topic Re: Australian bush fires in Community Chat

Australian bush fires

songbird — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 19:35:20 GMT

The Fires are expected to worsen. Death toll is now 23, with many people still missing. Untold wildlife dead. Here is a map. It seems worse on the Eastern side of the country. But very bad all over. Australia used to have just one area prone to fires in summer. The "temperate" climate on the bottom. Weather is similar to Southern California. Sunny and dryer. The rest of of the country is a bit more humid, but pretty hot. The further North (and inland) you go, the hotter. Darwin, the only city in the extreme north is very steamy and tropic. Since the heat is has gotten hotter, the fires have spread and lasted longer. The majority of the population has always lived on the rim of the country. Even their native population has always lived on the rim and normally, it's quite pleasant and livable. The coolest part is in Tasmania.But It's too difficult to live further inland. The environment is a life line importance to the population and they always vote on environmental issues more then any other country. The fire can be seen and smelled all they way to New Zealand.

Re: Australian bush fires

KingstonsMom — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 20:10:17 GMT

And 2 of the largest fires are expected to combine and form one HUGE fire, they are only 6 miles apart now.

It sounds like it's gonna get a lot worse, before it gets better.

I saw video of the thousands of deceased sheep, koalas and kangaroos lining both sides of a road in one area, it was heartbreaking.

That report said that approximately 30% of Australia's koalas have been wiped out so far.

Re: Australian bush fires

golding76 — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 19:59:04 GMT

What a harrowing map! I can't imagine what it must be like to be in the position of having the fire moving toward you and your property.

Blessings to all affected by this latest eruption of Earth's anger.

Re: Australian bush fires

SandySparkles — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 16:25:03 GMT

It has been so difficult for me to follow this EXTREMELY disturbing story. The loss of life; human and animal, the devastation of vegetation, agriculture, air quality, homes, etc. is difficult to comprehend. My heart is heavy, and I am praying for some relief for the firefighters, as they struggle to gain some control over these catastrophic fires. I am praying for everyone; accounted for and missing, and their loved ones.The situation is dire, and I'm just struggling with the sheer enormity of it.

~~~All we need is LOVE💖

Re: Australian bush fires

Kachina624 — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 20:07:37 GMT

Just horrible and the poor animals that have suffered as well as the people

Makes me wonder what our summer will be like since we share many of the same conditions like years of drought, excessive temperatures, no rain.

Re: Australian bush fires

songbird — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 20:19:57 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
Just horrible and the poor animals that have suffered as well as the people
Makes me wonder what our summer will be like since we share many of the same conditions like years of drought, excessive temperatures, no rain.

The one place that I am concerned about is the Phoenix area. Not all of Arizona is super hot, but Phoenix is during the summer. I wonder if global warming is real, if at one point it will be unlivable in the summer. From the Sierra Club

https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2019-1-january-february/feature/can-phoenix-remain-habitable

Re: Australian bush fires

KingstonsMom — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 20:29:25 GMT

Australia is starting to look like Mars ... thick red smoke from the devastating wildfires is filling the air above the continent, and it's causing hell for the Aussie air force.

Check out this insane video from the cockpit of a Royal Australian Air Force plane ... the flight instruments are going crazy and the pilots can't see anything but a dense orange haze.

One of the RAAF's top commanders just shared the shocking footage on social media, and he says his best pilots are facing incredibly daunting flying conditions as they try to carry out support missions to areas hit hardest by the deadly fires.

The RAAF says it's taking several attempts for military aircraft to reach parts of New South Wales and Victoria. Planes and helicopters are airlifting firefighters and rescuing folks trapped in isolated towns destroyed by the flames.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/01/06/australia-wildfire-plane-red-smoke-raaf-flying-mission-relief-rescue/

Getty

As you know ... over 13-million acres have been engulfed in flames, and the prospects for the future are grim. NSW has 146 fires alone, and the summer heat is still raging on.

It's a huge crisis ... the fires have killed an estimated half-a-billion wild animals and at least 24 people, with over 1,500 homes going up in smoke.

As we've reported ... Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are pledging $500,000 to fight the fires, while Selena Gomez, LaMelo Ball and Nick Kyrgios are also donating to relief efforts.

Re: Australian bush fires

LoveMyBaby — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 20:30:47 GMT

Can't imagine the suffering 😢

Re: Australian bush fires

Kachina624 — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 20:37:01 GMT

@songbird. You bring up a good point. I wonder about the sustainability of the water supply in the larger cities of the West. There's a big demand for new housing so building is robust but our aquifer dwindles. Even Colorado, with all if its snow, has water wars between the Eastern and Western parts of the State. New developments proliferate with their golf courses but when do we call a halt to it?

Re: Australian bush fires

proudlyfromNJ — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 20:48:44 GMT

My sister and her family are near Sydney. So far she said their area is ok. Her FIL is south and was evacuated a few days ago. The fire was in the woods behind the house but so far the house was saved.

Re: Australian bush fires

SleepyTime — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 20:54:11 GMT

It's bad because they are started by arsonists. 183 have been arrested so far. This doesn't have to happen.

Re: Australian bush fires

KingstonsMom — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 21:06:03 GMT

For anyone interested, the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital is caring for many of the burned and injured koalas and have a GoFundMe page that has raised $4.25 million so far to fund their efforts.

I can't post a link, because I think it may be deemed as 'solicitation' which is against Community Standards.

You can find it by going to GoFundMe and search by the hospital's name.

https://www.tmz.com/2019/11/26/lewis-the-koala-dies-injuries-rescued-australia-wildfires/

Re: Australian bush fires

depglass — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 21:14:00 GMT

Why haven't other countries come to their aid? Like maybe us? There must be some equipment and personnel available to help them. It just makes me cry.

Re: Australian bush fires

laluzdelmundo — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 21:19:39 GMT

We (meaning the U.S.) have sent fire fighters:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/01/06/australia-fires-us-firefighters-join-effort-combat-historic-blazes/2823190001/

Re: Australian bush fires

depglass — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 21:28:08 GMT

Thank you for letting us know.

Re: Australian bush fires

KingstonsMom — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 21:36:32 GMT

@laluzdelmundo wrote:
We (meaning the U.S.) have sent fire fighters:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/01/06/australia-fires-us-firefighters-join-effort-combat-historic-blazes/2823190001/

Here's the text from the above USA Today link, for those who prefer not to click on links:

Scores of U.S. firefighters are joining the international effort to combat Australian bushfires that have killed at least 25 people and destroyed 2,000 homes since September.

The Idaho-based National Interagency Fire Center said it has assigned at least 83 fire personnel to Australia, including 37 in New South Wales and 44 in neighboring Victoria. It's the first time in a decade a major contingent of U.S. firefighters has been pressed into emergency service Down Under.

More help is on the way. About 70 firefighters from Canada and the U.S. are expected to arrive Wednesday. And California's Cal Fire, which has received aid from Australian firefighters to combat devastating fires in California in recent years, said it is closely monitoring the situation in southeast Australia and will send firefighters if needed.

"Having experienced firsthand the devastation that wildfires can create, we share your concern about the wildfires currently ravaging Australia," the agency said in a statement. "We stand with the people of Australia who have supported us during our catastrophic wildfires."

Record heat and drought conspired to ignite almost 24,000 square miles of land, about the size of West Virginia. The fires began months ahead of the normal December to March fire season – summer in Australia.

Re: Australian bush fires

KingstonsMom — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 23:54:30 GMT

While I know that every little bit helps, they're gonna need a lot more help than 153 firefighters, I'm afraid.

Re: Australian bush fires

LoveMyBaby — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 21:40:40 GMT

@SleepyTime wrote:
It's bad because they are started by arsonists. 183 have been arrested so far. This doesn't have to happen.

Did not know that. Humans.

Re: Australian bush fires

shoekitty — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 22:55:10 GMT

I do not follow this too much as it sickens me. Just sickening. The air, the earth, the people the animals ...this is a real human tragedy. You would think the world powers would jump in to send help. The land is so rugged in most areas it is hard to fight fires. I know I am in California.

i do know donations are reaching record numbers. The donations are for animal rescue, Red Cross, salvation Army, st vincent de paul. There are go fund me pages. So hard for us to do anything but donate to a trusted group who is there and can help!,

god Bless the people, land and animals in Australia.

Re: Australian bush fires

Cakers3 — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 00:07:10 GMT

Scale of Australia fires to the USA: