stay safe

Not in it but close enough to some of them, some sad shit going on down here, it can be a tough unrelenting place at times.

Some Videos that show some of the hardships ( these are on fb)

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2567516723347488

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1383814351801427

There are numerous photos being posted social and main stream media, including animals caught in the fires. I'm not going to post any of them as they're far too distressing.

This photo however did capture my attention:



The silvery streams running out of the car are the melted aluminium (aluminum to Americans) wheel rims. The melting point for them is 660 degrees Celsius (1,220 Fahrenheit).

There's also this that puts the fires in perspective (NB ha refers to hectares. 1 hectare = 2.47 acres)



It is also worth noticing that the Australian figures say "so far". The bushfire season still has a long way to run.

Thanks for posting Kay! I thought about it yesterday and just didn't know how to word it.

"Stay safe" says it all.

I live in the U.S. but it is heart-wrenching to see what is happening.

Some of our smartest and most helpful members here are Aussies that regularly contribute.

I know people are mainly trying to save possessions and their lives - but is there any activity trying to save koalas, etc in areas that have not yet been burned or out ahead of the wildfires?


I don't believe I have ever seen a 'disaster' like this that affected and ENTIRE country - until I looked at maps I thought the fires were on a sector of Australia...but they seem to be almost everywhere.

I just read an article that said it's estimated that over 500 MILLION wild animals have died in the fires.

At some point there won't be any more bush to burn - the loss of wildlife just breaks my heart.

Make that another it is heart breaking to see. Hear something recently that said the Koala's are functionally extinct. Hope not and was wondering if some how a few could be repopulated in another part of the World ?

I live about 70km from the nearest town affected, and am seeing smog every day, sometimes hard to see and others, it puts an eerie mist around the landscapes tree's.

Yesterday was pretty bad since it was affecting my eyes, but it was a hot day so l had to leave the window down when driving.

Kay people are trying to save all of the wildlife as they can.

I read about someone yesterday that was saving homes, then got an alert his house was threatened, just got back in time, with little water pressure, and used a bulldozer, to push the fire affected areas away from his home.

Which worked but not after the heat, and smoke, made him faint several times, and his workmates where physically ill.

The thing about large fires is they can suck the oxygen out of the air, and create fire cyclones, that have already lifted up a firetruck and killed one person.

And large scale fires also cause dry lightening, or the smoke creates its own thunder, which creates more fires.

Victoria is expecting some cool days and light rain soon, which can't come soon enough.

Maybe this is just plain ignorance from my side but I had no idea this was happening until yesterday until I saw in the news of all the devastation.

I hope everyone over there stays safe and hope no one here is impacted.

There is always hope.

Now rolled out the military in huge numbers, I have been around many blue moons and this size and devastation I have never seen before, it's madness at best.

Maybe it's "american-think" but I'm shocked the govt hasn't rolled out the military before now. Why wait so long? I was appalled at the fireworks being allowed as the country burned....people manning fireworks could have been fighting the fires.


Shane - is that a kookaburra? (sp?)

I just read the Australian Zoo's Wildlife Hospital (steve Irwin's family) announced so far they have treated 90,000 animals hurt by the fires.


Wow...just wow.

There are a lot of good charities trying to help out...

Here are a few that caught my attention:

Foodbank = Donate food, funds or services - the largest hunger-relief charity in Australia.

GoFundMe = Donate to displaced First Nations Communities that need to rebuild.

GoFundMe = Donate to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, which is rescuing and treating koalas suffering from severe burns. It is also installing automatic drinking stations in burnt areas to help all the wildlife searching for water.

Maybe we can all pitch in - every little bit helps.

[Side Note: I wonder if a mod would consider moving this to the main forum or starting a new thread there. I think this disaster rises to the level of making an exception to move an off topic discussion upstairs. Thousands of more members may see this and want to consider helping out.]

Good post and good suggestion to the Mods to move this to the main forum. The suggestion is in the spirit of good Warrior Spirit.


P.S. I'd love to thank you for the suggestion, but my Thanks Button does not work.

We tend to have several firerelief charity collections running at shopping centres in AU, but an international version of that sounds like a good idea.

Pretty bad today or the worst day for smoke related fog, probably since the colder days and light rain are hammering the fires.

It was misting gum tree's in neighbors property's, or the worst l have seen it, and since l was outside for an hour or so today, which had a slight affect on breathing and seeing, or l am getting a small dose of what people in the firing line are experiencing.

This is a picture of what the smoke from the Australian bushfires is doing to the skyline.

Please note it was taken not in Australia, but in Auckland, New Zealand.



A satellite photo of the smoke drifting across the Tasman Sea:

Anyone with breathing problems is out of luck! I can't imagine a skylne like that day after day and the views form satellites are impressive.



To me, this is what GoFundMe is for - when you can avoid the scams.I will never donate money to pay for the funeral of someone I never heard of - but 4 million to the koala hospital is impressive!

A photo taken on Sydney Harbour with the iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge in the background:



It was featured in this article from American publication The New Republic: https://newrepublic.com/article/1561...nfernal-denial

After having a coffee today and escaping the hot day here, l saw a guy in front of me paying for his order, and he had a bright red arm, or part of, and a face like a brown tan, but also had some white marks like he had been in the sun all day wearing a mask or goggles, (very likely a firefighter).

Certainly puts things in perspective!

I think when poeple act like idiots - tossing cigs out the window or ignoring burn bans...they should be charged if their actions cause damage.


Being an idiot should not excuse them from consequences.

My view was not their 'intent' to case damage - but their 'intent' to ignore the law. I can't comprehend people knowing the problem/risk and violating common sense and fire regulations....but then, most of the time, I can't comprehend people...so....

IMO, anyone who believes what they read on social media has a gullibility problem.


I don't understand people who think it's cool to spread lies and rumors...what a waste of time.

The email spammers are getting in on the act. I checked my spam today and saw several with the subject: Australia is burning!

The main trouble with the world today is not the warming climate.