Bushfires in NSW

[Spiritprime]

Are any fellow members here in NSW? If so, our prayers are with you, your friends and families. Stay safe!

[Omega Metro]

From what I last heard, an army exercise involving explosives may be to blame.

[Trent]

From what I last heard, an army exercise involving explosives may be to blame.

Only for the State Mine one. There are currently about 83 fires burning across NSW :(

[Bartrim]

Thankfully we are still safe. It was the fires in 2009 when we got evacuated from our house. It's quite a scary experience. I feel for everyone in the situation.

[i_amtrunks]

Sadly the cooler, less windy days have passed and the next few days look to be perfect fire weather, hot strong north westerly winds and near 40 degree heat. I feel for the people in Doyalson no did Springwood who have to deal with more delve station in their areas.

The fireies are absolute champions, I know it is their job but they do an amazing job, as do the volunteers. If only the media could stay away with all their "human interest" stories that purely want people to cry on national television.

Also I have been flabbergasted twice over the past 5 days where idiots have flick lit cigarette butts out their car windows. Gave one a spray as I drove past and the other turned off before I had a chance to. Really wanted to ram them off the road. Both were young people, but being young does not excuse their idiocy. Maybe if people who lit fires were set on fire, we would have fewer fires to begin with.:mad:

[5FDP]

My thoughts go out to anyone impacted by these terrible events. Here's hoping the conditions ease up soon.

I'm about 30 mins away from the worst of it and we're getting covered in ash and smoke. I can only imagine what it's like closer to the front.



Also I have been flabbergasted twice over the past 5 days where idiots have flick lit cigarette butts out their car windows.

Seen this myself. All have been female drivers. The level of stupidity shown astounds me :mad:

[mknell]

My thoughts go out to anyone impacted by these terrible events. Here's hoping the conditions ease up soon.

I'm about 30 mins away from the worst of it and we're getting covered in ash and smoke. I can only imagine what it's like closer to the front.




Seen this myself. All have been female drivers. The level of stupidity shown astounds me :mad:

I'm less than 10km from the springwood one but no ash here and only morning smoke

[GoktimusPrime]

AFAIK kuzzy is the closest to the fires. He's fine.

[Hursticon]

Indeed, has certainly been hectic & my thoughts go out to those throughout NSW who've been directly or in-directly affected...

Especially one our members, Reflector, whose been quiet round the boards for a while but he & his young family live in Lithgow, so if you can see this mate I hope you're all safe! :(


The closest fires to myself have been on the Southern Highland & Wilton fronts; here's the view that greeted me from my verandah on Thursday:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BWv-iYPCUAALDBS.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BWv-zK4CAAAZMUd.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BWv-7UWCcAEJZOh.jpg:large


The setting reminder of Friday:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BW2DJenCAAASqV0.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BW2DR6MCIAAPANF.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BW2DlcZCIAAKgT6.jpg:large


The midday vanishing escarpment, Yesterday:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BW5viiuCMAA2zr0.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BW5vqrcCUAAse3a.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BW5vz8hCMAAAaV8.jpg:large


...and Yesterday's hellish breeze of the afternoon:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BW6DZTZCEAAi6Cd.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BW6Di5ECQAAZ7jK.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BW6DsSqCMAAHmSl.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BW6Dz3OCcAM8rAV.jpg:large

[Sam]

A work colleague lost his home to the fires last week. He literally only has the clothes on his back.

A fellow colleague gave him a change of clothes, and some of us pooled together our money for him - but it wasn't nearly enough.

We will probably be able to find out more of what he needs (I am thinking the basic necessities at this stage) over the coming week...

[liegeprime]

It was quite different, as around 1 pm the sky went orange and it was like almost dusk time.... I smeeled the burning scent and knew there was a bushfire happening most likely somewhere. I was just coming home from night shift (and did a little bit of shopping stroll before going home :o) and thought Id water the plants seeing that it was hot as but yeah seeing the surroundings in orange light rather than bright afternoon sun was a bit unsettling....:(

[jazzcomp]

Hope he has insurance....

[liegeprime]

Hope he has insurance....

hope his insurance includes fire coverage from bushfires, coz some insurance are kinda specific when they have to pay... they'll go into the technicalities saying that your fire coverage does not include fires from this and this sources so it's not covered....but yeah, I do hope he's got proper insurance as well. That's just horrible losing everything like that.

We have a saying in Phils

"Manakawan ka na lang wag lang masunugan"... translated as

Better burglarized than a fire victim.

I guess it's a saying of a choice between which is a lesser evil , coz with burglary they may not take everything, you still have the house afterwards but with fire, EVERYTHING is just gone... though I wouldn't want any of the two... ever...

[jazzcomp]

Smoke smell is in the air. A co-worker is staying home to see if his home will be affected.
Hope not.

[Cat]

Yeah, a really timely reminder to check your insurance. Never just assume you're covered for something. And even when they tell you you are covered in the event of X, ask them just what they define X as being.

For instance, your insurer may tell you you have flood coverage, but you'd be amazed at how different the definition of 'flood' is to the different insurers. It rarely matches what we would consider common sense.

[i_amtrunks]

I really hope the media jumps on board the insurance companies trying tog et out of paying people like they did after the Queensland floods.

Had to cancel our excursion today, it was only to the Windsor area (Longneck Lagoon) but the fire danger was too great, not to mention the smoke and heat. Luckily we get to try and go again in 3 weeks time.

[Bartrim]

I remember with the Wollongong floods back many moons ago my brother and his girlfriend suffered damage to their unit and insurance wouldn't pay out as they were blurring the lines between flood and storms.

[5FDP]

The situation with the bushfires is absolutely terrible, no doubt, but I'm starting to wonder how much of the information we are seeing is media driven.

Case in point - today new.com.au are running with a headline "This is as bad as it gets" which is quoted from Shane Fitzsimmons. They would have you believe that this is in reference to the current situation when in fact he was quoted as having said this 5 days ago.

It's headlines like this that sell papers, online subscriptions, and get people watching the news.

The upside to this is that hopefully people will be overly cautious and leave the area if there is even the slight chance they could be in harms way.

[i_amtrunks]

Cannot believe they let that 11 year old without any puishment for lighting fires last week, and not just because of his rude gestures as he left the courthouse. He was identified as highly likely to reoffend.

Even a fake monitor bracelet to wear over summer so he thinks they know exactly where he is would have been better than nothing. Personally I think they should have all their possessions burnt infron of them.

[CBratron]

It rained in Beverly Hills last night. Anyone know if it fell anywhere else where it's more important?

[i_amtrunks]

It rained in Beverly Hills last night. Anyone know if it fell anywhere else where it's more important?

Not in quantities that mattered. Most of it would have evaporated before it got to the actual flames.

I was concerned about lightning strikes, seems up near Kempsey a few strikes started grass fires, but not much else.

[Autocon]

Hope everyone is safe and that any of our members that live there are safe, along with their collection.

[1AZRAEL1]

To anyone who sees people throwing cigarette butts out their windows, you can actually report them to police. It is complete stupidity from people who do this that causes big fires. Case in point when approximately 70 cars at Olympic Park were either damaged or destroyed because of some inconsiderate prick that did exactly that.

[GoktimusPrime]

I really think we should emulate Singapore and change our culture where it no longer becomes socially acceptable to litter cigarette butts at ANY time - not just during bushfire seasons. Cigarette butts are non-biodegradable and have a lasting impact on the environment and wildlife. :( I've only ever known ONE smoker in Australia who bins all his butts... all other smokers I know are tossers. :(

[liegeprime]

yeah well, the way they mollycoddle offenders here compared how they shame and make people do public service in Singapore.... not gonna happen soon Gok. Provided it is more of an effective punishment mind you, but, have you seen the people they interview on TV? They offend and yet when they're being given the punishment... all they always seem claim is it's so "unaustralian" or they always claim they have rights. I say, the moment you offend and break the law, your fricken rights are cancleed and you should be subject to full extent of corporal punishments... coz let's face it a slap on the wrist punishments the courts hand out these days are laughed at by these hoodlums someone needs to put them in the frontlines of killing out the fires they caused, mebbe then they'd get the message. If they loose their lives doing so (prolly from a lack of proper training) well good riddance to socially inept and rubbish individuals, the society can function better without them.

[5FDP]

According to the US the whole of Australia is on fire (http://www.news.com.au/technology/american-network-nbc-publishes-map-showing-the-whole-of-australia-is-on-fire-oops/story-e6frfrnr-1226746114107) :rolleyes:

[tron07]

I really think we should emulate Singapore and change our culture where it no longer becomes socially acceptable to litter cigarette butts at ANY time - not just during bushfire seasons. Cigarette butts are non-biodegradable and have a lasting impact on the environment and wildlife. :( I've only ever known ONE smoker in Australia who bins all his butts... all other smokers I know are tossers. :(

Australia should have capital punishment... or the 3 strike rule you are out. No need to jail or feed those serial offenders or criminal or give them the dole.