Sydney fires

[Bloke]

Thanks heaps, Jim. We’re OK were we are but yesterday was a horrendous day with new outbreaks and flare ups and we lost a father and son protecting their property and live stock. A young firefighter was also killed and there’s a few people unaccounted for.

You’d have to breathe the air here or see our News reports to get any idea of how bad things really are. It’s extremely depressing to think what people are going through without any relief in sight.

[Ankerson]

Thanks heaps, Jim. We’re OK were we are but yesterday was a horrendous day with new outbreaks and flare ups and we lost a father and son protecting their property and live stock. A young firefighter was also killed and there’s a few people unaccounted for.

You’d have to breathe the air here or see our News reports to get any idea of how bad things really are. It’s extremely depressing to think what people are going through without any relief in sight.

I can't even image how bad it is.

It's just a shame that you all have to go through it.

[Bloke]

I can't even image how bad it is.

It's just a shame that you all have to go through it.

How these boys survived this at Nowra, south of Sydney yesterday, God only knows.

https://youtu.be/bD5JHZjZaNI

[Enactive]

Many Thanks for everyone’s well wishes and concerns and apologies for the late reply. I’ve been of annual leave. It’s a hectic time of year and I’ve rekindled an old interest in Betta Fish (Siamese Fighting Fish) and I set up a little aquarium for our eldest granddaughter and her little brother.

Anyhow, it’s been horrendous here and we’re many miles from an major fire front. We’re expecting more extreme temperatures in the next few days and no doubt more new fires and flare ups of existing fires.

To date in NSW alone we’ve lost just under 1000 homes, to brave, young volunteers lost there lives and we’ve lost over 1000 Koalas (not to mention other native fauna).

It’s just life in Australia but this year is the worst on record and it’s not over yet. With no rain predicted till late January, early February it’s not over yet. :eek:

Here’s a picture I took on my last day of work for 2019 at 15:30, Dec 13, looking west from HMAS Waterhen (Balls Head) at North Sydney and it’s no better today. I can’t remember what a clear blue sky looks like. :rolleyes:

Yowzer! Best to you and yours, Bloke. Happy New Year.

We have had a couple of really bad smoky summers with wildfires affecting the whole region for months in recent years, although not sure its anywhere near the scale of yours. The air quality can be unsafe and oppressive. I feel your pain.

hope it gets better soon.

[ChrisinHove]

I’ve been following the reports on the news.

Jeeez.

Best wishes to you chaps, and good luck.

[Wartstein]

Just right now saw this thread...Alex/ Bloke, my friend, I am glad you´re ok! All the best to you and your family!

Gernot

[Bloke]

Josh, Chris, and Gernot many Thanks for your kind thoughts.

Today (Sat 04) with temps in the mid 40’s C inland will be a punish for all. NSW is officially at A State of Emergency with massive evacuations underway as fires threaten more homes and News reports indicate today could possibly be the worst day yet. Considering this has been going on since September ... you have to wonder.

Anyhow, Thanks again for all your well wishes. :)

[Enactive]

Josh, Chris, and Gernot many Thanks for your kind thoughts.

Today (Sat 04) with temps in the mid 40’s C inland will be a punish for all. NSW is officially at A State of Emergency with massive evacuations underway as fires threaten more homes and News reports indicate today could possibly be the worst day yet. Considering this has been going on since September ... you have to wonder.

Anyhow, Thanks again for all your well wishes. :)

Hang in there, Alex!

[Wartstein]

Josh, Chris, and Gernot many Thanks for your kind thoughts.

Today (Sat 04) with temps in the mid 40’s C inland will be a punish for all. NSW is officially at A State of Emergency with massive evacuations underway as fires threaten more homes and News reports indicate today could possibly be the worst day yet. Considering this has been going on since September ... you have to wonder.

Anyhow, Thanks again for all your well wishes. :)

Alex, how are you and your family doing ? All as good as can be expected under the circumstances?

Best wishes, Gernot

[Bloke]

Alex, how are you and your family doing ? All as good as can be expected under the circumstances?

Best wishes, Gernot

Hi Gernot, all’s good with my family and I but these fires have affected so many people and so much wildlife and stock. It’s truly heartbreaking.

We’re a resilient and generous lot with many millions of dollars already raised to help those affected but it’s a drop in the ocean and it’s far from over yet.

You may have noticed I haven’t posted much of late. I haven’t felt like celebrating anything with so many of our people suffering and firefighters working in such horrific conditions often beyond exhaustion.

We had a bit of a thunder storm here in Sydney yesterday afternoon which dropped a few millimeters of rain and was gone. That was better than a poke in the eye with a stick, I s’pose but even a little storm saw a young surfer on the water and an elderly lady in her backyard struck by lightning and both seriously injured ... words fail me.

Anyhow, thanks again, mate. :)

[standy99]

The fires are horrendous down south with 2 cyclones in a week off the coast and heavy rain in Northern Australia where I am. Had the wettest day on record with over 22 inches (562mm) in less than 24 hrs on Friday. Definitely a country of extreme conditions.

Have donated several times for down Souths fires especially for the care of injured wildlife. It will take a 100 years to rebound from such a loss to native habitat.

[Bloke]

Very cool, Doc! :)

Great to see you enjoying the little Z-Cuts. I’d buy a handful for beloved wife to trash on her granite cutting board (like every other kitchen knife) but the way our dollar is trading at the moment, plus shipping costs ...

Tell me, how do they go on durians? Ah, hahaha, ah, hahaha, ah, hahaha! :rolleyes:

Bloke! Where have you been? I saw a roo all burned up and was sure it was you. Hahaha !

I don’t do durians! Anything that smells like a week old dead animal and tastes about the same I’m not going near if I can help it. Hahahaha!

Hey Doc, as with my previous posts it’s been horrendous here and as you may imagine we’re all very sad to say the least. I have images in my head of our Koalas, Roos, Wallabies ... stumbling out of burning bush land on fire which I’d gladly cut out of my head with a 9” angle grinder if I could.

I can’t watch the News without being nauseated and one report claims our beloved Koalas are “Functionally Extinct” and we’ll be sending some to the Kiwis to look after.

I love our country with all my heart and soul and it breaks my heart to think ... I’m not ashamed to tell you I’m having trouble typing this with tears in my eyes. We’ll get by because that’s how we are and in the words of a famous Australian “We’ll fight but not surrender!”, though we’ve lost so much it’s beyond comprehension. An area the size of Belgium has already burnt.

Ninety fires still rage unabated in New South Wales alone but the Good Lord has blessed us with rain today and the forecast is for 80mm - 100mm to fall (hopefully on the fire grounds) in the next few days and hopefully the firefighters who are true heroes will get some reprieve, it will douse some of the fires and some water will fall in our catchment area and top up our water supply which is down to 42%. We’ve been on water restrictions for months and without substantial rain we have less than two years supply for the entire Greater Sydney Basin.

Anyhow, for now, It’s Raining On The Rock!

https://youtu.be/n4mTKcJfnnE

[flasharry]

I know its not much, but we sent some Alberta Wildfire Specialists down to help.... might give a few of your guys a bit of a rest for a bit..
stay safe! I'd gladly send you our snow and -33C temps...

[Bloke]

I know its not much, but we sent some Alberta Wildfire Specialists down to help.... might give a few of your guys a bit of a rest for a bit..
stay safe! I'd gladly send you our snow and -33C temps...

Hi Harry, yes, the Canadians and Americans amongst others offered us fire fighting planes also early in the piece but our illustrious Prime Minister declined.

The prick has a lot to answer for and I reckon he and his mates should be bludgeoned with a lump of charred hardwood.

We, the Australian people greatly appreciate the support our friends to the north have offered and given us. We are
eternally grateful to the people who have left their homes and traveled halfway around the world to risk their lives in a **** on Earth.

[Enactive]

I know its not much, but we sent some Alberta Wildfire Specialists down to help.... might give a few of your guys a bit of a rest for a bit..
stay safe! I'd gladly send you our snow and -33C temps...

Hi Harry, yes, the Canadians and Americans amongst others offered us fire fighting planes also early in the piece but our illustrious Prime Minister declined.

The prick has a lot to answer for and I reckon he and his mates should be bludgeoned with a lump of charred hardwood.

We, the Australian people greatly appreciate the support our friends to the north have offered and given us. We are
eternally grateful to the people who have left their homes and traveled halfway around the world to risk their lives in a **** on Earth.

Stay strong, Alex. Sending you some positive energy!

[Bloke]

Stay strong, Alex. Sending you some positive energy!

You’re very kind, Josh my friend and I greatly appreciate your kind thoughts. :)

[TkoK83Spy]

Safe to say the whole world is pulling for you guys and all those innocent animals. I can't even watch the news when it comes to them, breaks my heart. I really hope these storms can bring some relief! Keep us posted Alex.

[Bloke]

Safe to say the whole world is pulling for you guys and all those innocent animals. I can't even watch the news when it comes to them, breaks my heart. I really hope these storms can bring some relief! Keep us posted Alex.

Many Thanks Rick! :)

The toll on wildlife and stock losses are incalculably. One farmer alone lost 7,000 sheep. He and his neighbor spent days afterward shooting animals that were burnt and still alive. Can’t help thinking those hard men shed some bitter tears.

[Doc Dan]

It’s terrible and many of these fires seem to have been purposefully set. I saw where they arrested some people for this.

America has sent more firefighters recently. I have no idea why the PM declined the aircraft help. It reminds me of a similar response in America a few years ago. Good grief!

I’m glad you all are getting some rain. We are praying for it.

[Bloke]

It’s terrible and many of these fires seem to have been purposefully set. I saw where they arrested some people for this.

America has sent more firefighters recently. I have no idea why the PM declined the aircraft help. It reminds me of a similar response in America a few years ago. Good grief!

I’m glad you all are getting some rain. We are praying for it.

Doc, it’s a sad and disturbing fact that over sixty (60) filthy bastards have been arrested for purposely lightly fires.

If I had my way I’d tie them to trees in the flames path and not give them a second thought.

Our Prime Minister is a delusional fool! He and his stinking cronies were warned many months in advance of what was to come if preventative action was not taken prior to our fire season. He ignored the rural fire chiefs and when the fires started he and his family took a holiday to Hawaii. Maybe he couldn’t cop the smoke around Kirribilli House, ay?

He didn’t even want to compensate the volunteer fighters that left jobs, businesses and family to fight fires for months on end in unbearable conditions. He said “The volunteer fire fighter want to be there.”

Doc, as I said before the Australian people are more that grateful to the brave men (and women?) who have traveled so far and literally jumped into the flames to help. How can we ever repay them?

I don’t know for certain how much rain has fallen today or how much affect it’s had. I wasn’t tricking when I said I can watch the News so I’ll ask beloved wife what’s happened today. Hopefully it’s doused some at least and we’ll get more in the coming days. Either ways I’ll report back when I know.

God Bless You All. :)