We are much saddened with the firm news of deaths in our neighbourhood. It was all just too fast for some. What can you say.
We are much relieved though, as the Army has arrived, volunteers from other states, a host of trucks and teams from the Melbourne metropolitan fire brigade, another Elvis and several smaller water bombing helicopters, plus rumours of a Canadair 'Scooper' coming from New Zealand. So with the fires, backburning and other measures we have in effect a 5+ km fire break toward the north ( the key direction for hot and fast winds ).
Some harsh words were had last night with a few sight-seers and/or potential looters. The police are too stretched to be everywhere, well more than they are usually stretched. At the moment any strangers with poor explanations are likely to run risk of physical harm. Sigh .... disaster brings out the best and the worst.
Cheers, Mike.
I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter ...
... and my other CPU is a Ryzen 5950X :-) Blaise Pascal
I am sorry to hear that Mike.. I know this not the time.. but I think the government will have to review there evacuation procedures.. Maybe next time they will issue mandatory evacuations.. Five minute warning is not enough..
There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot. - Aldo Leopold
I am sorry to hear that Mike.. I know this not the time.. but I think the government will have to review there evacuation procedures.. Maybe next time they will issue mandatory evacuations.. Five minute warning is not enough..
There were no official warnings, the five minutes we had was me on the roof looking! The fire had 'spotted' from embers blown ~ 15 + km!!
Probably many lessons will come out, again as you say it's early. But probably the main points will be:
- some fires can't be extinguished by any means on the day. The conditions of heat, wind and low relative humidity ( in this instance 40 + degrees C, 60+ kph and < 6% respectively ) define this.
- mandatory below ground bunkers for this type of residential zone ( consider tornado alley in the US ).
- dramatic sea change in local government attitudes as regards ability of property owners to determine their own fire safety and mitigate risk. There is currently a blizzard of 'green' by-laws preventing sensible clearance margins from houses. The concept that human life can be consciously put at risk on account of another species will change. The fact that precisely this result happened from these policies was long predicted, and that the law makers live in safe suburbs has not gone un-noticed. No one is awaiting, or indeed interested, in the green spin to come on this topic.
Cheers, Mike.
I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter ...
... and my other CPU is a Ryzen 5950X :-) Blaise Pascal
Most of the fires in Italy come from arson. No fires in the big northern forests of the Alps. The mountaineers keep good watch, since by laws going back to Austria the woods are also theirs and they care for their property.
Tullio
A suspect has been arrested, and required transport out of district for his own safety. It is crucial that it is known firmly that he is truly the culprit, else two errors are made ( convicting an innocent, and allowing the guilty free to light another day ). Mind you, even behind bars will not be safe ....
Cheers, Mike.
I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter ...
... and my other CPU is a Ryzen 5950X :-) Blaise Pascal
We are much saddened with the
)
We are much saddened with the firm news of deaths in our neighbourhood. It was all just too fast for some. What can you say.
We are much relieved though, as the Army has arrived, volunteers from other states, a host of trucks and teams from the Melbourne metropolitan fire brigade, another Elvis and several smaller water bombing helicopters, plus rumours of a Canadair 'Scooper' coming from New Zealand. So with the fires, backburning and other measures we have in effect a 5+ km fire break toward the north ( the key direction for hot and fast winds ).
Some harsh words were had last night with a few sight-seers and/or potential looters. The police are too stretched to be everywhere, well more than they are usually stretched. At the moment any strangers with poor explanations are likely to run risk of physical harm. Sigh .... disaster brings out the best and the worst.
Cheers, Mike.
I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter ...
... and my other CPU is a Ryzen 5950X :-) Blaise Pascal
I am sorry to hear that
)
I am sorry to hear that Mike.. I know this not the time.. but I think the government will have to review there evacuation procedures.. Maybe next time they will issue mandatory evacuations.. Five minute warning is not enough..
There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot. - Aldo Leopold
RE: I am sorry to hear that
)
There were no official warnings, the five minutes we had was me on the roof looking! The fire had 'spotted' from embers blown ~ 15 + km!!
Probably many lessons will come out, again as you say it's early. But probably the main points will be:
- some fires can't be extinguished by any means on the day. The conditions of heat, wind and low relative humidity ( in this instance 40 + degrees C, 60+ kph and < 6% respectively ) define this.
- mandatory below ground bunkers for this type of residential zone ( consider tornado alley in the US ).
- dramatic sea change in local government attitudes as regards ability of property owners to determine their own fire safety and mitigate risk. There is currently a blizzard of 'green' by-laws preventing sensible clearance margins from houses. The concept that human life can be consciously put at risk on account of another species will change. The fact that precisely this result happened from these policies was long predicted, and that the law makers live in safe suburbs has not gone un-noticed. No one is awaiting, or indeed interested, in the green spin to come on this topic.
Cheers, Mike.
I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter ...
... and my other CPU is a Ryzen 5950X :-) Blaise Pascal
We are concerned Mike.. If
)
We are concerned Mike.. If you can... Keep us informed...
There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot. - Aldo Leopold
Most of the fires in Italy
)
Most of the fires in Italy come from arson. No fires in the big northern forests of the Alps. The mountaineers keep good watch, since by laws going back to Austria the woods are also theirs and they care for their property.
Tullio
Mike...My thoughts are with
)
Mike...My thoughts are with you and your community...May time make some of this right again.
I echo Dan's comments. Be
)
I echo Dan's comments. Be safe Mike.
He keeps his family and
)
He keeps his family and himself safe and we are able to see from when he posts.
I hope the fires are coming under control, and the arsonists are found.
Hi there Jeremy!
Shih-Tzu are clever, cuddly, playful and rule!! Jack Russell are feisty!
We're still good, and thanks
)
We're still good, and thanks for your concerns! :-)
There are extensive fire breaks in place, and the weather is kind. I'm sick of the sooty smell though ......
Cheers, Mike.
I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter ...
... and my other CPU is a Ryzen 5950X :-) Blaise Pascal
A suspect has been arrested,
)
A suspect has been arrested, and required transport out of district for his own safety. It is crucial that it is known firmly that he is truly the culprit, else two errors are made ( convicting an innocent, and allowing the guilty free to light another day ). Mind you, even behind bars will not be safe ....
Cheers, Mike.
I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter ...
... and my other CPU is a Ryzen 5950X :-) Blaise Pascal