General Discussion

Jackpine Radical

(45,274 posts) Tue Oct 22, 2013, 12:23 PM Oct 2013

I just had to share this comment from an Aussie colleague re: the fire.

Particularly note the highlighted sentence & then think about our politicians.

You may have heard of the prospect of a mega-fire in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney that would have forced the evacuation of the City of Katoomba (population 80k) where my daughter and grandchildren live. Thankfully, due to extremely dangerous back-burning efforts by volunteer firefighters over the last 2 days, including our Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, who still turns out with the Rural Fire Brigade he has served in for over 10 years to fight fires, this has been averted. Only two fires are likely to join up: one encompassing over 45,000 hectares, the other only encompassing 3,000 hectares. If they had joined another, nearly contiguous, fire of 15,000 hectares then the resultant mega-fire would have had an approximate starting diameter of about 80-100kms. Nothing would have saved Katoomba in this event.

4 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

I just had to share this comment from an Aussie colleague re: the fire. (Original Post) Jackpine Radical Oct 2013 OP

Our local reps only step in afterwards. If then. And for a photo op. CurtEastPoint Oct 2013 #1

An update this AM rom the same source Jackpine Radical Oct 2013 #2

There should be a lot of U.S. firefighters there, too pinboy3niner Oct 2013 #3

my dad was one too. they are really roguevalley Oct 2013 #4

CurtEastPoint

(18,650 posts)

1. Our local reps only step in afterwards. If then. And for a photo op.

Reply to Jackpine Radical (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 12:27 PM

Oct 2013

Jackpine Radical

(45,274 posts)

2. An update this AM rom the same source

Reply to Jackpine Radical (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 01:39 PM

Oct 2013

The fires have returned with the devil's own vengeance. They have been advancing like a form of galloping leprosy up the mountains. Tomorrow, with winds predicted to hit 100km/hr the fires, now burning on a front of over 300km, will be well-nigh uncontrollable when the funnelling effects of the gullies and updrafts over the ridge lines come into effect.

Tomorrow is predicted to be one of the worst days in OZ history and my daughter and grandchildren are in the danger zone in Katoomba. Nothing I can do about it except hope.

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)

3. There should be a lot of U.S. firefighters there, too

Reply to Jackpine Radical (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 01:49 PM

Oct 2013

Firefighter exchanges with Australia are common because the fire seasons of the two countries are opposite. We get a lot of Aussie firefighters here for our fire season and send a lot there for theirs.

roguevalley

(40,656 posts)

4. my dad was one too. they are really

Reply to Jackpine Radical (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 09:10 PM

Oct 2013

heroes. this guy is a jewel.

I got into a thumper about someone who said that they didn't care about what happens to Oz because they vote for idiots. Darwinism don't you know. they are now on ignore.

God bless Oz.

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