Sydney fire danger warning

[Hardy Heinlin]

Sounds dangerous. Is everyone at a safe place?


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[Phil Bunch]

The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper is making all fire-related stories free, without a need to subscribe:

http://www.smh.com.au/

Also see the wildfire links at the bottom of this page, including maps:

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/nsw-bushfires-aggressive-and-highrisk-strategies-avert-catastrophe-20131023-2w1kf.html

See the map and linked stories at the UK's Guardian newspaper, where they warn of 46-50 degrees C temperatures:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/interactive/2013/jan/10/australian-wildfires-rage-map-interactive


I hope our Australian associates will keep us up to date about this ominous situation - it's often hard to interpret news stories.

[torrence]

Yeah, same with fires here in California.  If you don't know the area and terrain very well it's hard to judge how serious it is.  I think the news guys deliberately don't use GPS and graphical tools on air to prevent nut cases from flocking out to 'see the show', but if you are in the area, as we have been, it really would be nice to know just where in the 'City of XXX' the latest hotspot is.  Of course if you can hear/see the news choppers and water dropping aircraft you don't have to ask ...

Hope our friends are staying safe.

Cheers,
Torrence

[Garry Richards]

Australians have improved firefighting systems and a better understanding of bushfires since the devastating "Black Saturday" fires in Victoria in 2009 that killed over 170 people and injured hundreds more.

The outbreaks around Sydney this year were fanned by strong, hot winds with the fire risk quickly going from extreme, which is more or less normal in summer, to the new category of catastrophic. Over 200 homes were lost on the first day, but only one life, that being due to a heart attack. Major fires this early in the season are unexpected.

Since then the rural fire service has been very proactive in both fighting the fires with local and interstate help and in keeping the populace informed of developments and issuing advice. Contrary to previous occasions people are responding by evacuating themselves, their pets and livestock early to defined refuges and/or by preparing their properties well.

It is likely that Australia will face a long, hot and dangerous summer in the coming months and despite the nay-saying of our new national government I think that climate change is increasing the risk of extreme events such as these early fires.

[John H Watson]

Over 200 homes were lost on the first day, but only one life, that being due to a heart attack.

A few firemen were injured (burnt) and now there has been a second death. A water bomber pilot died when the wings of his plane fell off. Looking online, it seems that this is not the first time this has happened.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97m1enI-pEY

If that wasn't enough, several maladjusted kids have been sighted starting more fires.

[Garry Richards]

There have been two fire-related aviation tragedies here in the past few days. A Cessna delivering helicopter parts crashed in rugged country near Mt Hotham in Victoria.

Report

A water bombing fixed wing aircraft also crashed while fighting a bushfire near Ulladulla, south of Sydney. Early reports said that a wing had broken off, but this is not being repeated in current reports.

Report

Both aircraft had very experienced pilots and sadly, both crashes were fatal.

[Jeroen D]

Over 200 homes were lost on the first day, but only one life, that being due to a heart attack.

A few firemen were injured (burnt) and now there has been a second death. A water bomber pilot died when the wings of his plane fell off. Looking online, it seems that this is not the first time this has happened.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97m1enI-pEY

If that wasn't enough, several maladjusted kids have been sighted starting more fires.

I had seen it before, but it really is a very chilling video.
In addition, its listed in youtube in the category "entertainement". Poor form and highly inappropiate.

Jeroen