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Vernon and john. our media has said nothing about these fires. if it had been California it would have been front page news. I hope at least one of the fire fighters has a gun to shoot any arsonist who thinks it fun to help the fires. I am very sorry to hear of the devastation and hope you are ok Vernon in Blackheath.
Fire has always been with us and measures taken by the aboriginal people were to periodically set alight to the bush. This kept the landscape from being overloaded with undergrowth and debris from the trees and scrub, particularly the evergreen eucalyptus gum trees that shed their bark and not their leaves. Some of the native plants have seed pods that fall and await the heat of fire to burst them open where they quickly take rook in the fertile ash of the fire that was the "midwife'.
When I was a wee lad in the 1930s we lived 33 miles south of Sydney on ten acres of which half was eucalyptus bush. I can remember my dad and all our neighbours slapping out the fire as it reached the grass separating the bush and our cottage and the woman and older kids running backwards and forwards refilling buckets with water.
Unfortunately there has been resistance in past years to organised 'back burning' by the fire authorities and the build up on the bush floor has allowed fires to become so fierce that they explode the oily eucalyptus treetops and jump from tree to tree. Depending on the wind - and this was really gale force this time - burning leaves can travel quite some distance well ahead of the fire front and 'spot' a new fire that flares up at an alarming rate. I expect that there will be a rethinking of the back burning practice after this episode.
Tonight houses in Mount Victoria were destroyed. That is 17 Kms to the West of us in Katoomba and Blackheath, where Doc and Irene live is about halfway between. Springwood and Winmalee is a little further to the East towards Sydney and the count is not known but over a hundred homes are expected to be lost.
So far there appears to be no direct risk to Doc or me.
Richard
Richard just looking at the news every house that's burned down{on the news clip} had trees all around them within a few feet in some cases. if you live in a fire area you would make some sort of clearing around you property I know that fire jumps from tree to tree but you would give yourself and your home a chance? just my view.jp
And the correct view, John. People want a 'tree change' and think it can't happen to them. If you go into Google Earth - Explorers Road and Pulpit hill Road, Katoomba you will see houses on the escarpment completely smothered in large trees. The last few fires have not got to them but on the nearby bush track where I walk my dog nearly all the old trees have black trunks.
Richard
I always felt sorry for the animals and the Koalas , Koalas climb to the top of the trees when in danger and in a fire that is the worst place to be. they must have a terrible death toll.
Cheers
Brian.
Good luck guys hope that the fire does not come anywhere near you.
I have only ever seen film of these huge fires, they look horrific to me. And my heart felt sympathies go to those that have lost all. My prayers will be that none of our members, families or friends get caught up in these fires.
George
in Southampton
This is mainly for the Capt to see,sory they are not really good ones but you may get the idea !
Cheers
At least they work a treat!
As you can see i couldnt actually get on the Roof,but my makeshift seems to do the job!
Cheers
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And here is last Night Moon so spectacular in the Night Haze,then OMG! It started falling!
:wasntme:
haha! Cheers
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