MY FULL sympathy to all re fires

[Ukastronomer]

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=577936226007040

Hang in there Alex

xelasnave

[Wavytone]

Mmmmm it’s just the beginning of the season. Without significant rain there will be much worse over the next 6 months,

Anyway Jeremy, your lot chopped down all the trees many centuries ago, but at least it rains there, well enough to make a nice carpet of grasses.

And IMho we should do sane - remove the risk of catastrophic fire by eliminating the fuel - gum trees - and replant with other species that do not pose this risk.

It’s time to stop dreaming of what the country once was - that’s disappearing and there’s no way back. Instead transform it into something sustainable, long-term. If we don’t, fires will achieve this randomly and indiscriminately and many won’t like the result. Better to recognise what has to happen and manage the change in a way that is socially acceptable.

Unfortunately many species are already doomed thanks to climate change, which cannot be undone.

[Ukastronomer]

"My lot" that is like saying a country's indigenous people were displaced by others, can't keep harping back just make good now :) :) :)

[xelasnave]

Very worrying here.

The fire map does not seem to be updating and given the wind the fire must have grown. I am downwind of it here and according to the map it's very close to my old place.

The wind has not let up all night and all I can think is they must have it under control as with this wind it should be here by now. But the report said it was out of control...something does not seem right with the reporting ...I just now again looked at the map and it shows no change... there is no smoke at ground level here now but the sky is covered, the Sun looks like a gold coin.

I set up a fire pump and hoses yesterday but so far it won't start so that's my mission now.
Alex

[Martin_S]

My son is a volunteer Firefighter at Mt Tambourine, Qld. He done a 14 hr shift yesterday, he'll be doing the same today. Water is scarce they are filling the fire trucks from small dams and backyard pools. We are all wishing for rain and a cool change.

Martin

[xelasnave]

The world is on fire.
Alex

[GrahamL]

Very smokey today , was wondering why seeing was so poor last night.
Stay safe Alex!

[xelasnave]

Looks like my old place may be gone ..the fire has been thru so there is little chance the house survived but I can't get confirmation as the road has been evacuated so news is impossible to nail down.
Anyways the good news is I don't feel sick.
The fire is headed towards the other house and the van with wind to pick up in an hour so it's going to be a fun packed day.
Alex

[el_draco]

Jesus Bloody Christ. Maybe think about the real causes, like ADANI, like stupid dogma driven politicians for your fires!!

This is the kind of thinking that led to brilliant ideas like, bringing rabbits and Foxes to Australia! It isn't just Queensland that's affected, (where ripping down forests and digging up coal in the name of "progress" is seen as a "good idea"); it's the whole damn planet that is being impacted.

There's a heat pulse coming out of Antarctica now that's going to make banana benders fry like you ain't seen it before. Cutting down what belongs here is sheer stupidity. You'll take out the entire Ecology of the country in the process. Is that a "Good Idea" as well.

Baise Moi! :screwy:

[xelasnave]

Now let's stay calm. Everything will work out somehow.
So went to Casino got oil and plugs and happy days the pump is now working but the hose is not long enough ..I and trying to sort that now..wanted to buy another pump but the damn pump place was closed..of all times ..everyone would be buying something..they missed a grand from me that's for sure...and the fire pump for the house needs a fix...busy day.
Alex

[glend]

Alex best of luck defending your properties. Perhaps the Pump saleman was doing the same. But pumps are only good if you have water to pump. Alot of properties, and small towns simply don't have water to fight fires. I saw a news report from the Tenerfield area, and the RFS was going around trying to fight fires with axes and shovels, they had no water. My son has some friends on a property outside of Tenterfield and the family has pulled back to town because there is nothing they can do. With this wind behind it you can't stop it.
Stay safe.

[bigjoe]

Hope all is well to fellow IISers affected or to be
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.livescience.com/amp/40583-australia-wildfires-eucalyptus-trees-bushfires.html

When I was over California visiting my Brother there, talk was they hate Eucalypts now!
Bigjoe.

[AndyG]

Far out.. After hearing my whole life about invasive species ruining everything native to Australia, I now learn that an Australian species kicks butt overseas...

My Folks have remained in the family home behind the hills in Townsville for over 36 years. From the get go, we made sure to clear everything flammable away from the house, shed, and bore pump. Plenty of rainwater tanks (around 60K Litres), hoses/taps, keep the grass short and green, and the gutters empty. A Genset can run the bore when the power inevitably fails, with half the tank water located at the high point of the hill.

Once Dad got a cheap tractor we made firebreaks around the fenceline. Whilst they have great neighbours now, we long learned you can't rely on next door keeping their side clean.

[xelasnave]

I have never fought a fire with water..this will be a first..mostly I use a sheoak branch. It's like a military battle you attack the flanks only and only attack the weak points...folk attack the spots that are burning fiercely I say let them burn and attack when it dies down...and you just nibble away.

Haven't fixed the house pump ..it looks fine I think they just may not have primed the pump properly...anyways my workers quit and refuse to do any more work until tomorrow...still no news re the old place but looking at the map there is a chance it may have missed me but I am crashing at straws maybe.

Alex

News flash ..I let a lady live there or visit there and she says via my daughter that the house is still there.. and she and some bloke are trying to head off the fire. This is second hand news but the fire apparently did pass the house earlier but is now coming back to the house due to a wind change..she ducked up to save her dog it seems..I would go and help her but she is not talking to me...plus she would not take my orders...so what do you do...If it burns it burns if it doesn't well I have been worrying about nothing.

So now back to the van..I found an extention pipe that should bring the fire fighting hose into striking distance of the whole perimeter..so another great day sent to build ones character. My brother in laws house is under threat but it was so only months ago so when the fire gets close it won't have much fuel so he should be ok..

Going to grab a nap and back into it.
Alex

[glend]

Not talking to you, not taking your orders, haha. Are you sure your not married to her?:lol:

[xelasnave]

I am paying for playing hard to get..ever;).

Alex

[Ukastronomer]

Hats off to the heros



Isn't there a certain "Frog" that was introduced there to stop insects, the cane toad, only, too late they realised it couldn't CLIMB ??? :) and is so poisonous things that eat it die



I have been watching it on Facebook, we are so lucky here Terrible for all of you

"It’s time to stop dreaming of what the country once was - that’s disappearing and there’s no way back."

TERRIBLE, and SOOOOOOOOOO wrong in the eyes of the world.

The only country in the world with the most amazing animals, indigenous races and culture, wonderful seas, and great people, in MY opinion something worth fighting to preserve and REINSTATE at all costs

[xelasnave]

Well my lady "friend" had to abandon the house and bailed with the fire closing in..no one turned up to help. At the end of the road they found three fire trucks with the men having a beer..they pleaded for help and were refused.

She stayed up with my daughter and her mother at the main house here last night, ...lucky I called before I decided to up to the main house just now as it would have all been my fault.

Anyways she is going back up apparently to see if anything is left.

But I am very disappointed that these firefighters would not go up and all I can hope is they decided to go after all.

And before anyone says that it would have been dangerous for them it seems that is not the case as the fire had burnt out everything except for a " island" around my place and next door so access to it and the neighbours (which apparently did burn down) was along a road that had burnt.

It will be interesting to find out what has actually happened as news is so hard to work thru in these situations not withstanding social media stories grow and change.

I just have to accept whatever out come..And no this house was not insured because it could not be insured. I will feel loss because I built it with my own two hands and so was proud of it.

Knowing this lady however she will probably rebuild it even if she is not talking to me.

Alex

According to the map it's still coming this way.
Alex

It's still there, I can't believe it..it went around the house and went around a parked car so all I can't think is the fire guys must have gone up there cause there is no way otherwise.

Anyways back to work ... I have an extention that should help at the van and now have to get the house fire pump fixed and do everything re more clearing etc.

It has not jumped the river and if the wind stays down it should stay on the other side...such a relief it has bought us all to tears.

Alex

[casstony]

At least you won't have to worry about the house for a few years Alex, with all the nearby fuel gone. What a relief that it survived.

It's so wet down here that nothing could burn but it will be a different story by the end of summer - I still have the evacuation list hanging on the fridge from last season.

[xelasnave]

OK the house pump is filling the tanks so another step forward...now to put on the van pump extention and call it a day.
Alex

Been clearing fuel, the wind is now blowing a gale, I estimate 80 to 100 klms where the main house is on top of the hill.

I am beat but just have to keep going, but must rest now a d take my mind of things.

According to the Map it's gone thru my nephews property but I don't know if his house is ok cause we can't raise him on the phone.

So how you all going having a nice day I hope...crazy lady is up at the old place and has lost it so thank goodness she isn't talking to me..but ringing everyone.

Poor thing it must be so difficult for those with mental issues..

.tried to buy a McCloud tool but they were all gone so trying to dig a break with a madock hard work but you know if you don't panic and just chip away it is surprising what you can get done.

The fire jumped the road in one place and I do wonder if they back burn..I would have lit up the road in fact a little in and head it off.

I wonder do they back burn these days.

Still this fire is not as bad as 2002 that fire covered in a couple of hours what this one covered in a couple of days. I don't get it with this wind it should have been here yesterday.

And I am starting to think the smoke is cooling land and that's why the wind is getting so strong.

I think it has turned away from my brother in laws property but as I said the last fire came so close to him that I doubt there is much fuel around his place.

Anyways I seem to be over the dogs disease and feeling very cheerful.

Goto to go can't waste any more daylight.
Alex

[glend]

Alex your too old to be hacking out fire breaks with a mattock. We don't want you killing yourself doing that. Can't the RFS give you any info on where the fire is in relation to your place?
I wouldn't even consider an amateur backburn in those winds, could make things worse. Didn't you say before that it had burnt all around your place?

[xelasnave]

I have two properties..one where the crazy lady lives who is not talking to me and the other where the van and observatory is located where my daughter and her mother live...the old property is safe as far as I know and certainly as the fire burnt right up to the house it should not be a problem as the is not fuel.
The second place is now under threat as we are directly down wind from it. It is as far as I know still on the other side of the river but fires like this jump the river as if it wasn't there...with this wind I fear that it must have jumped in which case we are right in the firing line...we have all the apps and fire maps but stuff is not getting updated and news is hard to get..face book a local bulitan board etc but I can tell as I know the land etc how they travel and as I said we are directly down wind...if it hits with the wind this string I don't think I can do a thing ...back burns are the only way to fight them in my view...you use roads so it does not pick up until it gets away from the road...anyways I have saved my old house a couple of times with a back burn.
Alex

News is that it still has not jumped..if we can make it to night fall we have a chance ..it needs to burn to the river and not jump..anyways...back to it.
And please don't worry I don't work to hard and apart from my crook legs am a rather fit fella.
Alex

See I only worked for an hour and now I am taking a break..that is not overdoing things.
But I think I am done for the day..the temp is dropping which is good the wind is easing slightly also good and got a lot of fuel off the ground.
Alex

[Ukastronomer]

do you have home insurance over there in places where there can be fires

[xelasnave]

Yes but I don't bother..I mean I have already been burnt out in 2002 so what are the chances it could happen twice?

Alex

[LewisM]

About 99%

[Ukastronomer]

My father was an insurance rep, not door to door but sold life insurance for the CML.

He always said

"Insurance is a con.............. UNTIL YOU NEED IT"

never ever have I ever not had insurance, everything I own is insured, scopes, camera gear, it costs me £350 a year, and WOW! have I needed it.

Best thing I have ever bought over the years



what!!!!!



A1 ++++++++

My insurance is due next week, I would rather starve than not have it

I look at all the images of the hurricane last week, all the homeless, the US fires, that AUS. fires and immediately think "I wonder how many aren't insured"

[Sunfish]

I have volunteer fire training on Saturday. I hope it is only training.

At least we don’t live downwind of a lot of pine trees and other species some crazy coots plant and we are at the bottom of the hill.

[atkinsonr]

Perigian Beach now on fire.

[whzzz28]

11 houses lost, more expected.
Given how close the houses are, id expect a lot more.


QLD might as well made of tinder right now. No surprise, we have had what, 1 day of "showers" in the past 2 months, and some have had nothing.


Let's not forget the other fires either. Apparently rain forest does burn.

[xelasnave]

1% chance of no loss...sounds good to me.

Alex



The previous owner here planted all sorts of exotic trees apparently as an investment and we are on top of a hill.
On the positive there are sprinklers on the roof and all around the house also inside but I can't see any use for the ones inside at all. There are two long fire hoses which we have laid out for the house but only one for the van...

The fuel on the ground is enormous so if we could save the house but have the fire cross the property that would be good.

The temperature has dropped dramatically as it is only 0 here inside the van so that is a help, the wind has dropped but I can not find out if the fire has stayed on the other side of the river.

Had a decent night's sleep and not sore from working yesterday so all is good.

Alex

[gary]

RFS advise a fast-moving fire is travelling in a north, north westerly
direction from Peregian Beach and Peregian Breeze Estate in Qld on the Sunshine Coast.
It is heading towards Marcus Beach.

Peregian Beach, Peregian Breeze Estate and Marcus Beach have
been advised to evacuate immediately and that soon it will be too
dangerous to drive.

RFS advise Peregian Beach and Marcus Beach residents should evacuate in a northerly direction towards Noosa.

RFS advise residents of Peregian Breeze Estate should evacuate in a southerly direction along Sunshine Motorway towards the
Nambour Showgrounds on Coronation Avenue.

Have family who live at Perigian Springs and they report internet is down and mobile phone networks is now become patchy. RFS advise mobile
network, power and water may go down.

Family tell me 3 water bombers are operating. Perigian IGA store reported
to be destroyed.

Wind had been toward ocean but expected to turn mid-morning. Gusts
had been up to 80km/h.

[JohnF]

Alex, you may not know what those firefighters had been doing. One of our local trucks from hanging Rock Brigade, 6 km from my home [I am also a Member of Hanging Rock Brigade ] spend all Saturday night fighting fires at Drake. So perhaps those ones were exhausted -- I don't know.

We would not drink beer though, as it is a dangerous Combo when fighting fires.

[xelasnave]

Their complain was they were "going from 7-30"...it was 2-30 in the afternoon if the witness reports are correct.

In any event the evidence is heresay..I did not witness any of it...And if the story was made up that is just plain terrible.. but I am reasonably confident that they may or may not have been having a beer...they were at the shed which has a good stock pile of booze and as most folk will do when they feel they have done a good days work..have a beer.


But what ever they were doing or whatever they said means nothing as there is an extremely high presumption that they did come up and save the house as the fire would not just stop feet away from the house or the car...
Alex

[Sunfish]

Thanks for that message. I too have a brother at Marcus Beach. A lot of dry heath along the coast between he at the Southern edge of Marcus and Peregian.

Scary stuff.

[LewisM]

Peregian fires now suspected to be arson (teenagers)

That entire area has always been a problem waiting to happen, like any heath-land/paperbark / scrub area. I've seen the fires through there many years ago.

[gary]

Hi Ray,

They've even had a 737 dropping 15,000L of water and fire retardant
at a time at Perigian Beach today.

I have family members who live in two houses at Perigian Springs and
they evacuated themselves this afternoon when the wind changed
direction and brought the fire toward them within a km.

Hope your brother has some luck.

[xelasnave]

I suppose it would be too expensive, and certainly would need to be tested...but dry ice...what do you think???
Alex

The fire is at my nephews which is at the front of my brother in laws...

And Tony Abbott is there fighting the fire.
Yes the ex PM.
My brother in law is in hospital as he has crook lungs and the smoke has taken him down.
The wind was not too bad and we cleared heaps of fuel but still work to be done...And for a short time the wind seemed to come from the North but it was a lot less scary today if the wind does not pick up bring it on...I don't mind a Bush fire if there is no wind you get behind it where it's burnt out and fight it from there as usually you don't get much smoke.
Alex

[Sunfish]

Thanks Gary. I hope the fire missed your family.

The 737 footage looked pretty dramatic.

One came low over our house in the fire season a few years ago and it seemed liked it was going to crash in the town.

My brother stayed with his son on his farm nursery over night but back today and no damage. Yet. Around the lake still burning I think.

I can not imagine what it is like further West where there is no place to get away from the fire and your living goes up in smoke.

[gary]

Hi Ray,

Good to hear your brother and house unscathed.

Family informed me that they returned to their homes earlier this evening
on watch and wait alert. They reported that the 737 did a drop and then
helicopters water bombed until there was insufficient light.

You wouldn't want to be wearing your best white shirt when they drop that
pink retardant.

[xelasnave]

Great to hear the good news.
I could not believe it this morning...a thin layer of ice on the car.
Wind has dropped hopefully it stays that way.
Alex

[multiweb]

The news sounded terrible this morning. Hope they all get on top of it and loss is minimal. They were enquiring about possible arson.

[xelasnave]

I remember when I joined the volunteer fire brigade down the river the first thing the captain said when he started his opening speech was " there are three things that start fires..men women and children"...sure lightning can do it but I expect that the reality is every fire we see on the map can be traced to what the captain said.
Negligence is somewhat tolerable but starting a fire with evil intent is something that should carry a life sentence.
Alex

[dikman]

Regarding the fire near the Sunshine Coast, they're questioning some teens who claimed, on social media, to have started it!:screwy:

[xelasnave]

I did put this up but pulled it down but my niece put it on face book so... And you may see it on the ABC News they picked up on it and been asking all about it. Tony is second from the left.
Alex

[JohnF]

That is basically what a CO2 Extinguisher is -- Dry Ice. The CO2 is in the Extiguisher anger pressure. When it comes out it comes out very cold. Dry Ice is simply Frozen CO2.

[xelasnave]

Thanks John.

Alex