Topic: 2009/10 Bushfire season

[Colin Maitland]

Many of you may have been reading the ABC news articles on this forum, and would have of noticed that the fires in QLD and Northern NSW have continued to burn over the last several weeks. Conditions in QLD are worsening everyday due to the lack of rain, low humidity and the strong driving winds that have prevailed. Undergrowth is becoming highly flamable fuel as everything dries and dies out.

The situation in central QLD has reached a critical stage as many residents near Rockhampton are on high alert as fire devastated much of the area around Mt Archer yesterday. Many in Frenchville are likely to evacuate their homes today.

At Koongal and Lakes Creek, firefighters urged people to leave their homes if the path was safe to do so. At the local Inn at Koongal on Saturday, staff reported that the fire alarms in every room were set off as the smoke blanketed the area.

Some residents described the horror of watching six horses in a paddock die as the fire ripped through. It was said that "the horses were running like hell but the fire moved so fast they didn't stand a chance."  Some residents ran to get wire cutters to free the horses but it was to late.

Others spoke of the distraught of watching houses burn down, those belonging to family and friends.

As of Sunday the 18/10/09, some of the larger fires burning in QLD are at Buaraba, Waterford West and Spring Creek in the Southeast. Samford Northwest of Brisbane. Yangan and Beilba in the states Southwest. Gaeta/ Kalpowar, Mount Perry, Barombah and Conondale on the Sunshine Coast. Woodstock west of Ayr and Mount Garnet in the states far north. Their are fires also around Gin Gin.

Around Brisbane, a 21 year old man was charged for  deliberately lighting a fire at Kallangur, that is approx. 6 KM to the northwest of where I live. On Thursday there was a fire at Deagon that threatened several homes, that is just 1.5 KM to the south of me. There are several spot fires everyday and it is only a matter of time before it gets right out of control if their is no reprieve in the wether.

There are about 20 fires burning in Northern NSW

Stay safe.

Col




 

[nmoir]

Late next week there seems to be quite a large heat build up inland , BOM 5 day models saying over 42c inland NSW . fire danger will be extreme infront of the cold fronts .

[Colin Maitland]

With the extreme heat over the last few days in SA, Vic and parts of NSW, the threat of bushfires has once again escalated to dangerous conditions for many parts of Australia.

One of the more vulnerable areas is once again in Victoria where fire authorities have issued a "code red catastrophic" warning for the first time. The following was a post from the ninemsn site.

A code red catastrophic fire warning has been issued in Victoria for the first time.

The highest level fire alert has been declared for Wimmera in the state's west on Monday, with the mercury expected to hit 43 degrees and northerly winds forecast.

Fire chiefs are warning residents in the affected area not to delay and leave their homes immediately, while holidaymakers in areas such as the Grampians National Park have been told to get out.

"We want the community to act now... it is vital that we give this information because we are concerned about their lives," Country Fire Authority chief fire officer Russell Rees told reporters on Sunday.

"This is about protecting life and taking action."

Authorities have taken the unusual step of declaring the fire warning before official confirmation from the Bureau of Meteorology to give residents time to prepare.

Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) chief fire officer Ewan Waller said campers, holidaymakers and bushwalkers should "sit the day out" somewhere cool and safe.

"Across Victoria tomorrow is not a place you want to be in the bush, that is simple and clear," he said.  

[Kristy Norman]

Temperatures here have already reached 42.4 degrees here and the dusty winds are gusting at 59kmph. There was a grass fire just east of us that has now been contained, my husband said they were able to save a homestead, but the fire almost reached the back door. No other property looks to be under threat at the moment but the winds are increasing as we near the cool change and wind change expected to reach us about 4pm. The fire was started by fallen power lines.