Thinking about those affected by the Australian fires

[Sideways]

@blackemerald1 - hoping that you and yours are in safe centres...?
@mumstheword - hopefully your region will get some rain, but knowing where you are, please stay safe and updated on the alerts, yeah?

 

[blackemerald1]

My area has got one large fire with about 40 crews fighting it but it's still a few km's away. No alerts to evac., yet but watching and waiting.

The wind is swirly, whirly and pulling big clouds of black smoke around. The air is full of soot.

The birds are all disorientated and crashing into my roof. Poor things. My sunset is a dirty yellow.

I've got to stay inside because I've got the flu and catching my breath is difficult as it is.

But I'm ok so far.
Thanks @Sideways - hope you're doing ok too. And to you @mumstheword - :hug: (s)

 

[Sideways]

The birds are all disorientated and crashing into my roof.

The impact on our animals I can't even face. I remember volunteering every week at the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie, saving them one at a time. And now the habitat in that region has been decimated. I don't even have the words, it's just utterly heartbreaking.

Just in case plans, k? Somewhere to go if you need to go. Worried about you, and don't want you to end up being in one of those places that are cut off.

 

[blackemerald1]

Yep. Got a plan.
Get in car and go - far away. I've got a full tank of petrol just in case.
I have no capacity to stay and defend my home.
It's all too much for me right now. :(

 

[Sideways]

I have no capacity to stay and defend my home.

You n me both. Have talked through with my sister what we need to grab (meds and dog food and birth certificates etc), and also what level of warning we're going to leave at, because the last thing we need is being stuck in the kilometres of traffic like what happened on the Princess Hwy in Vic.

My sister wants to stay at my folks place, so I'd drop her there and head back to the coast with doggo. It was funny when we talked through it - she initially said "Oh, yeah, I know what to do". It took one question about her authority-script DD medication before she decided to write shit down in dot point!!

 

[blackemerald1]

Yeah I know... I've spoken to a number of people who've given all sorts of weird answers.

Like the stay and defend... 'Oh so you know how to fight a fire that is 70 feet tall and stand against a wind that is sucking all of the oxygen out of your lungs?' You've got protective clothes, cleaned your gutters and have a rock solid plan with your own generator and water supply to use?
Err nope... Well, matey you cannot stand and defend.

I've got my stuff ready at the door.

The next thing we'll be dealing with is no electricity because the Snowy Hydro scheme has been breached. 10 % of supply down. I know it doesn't sound like much but still..

 

[Mach123]

I have a lot of good now right now today, especially if I concentrate, and I was able to meditate a little last night while not sleeping.

I am sorry to hear your trials and hope you stay safe. Your situation s make me understand "don't sweat the small stuff, it's all small stuff" when someone has to deal with something that isn't.

I pray the fires pass you by and leave you and your loved ones unharmed.

 

[blackemerald1]

Thanks @Mach123 we need prayer right now. One of my favourite little towns called Eden ironically..is under fire attack. Not sure if it can be defended it's surrounded by tall timber.

So many people & places, homes, livestock & natural fauna and flora being destroyed.

This drought has created ideal conditions for fire.

 

[Friday]

On evac planning... it’s worth packing a cooler full of ice, & frozen water bottles, in case the car overheats and you have to pull the hot air from the engine into the passenger compartment to keep moving. Hot winds outside, Heater blowing on full blast = heat exhaustion & delirium very quickly. The last 4 forest fires I was in 3 of the vehicles overheated after less than an hour. All 3 newer cars, computers couldn’t process the info coming at them, and crapped out. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy... soak your head & shirt & seat, stick ice in your bra and pockets , and repeat when you dry out. The worst was every 10 minutes or so, 60C melts and evaporates fast. Some lasted half an hour to an hour, more in the 50C range. I’d have been a hot mess without the cooler.

Stay safe out there.

 

[Lucycat]

Australia is still burning. We have an Aussie visitor staying and I feel so sorry for her when she cannot get in touch with friends and family back hone.

 

[Lionheart]

I am just realizing the impact/devastation these fires have had on Australia and my heart goes out to all the life forms that are dying or struggling to survive. I will pray for rain and healing, Good luck and God bless to all of you who live amongst the fires.

 

[blackemerald1]

At the moment we have an awkward situation where in some places people are being allowed back in to see what has happened to their homes. But this will not last for long because unfortunately the heat is returning on Thursday and many places will again come under imminent threat from fires.

Mostly the lower temperatures are giving firefighters a chance to try and build containment lines where they can.

There seems to be at first glance, less fires. Not so. It's simply that fires in different States and places have now joined up and have formed what is being termed as mega fires. These mega fires are enormous in terms of capacity to jump many kilometres ahead, create their own weather systems and send ember storms igniting everything in almost every direction.

The defence forces have been working on opening roads, clearing dangerous trees and evacuating by sea more people. The smoke haze is so thick that it is deemed the poorest air quality in the world in some places. It seems to clear now and then and then roll in again.

The loss of domestic livestock and wildlife hasn't yet been ascertained but of course it will be huge. In some instances how many animals have been killed may never be known for sure. Veterinarians are starting to get onto farms where domestic livestock has been burned and are overwhelmed with the task of destroying animals that are beyond care.