Please Spare a thought

[leastonh1]

What's happening in Australia is so saddening to see and hear about in the news. I really feel for everyone affected by this tragedy. Truly awful.

[Jeffrey H.]

Those Eucalyptus trees and possibly the 'gum' trees mentioned above tend to resist burning until the very end when they literally go off like firebombs. Lots of people had them around their houses here in San Diego and those were often the houses that were burned down.
 
The burning embers tend to follow air currents around and up the walls, lodging in the reverse slope of the eaves. The fire then burns up the rafters into the attic of the house and that's all folks - house destroyed.
 
Bad stuff. Makes you feel helpless. 
 

[Arctic Blast]

Absolutely horrible story. Definitely feel for those who have lost someone, and also for all of those who have been left with literally nothing.

As for the arsonists...[:@]

[JamesM]

What A country I and my fellow Aussies live in! We have horrific fires in the south following a number of days of 40C + days and in North Queensland we have records floods (our biggest dam (Burdekin falls dam) had water 6.8meters over the spillway) in Ingham. Food is having to be shipped and flown into Cairns because the roads have been cut for at least a week. I Think I prefer flooding rains to fire, the stories coming out of Victoria are scary and amazing.

[Phatguy]

ORIGINAL: Nomad

Burning at the stake is suitable punishment for arsonists. [:(][:@]

Sad thing is they will get a year or two and some fine they will never pay..Only hope is Australia has some real laws unlike the travesties that pass for some laws here in the US of A.

[Grell]

ORIGINAL: apathetic lurker

ORIGINAL: Nomad

Burning at the stake is suitable punishment for arsonists. [:(][:@]

Sad thing is they will get a year or two and some fine they will never pay..Only hope is Australia has some real laws unlike the travesties that pass for some laws here in the US of A.

Canada has some lousy laws as well.

Regards,

Grell

[105mm Howitzer]

My sincerest sympathies for all the victims of this major human catastrophe. We get our fair share of fires, but nowhere near the maelstrom-loke proportions of this. If it does turn out to be the work of arsholes, pardon, arsons, then, frankly I say tossing them into a raging inferno would be just rewards. But of course, the law would forbid that.
I don't know what galls me the most, idiotic laws that protect the criminals, or those morons that clamor for more of these laws. Ah, don't get me started....[:@]

[sol_invictus]

I was just thinking this morning how utterly horrible these fires were. Reading about the wrecked cars with charred bodies inside of people who were completely overwhelmed by the inferno is absolutely shocking. It is almost beyond comprehension. My thoughts go out to all of the stoic Australian people.

[doomtrader]

Tragedy like this is something beyond mind. Man is powerless against this wildfires. We can only pray for the losts. There is only faith in such moments.
 
I'll pray for them.
 
 

[Zap]

A tragedy for your great country Autralia.
I know the fear of facing a fire. Living in a National Forest here in California. One was stopped 2 miles from my home 2 years ago. I feel deeply for your loss of life and peoples property.

May the arsonist(or terrorist) be brought to justice.

[goodwoodrw]

I would like to thank those who offered their sincere thoughts and condolences in past few days
Ron

[Raverdave]

Hi all,

Current tally

1860 homes lost
181 people killed (this WILL rise to well above 200)
400,000 Hectares burnt.

.......and the fires are still burning.


We are in shock.

[Plodder]

I feel for you mates.As much as we love to bag our brothers and sisters across the ditch, this is just awful.

[planner 3]

My sincere sympaties for your losses and may those responsible pay for their crime.