Fires Down Under

[Grandpot]

Here in the States, we are seeing pictures and hearing news of the wild fires in Australia. Wild fires are terrifying and devastating. I pray for your safety and wish you well.

[pegasus1300]

We are keeping the country of Australia in our prayers. Terrible devastation.

[ARtraveler]

Keeping those in Australia in our thoughts and .

[LeftCoast]

Yep definitely thinking of our Aussie mates as I read the news in hopes the news is playing it up a bit. Whether they are or not having gone through brutal fire seasons out here the last few years, it’s devastating either way.

[Peteoz]

As an Aussie who was in very close proximity to a fire front (about 50 metres) before it was turned by rural fire service and water bombers, thanks for your thoughts and prayers. We on the Mid East coast are “fairly” safe now as there is not much left to burn for hundreds of Kms. The fires are now raging on the south east coast. We were lucky, but hundreds of homes and a dozen lives have been lost. Unfortunately these fires will continue to rage as they are so vast that they create their own micro climate, including lightning, which of course starts more fires. We need rain, but the cyclone season in Southern Asia is late developing, so nothing of note is forecast before end Jan. Widespread, heavy rain is the only thing that will affect these fires. Everything else is just stop gap measures.
.........and a HUGE thanks to the many US, Canadian and UnZud (New Zealand) firefighters (among others), who have given up Christmas with their families to fly out here and help......genuine heroes

Pete

[UtahPete]

As an Aussie who was in very close proximity to a fire front (about 50 metres) before it was turned by rural fire service and water bombers, thanks for your thoughts and prayers. We on the Mid East coast are “fairly” safe now as there is not much left to burn for hundreds of Kms. The fires are now raging on the south east coast. We were lucky, but hundreds of homes and a dozen lives have been lost. Unfortunately these fires will continue to rage as they are so vast that they create their own micro climate, including lightning, which of course starts more fires. We need rain, but the cyclone season in Southern Asia is late developing, so nothing of note is forecast before end Jan. Widespread, heavy rain is the only thing that will affect these fires. Everything else is just stop gap measures.
.........and a HUGE thanks to the many US, Canadian and UnZud (New Zealand) firefighters (among others), who have given up Christmas with their families to fly out here and help......genuine heroes

Pete

Horrifying. So sorry you are experiencing this.

[askitee]

We've been fortunate in my area, cancelled the XMAS hols in case we had to evacuate. The fire front kept the area on its toes up to Xmas, after which it has lost its intensity and the focus is further south. Our good fortune has sadly been someone else's misfortune.

This website is our lifeblood and keeps us up to date on our current situation https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/

We've traditionally not had so much wind. This added to the 40+ degree Celsius days make it open slather for fire.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

.........and a HUGE thanks to the many US, Canadian and UnZud (New Zealand) firefighters (among others), who have given up Christmas with their families to fly out here and help......genuine heroes

It's the least we can do to repay your countrymen who have been over here many times through the years to help fight our wildfires. Being able to exchange fire fighting forces without impacting their home territory is one benefit of our seasons being 6 months apart!

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Here's a website describing some of the successful efforts at saving and returning wildlife to the wild after the devastating fires in Australia. Koalas are especially touching. Even kangaroos, the subject of a love/hate relationship with the Aussies are recovering.

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel...2899280&orgid=