The Energon Pub

News Credits: 226 · by **Burn** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 5:17 am

I'm not the sort of person who normally starts a thread regarding disasters and to get people to spare a thought for those affected, but i'm making an exception this time because it is a tragedy and probably hasn't received much press overseas.

The weather in Australia the past two weeks or so has been from one extreme to another. Personally, where I am in the tropics, we went through one cyclone and a week later had it return as a low which dumped enough rain to cause local flooding. The township 200km's or so south of me has been flooded for the entire week.

That all pales in comparrison however with the southern states recording record temperatures, this has unfortunately lead to bushfires.

The full story

76 dead, 700 homes destroyed, and it's far from over.

So yeah, i'm not one for asking for sympathy or anything like that, but spare a thought, or if you're so inclined, a prayer for those who are facing these fires.

Like Me, Grimlock! on Facebook · by **Me, Grimlock!** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:28 am

I heard about this, but I heard the death count has risen to 84. I'm sure it would be different depending on which news source you find.

I really hope everybody else pulls out alive. What are the evacuation procedures? I hope to hear good news about this, but in the meantime you'll all have my prayers and thoughts.

News Credits: 972 · by **i_amtrunks** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:40 pm

It's a crazy continent, we have Bushfires (some deliberately lit) across the south-east of the country, in conjunction with over a week of 40 degree heat, while in the north-east we have a third week of massive floods that have thankfully only caused property damage.

It's terrible that so many have lost their lives already (with the toll climbing) but I'm thankful that the Firefighters have done such a great job or I am sure the toll would be much much higher.

News Credits: 42 · by **Psychout** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 8:05 pm

You guys live on a crazy continent.

some deliberately lit

They mentioned that suspicion over here as well. What up with that? Why would someone want to burn down their own country?

Puts our 'worst snow in 20 years' into perspective eh?

by **Moonlight** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 10:53 pm

I heard about it on the news as well. Sad.

News Credits: 226 · by **Burn** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 3:17 am

Psychout wrote:
some deliberately lit
They mentioned that suspicion over here as well. What up with that? Why would someone want to burn down their own country?

It's a mental disorder, and that's how they get off.

The worst ones however, and we've had a few of these, are volunteer firefighters living out a hero complex.

I can't even put into words the contempt and what should be done to these people who are lighting them. There's even been mention of people running around relighting fires that were put out.

Death toll now stands at 131.

Puts our 'worst snow in 20 years' into perspective eh?

See, it's not just a wacky continent, the whole word is wacky.

And this may come as a suprise to you ... but your PM has said that if there's anything England can do they'll help. That comes on top of New Zealand's offer to send 100 fieries over.

News Credits: 42 · by **Psychout** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 5:12 am

Burn wrote:I can't even put into words the contempt and what should be done to these people who are lighting them. There's even been mention of people running around relighting fires that were put out.

Death toll now stands at 131.

I sincerely hope that these idiots are found and dealt with accordingly, it just beggars the imagination that people can be so stupid. Is the Army making much of a difference?

Burn wrote:
Psychout wrote:Puts our 'worst snow in 20 years' into perspective eh?

See, it's not just a wacky continent, the whole word is wacky.

And this may come as a suprise to you ... but your PM has said that if there's anything England can do they'll help. That comes on top of New Zealand's offer to send 100 fieries over.

Actually, not really.. If there is one country across the whole world that the UK will always jump to help regardless its Australia, half the population here have a relative living over there somewhere.

News Credits: 226 · by **Burn** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 5:26 am

Psychout wrote:Is the Army making much of a difference?

Not sure how much the Army can do as I don't know if how well they're trained for this sort of thing.

A lot of this would have been prevented if certain members of the community who believe in saving the environment hadn't gotten their way and put an end to back burning and clearing fire breaks ...

Psychout wrote:half the population here have a relative living over there somewhere.

That and a lot of us travel over there for work. You could have kept my cousin though.

It's still nice to hear the help being offered though.

News Credits: 5 · by **--B--** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 3:34 pm

Not to sound like a total unfeeling ass, but I can't help to laught that someone calling himself Burn started a thread about fires.

I'm sorry but it just cracks me up.

News Credits: 38 · by **TheMuffin** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 4:25 pm

Hey B. Nice of you to be a complete and utter douche in the face of human losses.

News Credits: 3 · by **Archanubis** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 4:47 pm

Psychout wrote:
some deliberately lit
They mentioned that suspicion over here as well.

I heard about that this morning; I think CNN and Fox both stated that it was beyond mere suspicion.

Are these wildfires a regular thing in Australia, like they are in California, or is this just a bad season, exacerbated by a few sick pranksters?

News Credits: 972 · by **i_amtrunks** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 5:03 pm

To answer your question Psychout, Big bushfires in Australia occur every Summer, but due to regenerative growth and whatnot, they strike in different areas every year. There is a kind of cycle though, every 5 or so years massive fires surround Sydney, with a fire every year at least in one direction, north south or west of Sydney. north and nort-east of Melbourne usually have fires every year, and they always burn for days, but usually they burn in National Parks, or can be kept away from townships. Adelaide, Canberra and Regional areas have fires every couple of years that threaten homes.

We have very well trained Fire-fighters and an unbelievable amount of volunteer Fire-fighters and Emergency Services personnel who do a remarkable job. This year 14 days of 40+ degree days (over 105 Fahrenheit), strong winds and incredibly fast moving fires was just too much for them to handle.

We've been in a bad drought for about 7 years along the East Coast which has not helped.

The Army is in there purely as Humanitarian aid, they'd only get in the way of the Firies doing their jobs.
The offer for the 100 Kiwi Fire-fighters is very welcome, I remember that 50 of New Zealand's best were sent to NSW a few years back when Fires surrounded Sydney and they made a massive difference to getting Fires under control.

Everyone has seen pictures of the devastation caused by war, but the devastation left by this fire to me looks much worse.

Cooler temps are helping, but the winds are still gusty at times, and not helping. Thankfully Fires in other parts of the country are burning National park land, so at the moment other States of Australia can send off help to Victoria as no homes or lives are under threat.

What is fantastic is the amount of aid and money being sent through to the victims already, the toll is over 170 dead, and 700 homes lost. The money is much needed, as we all know how insurance companies will do their best to give out as little money as possible.
What's even better is that over 6000 new names have signed up to donate blood, something that we always are in desperate need for, and even more so with so many injured and burnt.

News Credits: 5 · by **--B--** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:30 pm

TheMuffin wrote:Hey B. Nice of you to be a complete and utter douche in the face of human losses.

I guess I deserve that. I didn't mean to make light of the situation, I just found the thread orginator and the topic ironic.

News Credits: 3 · by **Archanubis** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:08 pm

i_amtrunks wrote:To answer your question Psychout...

Did Psych ask before I did? I didn't see...

by **Renne** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:37 am

It's an absolute nightmare.

I don't live in the affected area myself, but I'm from a volunteer firefighter family and one of my closest friends parents live in Kinglake (their home is one of the few houses there not razed by the fire) so I know how tough it is.

Seeing the outpouring of support from the public and big business is heartening though. There is probably no one in Victoria that the state-wide fires haven't affected in some way.

News Credits: 226 · by **Burn** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 2:27 am

Nice to see you're not affected Renne.
Seeing as you don't come around much anymore.

It wasn't much but I donated $50 today, wish I could have done more.

One news report has said that the flood victims up my way, once they've got things cleaned up, will be turning their disaster aid money from the government over to the bushfire victims.

by **Renne** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 3:27 am

Burn wrote:Nice to see you're not affected Renne.
Seeing as you don't come around much anymore.

It wasn't much but I donated $50 today, wish I could have done more.

One news report has said that the flood victims up my way, once they've got things cleaned up, will be turning their disaster aid money from the government over to the bushfire victims.

I feel almost guilty for being glad that it didn't affect me or any of the family where they are. This time we've been lucky, but it's only a matter of time, I think, before the luck of the area they live in runs out.

Hey, $50 is awesome. It all helps. My company is matching donations so I'll be chucking in $50 too and then making an appointment for my first ever blood donation. Eep!

We haven't heard hardly anything about the floods down here what with all the weather and fires and everything. It was really only when that little boy went missing that I personally heard anything!

Work's been a bit of a nightmare since I changed roles in October.

News Credits: 42 · by **Psychout** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:07 am

Trunks, cheers. I knew Bushfires were a pretty common occurrence and I remember one hitting our news a few years back that was particularly nasty, but they say nothing even comes close to this, and its getting pretty extensive coverage over here. Its just hard to believe that people could have started some of these, in the middle of a drought.

Burn wrote:A lot of this would have been prevented if certain members of the community who believe in saving the environment hadn't gotten their way and put an end to back burning and clearing fire breaks ...

Ive just been reading about that here, that's crazy. Hopefully all that crap will be stopped now. Hippies can do as much harm as good these days.

Its good to see so many people pulling together to help each other, even if you do get assholes like this spoiling it for everybody. (What is wrong with these people? He's almost as bad as the arsonists who set them...)

Any way, my interest is peaked because I have cousins over Brisbane way, but I know they are safe (for now), I just hope all you guys are too, the only known Aussie from here I'm yet to hear from now is Plaything, who I think is from the Southern area. *crosses fingers*

edit:

Renne wrote:and then making an appointment for my first ever blood donation. Eep!

I give Blood over here every 3 months, its no biggie. Just think of it as a nice hours-long lie down when you should be working and free tea and biscuits!

by **Renne** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 2:56 pm

Psychout wrote:Any way, my interest is peaked because I have cousins over Brisbane way, but I know they are safe (for now), I just hope all you guys are too, the only known Aussie from here I'm yet to hear from now is Plaything, who I think is from the Southern area. *crosses fingers*

YEah... well, Victorian bushfire-wise you're not going to have to worry about your Brisbane rellies on that front.

I give Blood over here every 3 months, its no biggie. Just think of it as a nice hours-long lie down when you should be working and free tea and biscuits!

I'll still have to make up that hour!

News Credits: 226 · by **Burn** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 3:57 pm

Death toll is now at 181.

Donations have now topped 31 million, this is 10 million more than the Cyclone Larry relief fund a few years ago. As someone who's been through one of the largest natural disasters in history, knowing that there are so many people out there offering their support is a huge thing.

Last night's one day international cricket match between Australia and New Zealand raised 6 million.

New Zealand are sending over forensic experts to help with identifying bodies (would NOT be a pleasant job)

MOST of the fires are now to be deliberately lit. Police are apparently closing in on suspects but are keeping tight lipped on just how much they know, hopefully the one thing we hear from them is "the suspect was shot and killed while attempting to flee custody". Would save a lot of time ...

Oh and the Queen herself has made a "substantial" personal donation. Guess we'll have to stay in the Commonwealth a little longer.

News Credits: 972 · by **i_amtrunks** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:39 pm

The forensic experts are going to be kept very busy, but at least they should be a little more desensitised to the bodies, unlike all the poor Army reservists who have found bodies.

I guess that this fire might make more of a case for people to build fire bunkers, ABC radio reported a story that a man and his wife near Kingslake were saved by the one the husband built (only to shut his wife up, and now the poor sap wont hear the end of how right she was!

)
You might never need use it, but if it can be proved that bunkers work, they should be seriously considered.

The amount of money from the public is crazy, it's great to hear little kiddies donating their pocket money. What's shameful is the big companies donating so little money. The big 4 banks only donated a million each (some only matching what their staff donate). That is pocketchange to these companies that make tens of millions of profit every year.

by **Renne** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:27 am

Burn wrote:Oh and the Queen herself has made a "substantial" personal donation. Guess we'll have to stay in the Commonwealth a little longer.

She likes us! She really likes us!

News Credits: 972 · by **i_amtrunks** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:22 pm

Glad that the toll remained has remained at 181 with 80 missing, I know it will climb again when the police and Army can get into areas still burning, but it's a lower number than was hoped, especially if some of those still missing are found alive.

It's going to heat up again in Victoria, so lets hope the Firies can get their backburning done without Greenies interfering and stop two of the largest fires combining into one superfire.

News Credits: 1 · by **Blackstreak** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:22 pm

Tragedies always hit hardest when they are at the homefront. It is fortunate the numbers are low.

by **Renne** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:52 pm

Blackstreak wrote:It is fortunate the numbers are low.

You're joking, right?

I mean, you'd have to be, since this is the largest loss of life from fire in Australia in known history, with more than double the loss of life of the next biggest fire and you're saying "it's fortunate the numbers are low"?