Fire Services view and the department continued to ''co-operate fully with NSW authorities investigating the State Mine fire, including the NSW Police Force investigators who will prepare a report for the Coroner''.
There was no total fire ban in the area when the Defence exercised were conducted.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-polit...e-mountains-20131023-2w1vt.html#ixzz2ibEyH5ED
Click to expand...
 
Oh gosh I hope the pilot is okay.

An aircraft involved in firefighting operations has crashed on the NSW south coast, the Rural Fire Service says.
Fire authorities have "grave concerns" for the safety of the pilot after the aircraft crashed in rugged bushland about 40 kilometres west of Ulladulla just after 10am on Thursday.
The RFS confirmed that the aircraft, with one person on board, was involved in firefighting operations at the time.
Advertisement
The rugged nature of the terrain was making it hard for emergency crews to get to the scene.
Click to expand...

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/aircraft-fighting-nsw-bushfire-crashes-20131024-2w2qw.html#ixzz2ibFuRXUm
 
Police have confirmed that the pilot died :(
 
Random ..

AMERICA, the nation which gave the world 307 Nobel laureates, has today shown that its media is about as smart as one of its famously dopey teen beauty pageant contestants.

In a bizarre map produced by NBC News, pretty much the whole of Australia is depicted as being ablaze this week.

You might have thought the bushfires of the past week have been confined largely to New South Wales, but noooo. Not according to NBC they're not.

American network NBC publishes map showing the whole of Australia is on fire. Oops

http://www.news.com.au/technology/a...-is-on-fire-oops/story-e6frfrnr-1226746114107
 
Mrs G Norris said:
Random ..

AMERICA, the nation which gave the world 307 Nobel laureates, has today shown that its media is about as smart as one of its famously dopey teen beauty pageant contestants.

In a bizarre map produced by NBC News, pretty much the whole of Australia is depicted as being ablaze this week.

You might have thought the bushfires of the past week have been confined largely to New South Wales, but noooo. Not according to NBC they're not.

American network NBC publishes map showing the whole of Australia is on fire. Oops

http://www.news.com.au/technology/a...-is-on-fire-oops/story-e6frfrnr-1226746114107
Click to expand...


Oh no ... BIG whoops!! Let's hope they print a correction!

Oh well, I guess you guys can all come here .. driest state in the driest country ... but we seem to be doing okay, according to that map! :)
 
Mrs G Norris said:
Random ..

AMERICA, the nation which gave the world 307 Nobel laureates, has today shown that its media is about as smart as one of its famously dopey teen beauty pageant contestants.

In a bizarre map produced by NBC News, pretty much the whole of Australia is depicted as being ablaze this week.

You might have thought the bushfires of the past week have been confined largely to New South Wales, but noooo. Not according to NBC they're not.

American network NBC publishes map showing the whole of Australia is on fire. Oops

http://www.news.com.au/technology/a...-is-on-fire-oops/story-e6frfrnr-1226746114107
Click to expand...

:facepalm:
 
Those journos could so get a job at the Telegraph. They'd fit right in! :giggle:
 
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