About the Australia bush fires (short animation link)

Sapphocrat

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Thu Dec-07-06 09:55 PM
Original message

About the Australia bush fires (short animation link)

It irritates me to no end that there's been nothing on the news here about this Aussie-summer's worst bush fires (if foreigncorrespondent hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known), but the fact is, there are some major fires threatening some of the most pristine wilderness in Victoria, and it looks like they'll be licking at (or perhaps consuming) a number of inhabited areas, including some important historic places (e.g., the mining town of Walhalla).

To get an idea of what's predicted over this weekend, take a look at this animation:

http://www.theage.com.au/flash/alpinethreat

This makes me heartsick. Yes, yes, it's nature, but still.

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canetoad

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Fri Dec-08-06 02:05 AM
Response to Original message

1. For an idea of the predicted size of the blaze

at the end of the animation - it's roughly the equivalent to all of Georgia being ablaze.

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foreigncorrespondent

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Fri Dec-08-06 03:54 AM
Response to Reply #1

2. Yep!

My sister who lives in Metung (just out of Bairnsdale) got out this morning. Just in time too. They are closing off the Princess Hwy tonight. Close that, and my sister had no way of getting out.

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Sapphocrat

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Fri Dec-08-06 04:03 AM
Response to Reply #2

4. Oh, there you are. :)

I had a feeling you'd find this thread. :)

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foreigncorrespondent

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Fri Dec-08-06 07:48 AM
Response to Reply #4

7. So much for a hiatus, huh?

Have to talk about what has me worried. Just glad J is out with the kids and safe. Still going to worry about S though.

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Sapphocrat

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Fri Dec-08-06 04:02 AM
Response to Reply #1

3. That's the ticket.

I sometimes forget that the sheer scale is lost on anyone who hasn't been there. Thanks for putting it in perspective, canetoad.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Bairnsdale, but it doesn't look good.

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canetoad

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Fri Dec-08-06 04:34 AM
Response to Reply #3

5. It's 8.30pm Friday here

Tomorrow's conditions will be extreme. ABC news update says that people are evacuating ahead of the fires joining up.

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foreigncorrespondent

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Fri Dec-08-06 07:46 AM
Response to Reply #5

6. My brother in law...

...works in Bairnsdale and they have been forced to close. It was unknown if Bairnsdale would have power by this evening. '
He has stayed, so he can clean up around my sisters place in case Metung comes under ember attack tomorrow or Sunday.

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malaise

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Fri Dec-08-06 07:58 AM
Response to Reply #6

8. Damn this is serious

Stay safe Aussies.

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