Fires Raging NSW

[Doc Vernon]

Hi All
Dont know how many of you out there have heard or even know of what is going on here as far as the Fires are concerned!
However just to enlighten you,there have been some horrofif Fires here especially Yesterday,with very very dry,hot and very Windy conditions most everywhere ,wonds gusting up to the 100kmh ,which of course made things so much worse for all!
There have been many many Homes lost throughout the Fire Zones,and the SES has been working falt out for many hours and still going to try and save what they can!
These have been the worst Fires in a decade here now ,and with more Hot and dry conditions will continue to flare up!
One thing on a positive front is that the high Winds have eased,making it a wee bit better for the Firefighters! What a grand lot of people we have here that give all their time for free,to assist all that are in need,my Hat off to each and everyone of them!
Sadly there have been some of the SES team that themselves whilst helping others,have heard that they themselves have lost everything,how very very sad to hear his,and yet thet still carry on! A brave and dedicated lot of People!
So may i ask that oyu ALL please say a prayer for those who have lost everything and there are many,let us hope that soon the Fires will be under control,and that these poor people can start to rebuild their shattered lives!
We here at Blackheath have been so extreemly lucky,not to have had the Fires at our front doors as others,and for that alone we hereare all so thankfull!
Thanks for reading this!
Doc Vernon
http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_content.cfm?cat_id=683

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/we...017-2voyu.html

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/we...017-2vpr7.html

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-1...gh-nsw/5030158

Lots more if you just google it!

[Lou Barron]

Just this moment sent a Message to you Lou

[Doc Vernon]

Have replied Lou thank you
Doc

[happy daze john in oz]

The Australian bush, a wonderment of it's own, a place of serenity and peace. A place where so many choose to go in an effort to escape the ravages of modern life. A place to build a home close to nature, to aweken to the sound of the Kookabura, often known as the bushmans alarm clock, to hear the sound of a Magpie as it warbles it's tune, claimed to be the greatest song bird in the world. To see flocks of Sulpur Crested Cokatoos, or Corellas flying overhead, a cacophony of sound. To see a Kangaroo merrily making his way through the bush, or to find a Koala gently sleeping in the crook of a gum tree branch. These are the wonders of nature that brings people to the bush.

But a strike of lightening, a misplaced cigarette butt, a spark from an angle grinder and the fury unleashed is like no other. A bush fire has a mind of it's own and will take all in it's path, man, mammal, houses it matters not to the fire. The tops of the gum trees, leaves loaded with eucalyptus explode like giant fire crackers spreading their venom to the next tree and so it goes on. Such a fire as to create it's own fire storm with winds generated far beyond the normal wind. Devastation on a scale only maybe hell could produce. This is the ugly side of the Australian bush, indeed a most terrible beauty.

[Doc Vernon]

How wonderfully put John,you are a master at writing as has been said before!
If only i had that gift!
Thank you
Cheers

[Roger Dyer]

Vernon (Doc).....Good to hear you're safe, as are we. Have friends of ours who live in Springwood (for the benefit of others, that's in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney) who are currently touring Tasmania with a group of vintage car club enthusiasts. Phoned him yesterday to make sure someone was keeping an eye on his home whilst he is away. He told me that one of the lads touring with him (who also lives in the Blue Mountains) had just received the news that his home has been lost together with a large shed containing several vintage cars worth much moolah. Poor bu--er, I hope he was insured. Mother Nature can be cruel sometimes, although she is very often assisted by the carelessness or criminal mindlessness of man. Last night, the sky to the north-west of us (over Richmond way) had that awful red glow that so often heralds tragedy. I have friends at Kurmond, but cannot reach them, the lines are down. I am not a religious man, but my thoughts are with those who have suffered loss and those who remain under threat. Sadly, I think we may be in for a summer of horror, but do so hope I'm wrong.

........Roger

[happy daze john in oz]

How wonderfully put John,you are a master at writing as has been said before!
If only i had that gift!
Thank you
Cheers

Vernon, be not envious of the talents of others. We are all gifted in one way or another, use the gifts you have to the best of your ability. Your talent is the assistance of others, something you excell at.

[Captain Kong]

I saw some of the Fires on Al Jazeera TV News, Nothing on BBC,
.
. I got thinking, I have no experience of bush fires, but, on Tankers I was on in the later years, we had a sprinkler system , called a fire wall all the way across the accommodation so if there was a cargo fire water is running down the outside bulkheads and over the windows stopping the outside heat from penetrating the inside.
Also on the lifeboats, if the sea was on fire due to burning oil we had sprinkler systems on the roof of the enclosed lifeboat that covered it with water, having that cooling effect.
So in my mind, not really knowing where your water supply is coming from, if a sprinkler system would at least stop burning sparks from showering onto the roofs creating a fire. It is just a pipe with holes every few inches across the roof top and under the eaves connected to a tap or valve from the mains supply.
Just an idea, and also not knowing the amount of water available for a continuous supply as I know that water is in short supply in certain parts.
Anyhow Good Luck to everyone there, I have been in parts of Australia and seen the results of the bush fires after the event and seen the devastation it causes
Cheers
Brian..

[Doc Vernon]

Funny you should talk about Sprinklers Capt.i in fact have put three Sprinklers on the Roof allready,i actually had them going Yesterday just in case!
A great help i must say!
I will take a Pic of them somehow to Post here!
This was a thought i had quite a long time ago!
Cheers
Doc

[John Pruden]

feel very sorry for those who have lost everything this seems to be an annual thing with no answer except clearing vast amounts of land. are we building to close to wooded areas with the population expanding there dos not seem to be any type of fire break between them. we know it will happen again next summer and it is a shame that some will loose everything again. good luck to any member close to this fire.jp