Deadly Bushfires in Australia, 2019/2020

[sleepinoz]

Hope all our members in Western Sydney are staying cool


Penrith hits record temperature of 48.5C as heatwave strikes NSW (for those in US it's almost 120deg F)

We’re for Sydney | Daily Telegraph

 

[drsleuth]

COMPULSORY DEFENCE FORCE CALL OUT

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced three thousand Australian Defence Force reservists will be deployed to help with the bush fire emergency.

“The Government has not taken this decision lightly. In fact, it is the first time that reserves have been called out in this way in living memory and, in fact, I believe for the first time in our nation's history.” - Linda Reynolds, Defence Force.

Ms Reynolds said the reservists would have four key responsibilities:

- Provide isolated communities with life-saving supplies for immediate relief.

- Provide evacuation assistance to vulnerable people in isolated communities.

- Assist with assessment and reopening of vital roads.

-Assist fire services with preparation of fire breaks away from the fire fronts.

NSW Incident Alerts

 

[sleepinoz]

COMPULSORY DEFENCE FORCE CALL OUT

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced three thousand Australian Defence Force reservists will be deployed to help with the bush fire emergency.

“The Government has not taken this decision lightly. In fact, it is the first time that reserves have been called out in this way in living memory and, in fact, I believe for the first time in our nation's history.” - Linda Reynolds, Defence Force.

Ms Reynolds said the reservists would have four key responsibilities:

- Provide isolated communities with life-saving supplies for immediate relief.

- Provide evacuation assistance to vulnerable people in isolated communities.

- Assist with assessment and reopening of vital roads.

-Assist fire services with preparation of fire breaks away from the fire fronts.

NSW Incident Alerts

It's good, but should have happened months ago.

 

[drsleuth]

It's good, but should have happened months ago.

I agree

 

[Sillybilly]

Words fail, but my heart, thoughts and prayers go out to all of our Aussie members and all our Australian friends at such a tragic and heartbreaking time for your beautiful country.

 

[sleepinoz]

Words fail, but my heart, thoughts and prayers go out to all of our Aussie members and all our Australian friends at such a tragic and heartbreaking time for your beautiful country.

Thank You - Don't forget us because it will take some years to recover.

 

[drsleuth]

Words fail, but my heart, thoughts and prayers go out to all of our Aussie members and all our Australian friends at such a tragic and heartbreaking time for your beautiful country.

Thankyou

 

[Bohemian]

Words fail, but my heart, thoughts and prayers go out to all of our Aussie members and all our Australian friends at such a tragic and heartbreaking time for your beautiful country.

Thank you x

 

[Strangeworld]

It's good, but should have happened months ago.

Unfortunately it isn't easy to just deploy - what he has approved is unprecedented for Australia. The timing is appropriate, anything prior wouldn't have been approved. Even though I feel for everyone effected so far, the answers that seem so simple and easy often are not.

This is a great article by Joe Hildebrand

Real reason ScoMo is under fire

IMO I think Morrison has not grasped the psychology of natural disasters and what the community needs (hopefully today is the start of him stepping up), but blaming him is not helpful nor deserved. Fire prevention has been poorly managed by all sides of government for years.

Whilst I understand the Greens side of things re national parks and preserving bushland (I'm a nature and animal lover), fuel (i.e. restricted backburning that allows for overgrowth and less fire breaks) has been THE major contributor to the extent of these fires, with the climate change impact making it worse. Backburning laws need to be amended IMMEDIATELY and politicians need to start listening to the bushies who know what they are talking about, not us city folk on our soap boxes. The reality is the laws that were put in place to protect bushland has now resulted in major destruction of bushland. And possibly 30% of NSW koala population gone, not to mention the possible extinction or near-extinction of other species. Go figure.....

We’re for Sydney | Daily Telegraph
"Firefighters have applauded the Prime Minister’s call to rewrite hazard reduction and landclearing rules in the wake of the fires that have ravaged the nation since September."

 

[JLZ]

Unfortunately it isn't easy to just deploy - what he has approved is unprecedented for Australia. The timing is appropriate, anything prior wouldn't have been approved. Even though I feel for everyone effected so far, the answers that seem so simple and easy often are not.

This is a great article by Joe Hildebrand

Real reason ScoMo is under fire

IMO I think Morrison has not grasped the psychology of natural disasters and what the community needs (hopefully today is the start of him stepping up), but blaming him is not helpful nor deserved. Fire prevention has been poorly managed by all sides of government for years.

Whilst I understand the Greens side of things re national parks and preserving bushland (I'm a nature and animal lover), fuel (i.e. restricted backburning that allows for overgrowth and less fire breaks) has been THE major contributor to the extent of these fires, with the climate change impact making it worse. Backburning laws need to be amended IMMEDIATELY and politicians need to start listening to the bushies who know what they are talking about, not us city folk on our soap boxes. The reality is the laws that were put in place to protect bushland has now resulted in major destruction of bushland. And possibly 30% of NSW koala population gone, not to mention the possible extinction or near-extinction of other species. Go figure.....

We’re for Sydney | Daily Telegraph
"Firefighters have applauded the Prime Minister’s call to rewrite hazard reduction and landclearing rules in the wake of the fires that have ravaged the nation since September."

"Warmer, drier conditions with higher fire danger are preventing agencies from conducting as much hazard reduction burning – it is often either too wet, or too dry and windy to burn safely. Blaming "greenies" for stopping these important measures is a familiar, populist, but basically untrue claim."
https://www.smh.com.au/national/thi...about-the-nsw-mega-fires-20191110-p5395e.html

 

[Strangeworld]

"Warmer, drier conditions with higher fire danger are preventing agencies from conducting as much hazard reduction burning – it is often either too wet, or too dry and windy to burn safely. Blaming "greenies" for stopping these important measures is a familiar, populist, but basically untrue claim."
https://www.smh.com.au/national/thi...about-the-nsw-mega-fires-20191110-p5395e.html

All I will say is this is one of the previous F&R Commissioners, there is a political context there that I probably shouldn't go into. And the backburning issue was going on long before the current challenge of wind and drought. Anyway, I don't want to get the thread closed, I just think so many in Australia and overseas who don't live in the Australian bush will not understand the frustrations the farmers and country folk (as well as local governments and councils) have been going through. As one farmer said, the indigenous people managed the land for many years without red tape. They respected the land but they also knew when to intervene to prevent widespread destruction. Our red tape is destroying it as we watch by.

 

[drsleuth]

https://7news.com.au/news/bushfires...NRtqP34fz0r7Qb-LaTo0MDg9KVi_BrL6fXlgXtciDj7DA

International pop superstar P!nk has made an incredible pledge toward Australia's frontline firefighters as the nation's bushfire crisis continues.

Taking to Twitter, the US artist expressed her distress at the country's current emergency.

"I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires," she said.

"I am pledging a donation of $500,000 directly to the local fire services that are battling so hard on the frontlines.

"My heart goes out to our friends and family in Oz."

 

[margarita25]

Bindi Irwin's family treated 90,000 animals amid Australian wildfires

 

[drsleuth]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=500296647267326

For days we've been warned it was coming, and tonight, communities across New South Wales are fighting to save their towns, as the bushfire emergency roared back to life.

 

[drsleuth]

NSW Residents are urged to use less electricity tonight to prevent power outages in bushfire areas | Daily Mail Online

Residents in New South Wales are being urged to use less electricity as the state faces power outages in the midst of violent bushfires.

NSW energy minister Matt Kean, made the announcement on Saturday afternoon after transmission lines were lost in the Snowy Mountains due to fires.

Listening to the scanner app, fire control are on handheld communications

 

[FrostOwl]

I wonder how many of Australia's unique species of animals and plants will disappear after these bush fires, even if the fires are devastating for humans, they have a better chance to flee, and rebuild later on, but for much of the wildlife, they can't do that. 'Silent death': Australia's bushfires push countless species to extinction

 

[sleepinoz]

Dr Kirstin Ferguson
@kirstinferguson
Thinking of all the incredibly brave firefighters today. This photo was taken yesterday by a friend of mine in the
@NSWRFS
who didn't realise until the end of his shift that the soles of his boots had melted away due to the heat underfoot. #NSWfires #AustraliaBurning #Australia

 

[they'll get you]

. There are over half a billion native animals dead and many who are injured and need to be found/saved/euthanised- we can’t leave them like this!! Donations will help to end their suffering. Even a small donation will help ❤


https://www.********.com/f/help-koa...tm_medium=chat&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Just wanted to send thoughts to my Australian friends here and I'm desperately hoping you are all safe. Watching it unfold with the news getting worse every day - it's equally devastating and terrifying. Really wish I could send some cold wet weather your way from the UK. Take care and much love, Cags.

 

[they'll get you]

Please donate to WIRES if you can. They are helping the wildlife in an enormous way already. So this is the best link to share to people for donations to help save the animals. Thank you!

WIRES-Emergency Fund for Wildlife