Sending prayers to our Melbourne members

[geebee]

This is all just breaking my heart. I cannot believe someone could even think of doing such a thing to say nothing of actually setting the fires. It is definitely terrorism no matter the source.

I am so sorry for all the tremendous losses.

 

[aussigal]

We hearing stories US about a possible terrorist involvement. Can anyone in the OZ area confirm this?

If you call the arsonists/firebugs who lit the fires Terrorists then YES...

Much of the whole eastern and middle of Victoria has been wiped out by fire...entire towns are gone with nothing but burning embers and ash remains...death toll 173 and climbing...only now are the rescuers able to get into some of these towns which had been cut off by fires and locate the bodies of people/families who had been trapped in cars and homes...

Its our worst Natural Disaster ever.

 

[Mary]

I am late to this thread, but I have been watching the news and getting updates from an Australian friend on another forum. I am so sorry that this has happened, and I hope that if and when the people who set some of the fires are caught, they put them in prison for many, many years.
My prayers are with our Melbourne members along with all Australians.

 

[hensylee]

I hope they catch those people who set these awful fires. Fire is a terrible thing when it's blown by the wind. No catching it and it travels rapidly. We want all you folks down under to check in and let us knowyou are ok - please - if you can. I pray you are all ok and have not lost any family/friends.

Blessins..........

 

[Superbob]

I am late to this thread but I have been following the heartbreaking stories, and my thoughts and prayers are with our Aussie friends, in hopes they and their families will be safe, and this terrible situation will very soon be brought under control.

 

[Rich]

This is a terrible tragedy and I hope our friends down there are OK.
If they catch the ones who may have started this, I can't post what I would do to them.
Rich

 

[netmiff]

another latecomer - but all you people down-under have been in my thoughts, the ones I know from here and the many, many more that I don't.

I read/heard somewhere that the wind is whipping embers up to 25 miles (I think it was 25 miles) and these embers are then starting new fires. I was
astonished, and wondered how you could fight fires that do that, I mean, some of the firefighters could easily get cut off. Brave people!

 

[BDMc]

My prayers too.

 

[Debbie]

Anna, I heard about these fires and thought of you and wondering if you and the other members were o.k. Glad to see your posting! Take care and try and keep cool. Debbie

 

[Guest]

This is really sad. A friend of mine has friends in Melbourne, she sent some pictures of how hot it is. A Koala came up to her porch for a drink, they put out a basin filled with water. He/she drank a bit, then decided he needed to cool off all over.

View attachment 6667

 

[Guest]

I have two more, this one is a firefighter giving water to the koala.

View attachment 6668

 

[Guest]

Last one, this kangaroo decided he needed to go for a swim to cool off.

View attachment 6669

 

[njean]

Such a travesty for these poor people & too for all the little creatures that have died in the wake of this horrible, horrible inferno!

May God keep you safe!

 

[abbanabba]

I read/heard somewhere that the wind is whipping embers up to 25 miles (I think it was 25 miles) and these embers are then starting new fires. I was
astonished, and wondered how you could fight fires that do that, I mean, some of the firefighters could easily get cut off. Brave people!

This is why so many places were caught completely off guard. Embers from fires travelled so far, so fast (winds were over 100km p/h) and the searing heat and drought conditions meant things caught fire VERY fast!! Even with the fire plans that most rural residents have in place (fight or flee) there just wasn't time to do either and fire crews weren't able to respond in time, which is why so many people died.

At the moment they're evacuating towns which MAY come under threat because of what happened earlier, but fortunately conditions are much cooler and they are finally able to make some headway with some of these fires (although there are still some 20 fires raging and two are of significant danger as they could easily join up creating another monster). I just hope there are no more fatalities from those still burning.

 

[njean]

My prayers continue for all of you! I pray you remain out of harms way!

 

[aussigal]

Some pics from the inferno in country Victoria...

 

[aussigal]

another one

 

[Nancy]

That is just terrible. So sorry for all who lost so much.

 

[Lynlw]

Loiuse, I missed you pics earlier the koala ones are so cute

 

[aussigal]

last one...