Victorian Bushfires

[Tamtarn]

We have dreadful bushfires in Victoria at the moment. They were started 3-4 days ago by lightning strikes.

There are over 60 fires burning in the Alpine areas and Gippsland and are expected to join into one giant mass of over a 100 kilometer front. With temperatures of 40 degrees today and tomorrow the fires are expected to be the worst ever in the State.

We live approx 200 kilometers from the fires and the visability here is shocking and the strong smell of smoke makes you think the fires are just down the road.

I took these shots this morning and you can get an idea of what we see form our property.

Remember we're at least 200 k's from the fires.

1 ........ Looking across the road to the neighbour opposite
2 ........ Looking down our road
3 ........ The paddock directly behind us
4 ........ We would normally see across the valley to the mountains





Our thoughts are with the residents and CFA members during this terrible time

[toetoe (Peter)]

Terrible stuff that smoke Barb, in Albury and Wodonga its the same with the smoke. I have so much respect for all fire fighters, our thoughts are with all concerned in this terrible time of what seems to be a common thing here in our country.

[jase (Jason)]

The smoke is reasonably bad in Melbourne, but not as bad as you Barb & David. I spoke to a neighbor down near my farm in South Gippsland this morning, he said it was totally smoked out.


My thoughts are with all those affected. In particular, the courageous job done by CFA firefighters and volunteers. I wish everyone safety, through this terrible time. Let’s hope no lives are lost over the next couple of days.

[danielsun]

Its the same here, i woke up this morning to the smell of smoke then looked out the window and it is as thick as though it was just up the road!

[Dave47tuc (David)]

Our preys go out to everyone affected by the fires.
The sky even here down on the Mornington Peninsula is full of smoke.
Can barely see the sun.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

The smoke is atrocious even right up here!!!!

All day we have only had 500m visibility, but that has now become about 1k due to a rise in wind speed, and it stinks as usual. The kids have had to stay inside all day but I had to work in it. Very hard to breath with the heat and the smoke. I reckon the Firefighters are heroes having to be in the front lines, and they can't just go inside and have a rest!!!!!

[xelasnave]

I hate bush fire season..apart from geting burnt out from time to time the smoke drives me mad..you can live for weeks with smoke everywhere.. up home you get up in the middle of the night turn on your torch and inside the house it shows a beam that could be used to call batman... passive smoking aint got nothing on this... and you end up with a headache that goes for days or weeks cause there is nowhere you can escape for the smoke... I burnt off this year but it is back to a dangerous level .. everything seemed to grow so much faster after the last set of fires providing so much fuel. Hope everyone survives ..and if the fire is coming dont stay to fight it if there is any wind about... until you have been in the middle of a fire storm you will never appreciate simply how bad it gets... play it safe get away so you can come back and fill in the insurance forms.
alex

[xelasnave]

AND as to lightning strikes starting fires I recall what our fire captain at Wendoree Park would say..there are three things that start fires...man women or children. he could not say he had ever been able to attribute one to lightening..not saying it cant happen but when you think of the general conditions surrounding lightening..sometimes rain involved.. one finds it hard to understand they are responsible for all they are blamed for.
alex

[leon]

No viewing or imaging for some days i expect, well bugger the stars, as long as there is no life lost or homes destroyed.
And Alex i happen to agree with what you said about the lightning, and was that Wendouree Park near Ballarat you were refering to, did you once live here.

Cheers leon

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Hi-res satellite pic from Rapidfire/NASA here (big!): http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/s....terra.1km.jpg
the red markings are all fires! (you can go higher res still by clicking on 500m or 250m per pixel links)

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

That is an incredible image, Steve! Thanks. No wonder we can see so much smoke outside!!!!!

[Tamtarn]

What an amazing image Steve. It's very scary to think that things could get worse over the next couple of days

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

The wind change has hit us up here already, so it's on it's way to the fires. It is a very very strong westerly!!!!

Good for blowing the smoke away so they can get the aircraft back in the air, but bad coz it will intensify the fire and change its direction! A 2 edged sword.

[acropolite (Phil)]

I think we have your smoke here, blown all the way across the pond, visibility isn't good I can't see any part of the city which is only a few kilometres away. The weather and the extent of bushfires this early in the summer is scary.

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Hi there

We just drove back from Bendigo - it has a heavy blanket on smoke. Once past Wangaratta - clear as a bell.

Cheers Petra

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

I don't believe this!

The westerly change came through and blew away all the smoke coming from the East

then some &%#@& lit a fire at Camperdown in the west and now we are inundated with the smoke from that side

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

and to make things worse now we have lightning but no rain!!!!!

Sheeeesh!

Leon, if you are reading this, go outside and look at the show! Not good but spectacular to watch!!

And now I am off to work, out in amongst it in the bush!