Just wanted to pass on my condolences and best wishes to everyone affected both directly and indirectly.

I spent most of the night watching one of the fires out my window and on the phone with my mother keeping an update on one near where she lives. We look to be ok now

Also been talking to some friends who are CFA volunteers. They are absolutely devastated saying there is just no describing it.

If you have kids, you might want to think about keeping them away from the news stories for the time being. It tends to just terrify them whether you are in the path of the fires or in sth qld. Once the immediate threat is over, sit down and talk to them about it.

Lastly, if you can, thing about making a donation http://www.nab.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/nab/nab/home/About_Us/8/5/14/NAB+establishes+$1+Million+bushfire+relief+fund

Cheers

Andrew

Andrew,

I have just logged on and I am glad to see you have this thread up..

As a very proud Aussie My heart is very heavy after just watching the Utter Devastation to country towns both large and small throughout Victoria...

At the moment they are saying 75 lost soles and 730 homes burnt to the ground, just incredible what fire can do..and many were deliberately lit.

I also join you Andrew in sending my condolences to ALL Victorians and especially to those poor people who are no longer with us, to their families and loved ones, I am truly sorry for you.

Words are inadequate at this time.

I know South Australian SES and Firefighters are one their way to help along with our Erickson Crane water bomber.

All Australian's feel your grief and I pledge to offer what financial assistance I can offer, I trust all club member's will also dig deep an contribute to the Bushfire Appeal.

Secure Donations can also be forwarded right now through the Australian Red cross..
http://www.redcross.org.au/default.asp

Thanks Ash, much appreciated. The official toll at the moment is 76 soles but this is expected to be above 100 by the time its all over. I have heard rumours about a number of people found in a small town where my wife and I play Tennis occasionally.

Apart from the closeness to me physically, some of the hardest hit communities of Yea, Whittlesea, Kinglake and Marysville are places that we rx-8 owners frequent, in fact our last cruise was to Yea via Kinglake. It was beautifull country and the people are fantastic.

Guy's

I spent Wednesday - Friday at a small place last week about 10km from Kilmore and we were astounded at how dry it was.

Thoughts with those people touched and hope all the crew comes through unscathed.

Mike

Been watching the news and am very saddened by the loss suffered.
My family will be pledging to help out with what ever money we can.
Hope all our RX8 members in that area stay safe.
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in that area.

A total devastating unnecessary loss of life , makes you wonder why people in the bush dont invest in .............underground bunkers or cellars in the worst fire effected areas .

Its a sad sad Day .

Michael

It's terrible.

I know a few people who's family and friends were affected, one person lost someone they know, others have had properties destroyed. I am really lost for words. I have never seen anything like this happen on my doorstep and hopefully never will again.

It's sad to think that 3 weeks ago I actually drove through Kinglake, Marysville, the Spurs etc... we had lunch at the cafe in Marysville and now the entire town is gone. It's hard to imagine, it was such a beautiful part of the country.

Yeah, you guys be careful over there. News reports here in the States say the death toll is up to at least 84.

"Police said charred bodies had been found in cars in at least two places - suggesting people were engulfed in flames as they tried to flee." :Eyecrazy:

Sadly the toll has been ammended to 108 :banghead: one cannot help but think that the Authorities werent prepared at all with evacuation procedures for this one .

Yes the fire fighters have done a great job , however the use of the Australian armed forces..........Chinook Helicopters ,transport planes should have been put in place to assist in evacuation procedures .

Heads should roll , at Goverment level on this one :Eyecrazy:

Shame bloody shame :banghead:

Cheers
Michael

The only people to blame are the arsonists.
Everyone else does all that they can.

In a situation like this it is the media that could be most help.
Constant reports from helicopters could give people better warning about exit routes and when to leave.
Everyone should have a fire plan.

Ultimately a great tragedy and a day of national grief.

Sadly the toll has been ammended to 108 :banghead: one cannot help but think that the Authorities werent prepared at all with evacuation procedures for this one .

Yes the fire fighters have done a great job , however the use of the Australian armed forces..........Chinook Helicopters ,transport planes should have been put in place to assist in evacuation procedures .

Heads should roll , at Goverment level on this one :Eyecrazy:

Shame bloody shame :banghead:

Cheers
Michael

I don't know about that. People who live in areas under threat are usually given the option to evacuate or stay behind and help to fight the fire and protect their homes. I guess in this case the gale force winds combined with 47 degree weather and drought caused the flames to move too quickly for anyone to react. Who could possibly have imagined that entire towns such as Marysville would be completely destroyed? Don't get me wrong, I am usually the first person to criticize the Brumby government, but unfortunately I don't think anyone was to blame here except as someone else said earlier, the arsonists.

If anyone wants to help you can donate to the Red Cross State Government Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund (http://www.redcross.org.au, phone 1800 811 700 or any NAB, ANZ, Westpac or Commonwealth Bank branch)

Donate to the Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund (BSB 082-001, Account number 860-046-797)

Myer Bushfire Appeal - all proceeds to the Salvation Army (Donate at any Victorian Myer store)

Donate blood at the Red Cross (Ring 131 495)

I didn't catch any news at all from Fri arvo till last night, so was shocked when I first heard. What a horrible disaster and tragic loss of life!

Finger pointing and trying any arsonists caught can wait (and I hope they hang the bastards high). For now it's time to show support to those affected and dig deep with some cash.

Thanks for posting the donation links boys and hang in there Mexicans...to paraphrase from 9/11, we're ALL Victorians today! We're with you and feel your pain.

DrGonzo, was actually thinking of you last night and this morning. A few spot fires sparking up around Christmas Hills and Panton Hill. Vaguely recall you saying you were around there.

Its absolutely sureal around home at the moment. Can still see small smoke plumes, Water Cranes flying over head and air raid sirens going off periodically. Most people who know me know that I cant help but get involved in things and I feel decidedly useless at the moment.

On the point of arsonists, I know there is a lot of talk about arsonists but keep in mind that the heat was insane on Saturday. It was 47 and the wind was hotter and over 100km/h at times. It hasnt rained in something like 2-3 months in some of these areas so it wouldnt suprise me if a simple bottle or piece of metal left in some scrub caused some of these fires.

Please remember that a lot of the people who have died didnt even realise that the they were in danger until it was to late. Marysville has one road in/out. By the time most realised there was Danger they were blocked in by fallen trees, fire, etc. Hence the bodies in cars.

Not sure what people have seen but this is the area immediately around me. And this is only 1/3rd of the fires.

I will post up some of the pics I have taken later.

Cheers

Andrew

Andrew, no - I am in Burnside Heights, western suburbs of Melbourne. Thanks for your concern though :)

Where abouts are you? Is there a danger?

I just heard on the news that the Marysville fire was deliberately lit. Certainly it was fanned by the terrible conditions, but hot weather and wind don't start fires. Toll is up to 130 now :(

Got a few Pics off the News Site...I just thought I would post them here, some are very poignant.

The amount of cars destroyed is amazing, even on the roads peoples tyres were melting while driving and the alloy wheels melting!

http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=133410&stc=1&d=1234160555

http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=133411&stc=1&d=1234160555

http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=133412&stc=1&d=1234160555

http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=133413&stc=1&d=1234160555

http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=133414&stc=1&d=1234160555

http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=133415&stc=1&d=1234160769

The cars..

Andrew, no - I am in Burnside Heights, western suburbs of Melbourne. Thanks for your concern though :)

Where abouts are you? Is there a danger?

I just heard on the news that the Marysville fire was deliberately lit. Certainly it was fanned by the terrible conditions, but hot weather and wind don't start fires. Toll is up to 130 now :(
I am in Diamond Creek. On the map I posted earlier you will see a green dot S/W of Hurstbridge. Thats me.

The attachments in this thread are looking towards St Andrews/Panton Hill way. They dont really do it justice as I only had my 70mm lens on. But you hopefully get the idea.

I am curious what makes you say that "hot weather and wind don't start fires"? Grass fires often start spontaneously.

Cheers

Andrew

This is very sad news. I hope that all Victorian and NSW members and family and friends have managed to stay out of harms way with the fires. Everyone else in non-affected parts of the country are with you in our thoughts and best wishes. :tear:

There will be many who will not get over it and I'll definately be putting my hand in my pocket to do my bit and help.....and god help the assholes who lit them if they ever get caught.:icon_no2:

Donation done, but it feels hollow :(


As Dave says, we're all Victorians today...except for those sick @rseholes who get off by lighting fires. If this has given them any thrill, then they are truly, really sick :icon_no2:

Sorry Andrew, grass fires don't start spontaneously without an ignition point, such as lightning. So, if there was no lightning strikes...then the cause becomes obvious :mad:

Is Taka & Family Ok?

He lives a reasonable distance from the fires. Just think he is busy with work.

Cheers

Andrew

Good wishes from my family to you and yours- hope you get through this all right.

He lives a reasonable distance from the fires. Just think he is busy with work.

Cheers

Andrew

Correct. Very busy here but thanks for your concern Ash.

It is a very sad day indeed.

We as a group of pathologist here in Melbourne, have offered our help when need at the Forensic Institute.

I also feel for people in Churhill where I used to know when I worked at Traralgon years ago.

Absolute tragedy!

I have lost 3 good friends to the King Lake fires and 2 families my family is close to are still missing including their young children. A very sad day. I am not a religious person but have found myself saying a few prayers over the last couple days!

Also looks like Danielle might have lost some of her work mates.

I have been doing what I can by delivering hot food donated by local food outlets in my area up to the rest/rally areas for CFA personal and also to the gathering points for all those that lost everything. Once among them you cannot help but be reduced to tears. To have someone that has just lost everything and that has burns to parts of their body tearfully thank you for bringing them a simple hot meal is a truly humbling experience indeed!

Danielle and myself are offering the spare bedrooms of our home to a displaced family from the fires. I cannot save my friends that lost their lives (and this really kills me) but maybe I can help their neighbors put their life back together. The amount left with nothing is staggering. Money, clothes, toys are starting to come their way now but after seeing and talking with a few a roof over their heads is desperately needed.

I urge any members on this side of town who have some space they can spare for a while to contact one of the hotlines & offer a roof for one of these families to sleep under. You can make a true difference to someone's life and give them that hand they surely need to start putting the pieces back together!

Donation done, but it feels hollow :(


As Dave says, we're all Victorians today...except for those sick @rseholes who get off by lighting fires. If this has given them any thrill, then they are truly, really sick :icon_no2:

Sorry Andrew, grass fires don't start spontaneously without an ignition point, such as lightning. So, if there was no lightning strikes...then the cause becomes obvious :mad:
Sorry mate, I wasn't as clear as I could have been. When I say "spontaneous" I meant not lit by a person. It goes back to my previous comment "It hasnt rained in something like 2-3 months in some of these areas so it wouldnt suprise me if a simple bottle or piece of metal left in some scrub caused some of these fires."

Cheers

Andrew

Stu,

I feel you mate and hope you are both holding up OK. I dread the next few weeks when the kids find out that people they know are the area through school and sport haven't survived. All my best to you and Danielle.

Cheers

Andrew
Absolute tragedy!

I have lost 3 good friends to the King Lake fires and 2 families my family is close to are still missing including their young children. A very sad day. I am not a religious person but have found myself saying a few prayers over the last couple days!

Also looks like Danielle might have lost some of her work mates.

I have been doing what I can by delivering hot food donated by local food outlets in my area up to the rest/rally areas for CFA personal and also to the gathering points for all those that lost everything. Once among them you cannot help but be reduced to tears. To have someone that has just lost everything and that has burns to parts of their body tearfully thank you for bringing them a simple hot meal is a truly humbling experience indeed!

Danielle and myself are offering the spare bedrooms of our home to a displaced family from the fires. I cannot save my friends that lost their lives (and this really kills me) but maybe I can help their neighbors put their life back together. The amount left with nothing is staggering. Money, clothes, toys are starting to come their way now but after seeing and talking with a few a roof over their heads is desperately needed.

I urge any members on this side of town who have some space they can spare for a while to contact one of the hotlines & offer a roof for one of these families to sleep under. You can make a true difference to someone's life and give them that hand they surely need to start putting the pieces back together!

Hey guys, the Euro Car Club has organised a fundraising event which will involve dinner and a photoshoot. They are asking for a $10 donation for your attendance (dinner extra - it's at a pizza place so nothing too dear) and if you want to purchase prints of your car, it will be an additional $15. Please follow the link if you are interested. All are welcome and they are a great bunch of guys.

http://forums.eurocca.net/showthread.php?p=483598#post483598

Sorry mate, I wasn't as clear as I could have been. When I say "spontaneous" I meant not lit by a person. It goes back to my previous comment "It hasnt rained in something like 2-3 months in some of these areas so it wouldnt suprise me if a simple bottle or piece of metal left in some scrub caused some of these fires."

Dr Graham Mills, the head of bushfire research at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology in Melbourne said on ABC radio today...."Yes I'm not sure of all the possibilities for fire ignition, certainly some are accidental, some are deliberate but I've heard of sun's rays being focussed through a bit of broken bottle, like a magnifying glass and starting a fire and in conditions like we had last Saturday a fire doesn't go out, it expands."

When you consider 47c and high winds on the day, I'd say with some of the fires it is possible....

Stu, sorry to hear mate...many really horrific stories. A work colleague and his wife are lucky to be alive....

We as a group of pathologist here in Melbourne, have offered our help when need at the Forensic Institute.

...and Stephen, that implies some really tough work for you guys :(

After having spoken to a Vietnamese Vet about the fires in Victoria it totally devastated us how the number of deaths , injuries loss of property etc compared to the Australian losses in the Vietnam war .:banghead:

Vietnam War 3 August 1962 – 29 April 1975 number of Australian soldiers killed
...............521 .

Cheers
Michael

What a tragedy, this would have to be the worst natural disaster this nation has seen in recent memory.

The scale of this disaster will become apparent as time goes by.

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone touched by this devastation...it will be a long time before the healing can begin.

skc

Andrew,

I am not correcting anyone here, but the facts of what starts a Bushfire are these.

Lightning Strike.
or by a Human, that is it. Either deliberately or by a tool like an angle grinder/machinery/but.
Internal combustion can happen if there is enough moisture..like a hay shed.

Apart from that a piece of glass or metal can not cause these or any fire, the actual odds of a piece of glass being the correct thickness/distance from combustible material, correct breeze, Yada, yada, yada...

Sometimes it is just pure carelessness, like throwing a cigarette bud?

Even bad maintain power line sometimes can give some spark. It is so dry that even static electricity can possibly start it off.

Who knows.... we are not experts and let the expert to deal with it.

I think they have trouble ID the deseased at this stage. Lucky we have interstate and NZ expert to deal with it.

I think they have trouble ID the deseased at this stage. Lucky we have interstate and NZ expert to deal with it.

The media are saying that some may never identified.
I guess that means the dna has been destroyed by the fire.

many really horrific stories. A work colleague and his wife are lucky to be alive....(

Just listening to some of them tell their story as you give them a hot meal you realise there are a lot of amazing tales of survival. The small glimpse I saw up there is just total devastation. TV does not give a realistic impression of the physical/emotional truth. It's like pictures of Hiroshima after the bomb!

These poor souls including the fire fighters were preparing for a bush fire but what they were hit with was a firestorm on a scale and ferocity the likes of which has never been seen. That so many survived is a miracle!

There are quite a few CFA crews up there that are just shattered. The emotional scaring for them and the other emergency workers is going to run just as deep. They deserve all the praise, thanks and respect we can send their way!

The media are saying that some may never identified.
I guess that means the dna has been destroyed by the fire.

It is unlikely that no DNA survive, but I cannot say for sure.

It is likely that no comparable DNA can be find. e.g. no live immediate family available to match with the deceased.

The latest news is 1800 homes lost and 181 deaths.

I heard something last night that would have made this unbelievable tragedy even worse.

Thankfully or just luck the fires happened around the time they did, if it had been during the week one could only image the absolute horror with all the kids at school or pre-school, all the towns school structures and buildings were wiped out by the fires.

I heard another very sad thing, a father was removing his two little children from his house by placing them in his car, one of his kids said what about the dog.
In the time the father shut the car door and returned to his burning house to retrieve their dog then returning to see the car ablaze with his poor kids inside.

He had to run for his own life as his kids were gone. :(

What a shocking and tragic reality of these horrible fires.
The sadness this bring me is unbelievable.
What this man now has to live with would be a nightmare.

So, to everyone who has not given money to the Australian Red Cross, please do so, even our American, British and European RX-8 club members...please help us.

You can donate on-line at the Australian Red Cross secure website.
http://www.redcross.org.au/vic/services_emergencyservices_victorian-bushfires-appeal-2009.htm

Here is another for you. A guy was fined $50,000 and ordered to pay court costs which totalled $50,000 in including his own for cutting down trees near his home. This was after he was advised that he was allowed to clear within 100m from his home. The saddest part was that his home was the only one around to survive.

Cheers

Andrew

Yes Andrew,

And the fact that (Thanks to the Greenies) you are not permitted to gather fallen tree timber on the side of country roads, the tree limbs must be pushed out of the way and left there to rot!..

How bloody stupid.

They are exceedingly quiet at the moment aren't they!

I am going to ask really nicely. Can we keep this focused on the original topic. If it doesnt, I will delete the thread.

To kick start getting it back on topic, not sure who has heard about the government and power provider SP Austnet potentially being sued after it was revealed a collapsed power pole started the fires in Kinglake. Link here (http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2009/02/15/Power_company_to_be_sued_over_deadly_Kinglake_fire ).

YES, Andrew I have.

And yes, BooB is that way inclined and likes to cross dress, Imagine him with a wig and red lipstick!!OOOHHH!

Sorry Andrew!

I did not think of a power line, and you guys have timber power poles don't you?, we have the Stobie Pole, concrete and iron.
Underground cabling would be another good Idea, if they can afford it.

I know many metro area's here (mostly new) are, they are very slowly going underground with power.

I heard about the suit and I have to wonder WHY?

Whom do they think that is is going to effect? Come on people are giving millions to help the victims of the fires, they sue the Vic govt and power company the same people that are giving now till it hurts will have to pay again and again. The Vic govt will raise taxes to pay the lawsuit and the power company will raise every ones rates to cover their cost. The only losers in the suits are the people that pay those taxes and those rates.

I just read some reports from the Age this morning.

Apparently there are allegations that Marysville and Churchill fires are suspected to be deliberately lit... one person from Gippsland was arrested last week.

The fire that kill people in Kinglake and the fire in Horsham are thought to be caused by sparkes from broken powerline brought down by the strong wind.

The company that owns the lines is from Singapore and they have a contract that make them liable only for 100 million (thanks to Jeff Kennard when the contract was signed in the early 90s), but the bill and damage is calculated by lawyer filing the class action to be around 500 million mark. So that means the Victorian government will be liable for rest of the money ... if the total amount was rewarded by the supreme court.

Well there will be nothing for the school or public hospital if it were sucessful ....

I did not think of a power line, and you guys have timber power poles don't you?, we have the Stobie Pole, concrete and iron.
Underground cabling would be another good Idea, if they can afford it.

I know many metro area's here (mostly new) are, they are very slowly going underground with power.
Yes, most poles around that area would be the older wooden ones. Another of the brilliant by products of selling off the infrastructure. No requirement to modernise for any reason, not even safety.

Yes i am sure .

<edited for car forum purposes>

Cheers
Michael

OK I am going to say this once more in a slightly different way. I am happy to discuss politics but there is no room for bigotry, ridicule and hatred in most parts of life, but in a thread such as this its just down right disrespectful.

Yes Sorry I should not have brought that up.

I was going to say the powerline is not owned by Australian company and now it failed and caused a big fire...

To be honest the wind was so strong that any powerline in the world will get broken....

I just want to mention we have been sitting in a time bomb.

Yes, most poles around that area would be the older wooden ones. Another of the brilliant by products of selling off the infrastructure. No requirement to modernise for any reason, not even safety.

I think that is something one should look at. I wonder if there is a fool proof system at 100kmh wind. But I am sure there are ways to minimise that risk.

I think that is something one should look at. I wonder if there is a fool proof system at 100kmh wind. But I am sure there are ways to minimise that risk.

You can. Then what happens when you get a 101 km/h wind?

Hypothecially... Do they need to sue the weather for blowing too hard, for being to hot?

This is really, really sad that this happened. But it is just a tragedy that could hardly have been prevented unless no one lived there.

Cheers,
Hymee.

As a 90 y.o. veteran and founder of the Qld Bush Fire Brigade said poignantly on the news tonight...three things start a fire...

1. Oxygen
2. Heat
3. Fuel

Get rid of any one of them and the risk is gone....you can't get rid of oxygen, you can't get rid of heat, but if you can eliminate the fuel, you'll eliminate the fire.

Prevention is much better than cure.....

You can. Then what happens when you get a 101 km/h wind?

Hypothecially... Do they need to sue the weather for blowing too hard, for being to hot?

This is really, really sad that this happened. But it is just a tragedy that could hardly have been prevented unless no one lived there.

Cheers,
Hymee.

I suppose... that is what the word "accident" truly means? I guess the combination of heat and wind has never been recorded in the state's history.

Saw a clip from theage.com.au. It is only a 4 minute clip but the fire starts from 2 hills away and got to the his front yard but the end the clip. Scary sound too.

Hey guys

I have been offlline for a while and just read this thread. Anything I write will just reinforce what has already been said.

Stu and Danielle, truly sorry for your loss. Death is difficult enough to handle when it is expected let alone under these circumstances. I admire your efforts in putting aside your own grief to help others at this time. I'm sure all your efforts helping people are greatly appreciated.

I just want to add a couple of things:

I got into an argument that almost broke into fisticuffs with a guy who was saying that he wasn't donating to any appeal unless he got assurances that none of the money would go to rebuilding the homes of people who weren't insured. In his words, "no one would raise money for me if my house burnt down and my insurance had lapsed." F'king twat. Nuff said.

Secondly, a mate of mine in the police force logistics and intelligence collection unit has been involved with the process of identifying the deceased. He said that in some cases all they have had to go on is the registartion of the vehicles in which they have found bodies. It has been a case of contacting the owners (if alive) or next of kin and asking who they think may have been a passenger in the vehicle.

This guy has investigated many murders, worked on the gangland killings and the Jayden Laske case, and he says nothing has affected him as much as this.

Cheers