Fires in Australia: Australian members, please check in!

[patchouli]

The fires there in Australia, as I've seen on the news here, are devastating More than 12 million acres have burned, at least 24 are dead, and what this has done / will do to the environment / eco-system & wildlife is anybody's guess. My deepest condolences and sympathies to Australia, her people & her wildlife.

If you live in Australia, please let us know how you're doing if you can or as soon as you can.

‘It’s an Atomic Bomb’: Australia Deploys Military as Fires Spread

HASTINGS, Australia — The evacuees walked down the gangway of the giant naval vessel to the dock, each carrying just a few items of luggage. Some held infants and others their dogs, whose legs were still shaky from the 20-hour voyage down the coast of Australia. They were weary, and their clothes smelled of smoke, but the terrible infernos were finally behind them.

Four days after a bush fire ravaged the remote coastal town of Mallacoota, forcing people to shelter on the beach under blood-red skies, more than 1,000 stranded residents and vacationers arrived on Saturday in Hastings, a town near Melbourne.

Read the entire article below:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/04/w...imes&smtyp=cur

[Born]

Just an update.


https://www.npr.org/2020/01/05/79375...sands-evacuate

[sidewalker]

Its just heartbreaking. And to find out some of these were started by HUMANS.
Some accidentally (cigs, or burning outdoor debris) and some just to start fires.
ASSHOLES.


It is just horrible.

[orchibu]

It really is heartbreaking. The loss of lives homes animals and the amount of land burned is horrendous. I like many others worldwide have joined in knitting pouches for the wildlife been rescued. I cant sew so doing what i can. Hope any members from Australia here are safe

[Born]

Originally Posted by sidewalker

Its just heartbreaking. And to find out some of these were started by HUMANS.
Some accidentally (cigs, or burning outdoor debris) and some just to start fires.
ASSHOLES.


It is just horrible.

Alot of the fires are started by kids with a lot of time on their hands who don't care about the consequences.


Other times it's done by the firefighters themselves through back burning and the back burning gets out of hand due to the dry terrain.


And yes other times it is accidental but those are very rare cases.

[4Bobby]

It's horrifying, honestly. I saw this article last night and wanted to share...

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/09/world...rnd/index.html

[sidewalker]

Ive been seeing alot of news from my fb feed. Due to the fires in our county the last several years Im no stranger to smoke choked air. For weeks
But NOTHING like this.


Read someones comment the other day that they flew into Sydney and could smell the smokey air from way up in the air.


I am glad the US is finally sending help. I know many firefighters would love to go to assist. Glad AU asked and are getting help.

[maytayah]

I saw this meme and cried maybe this is why Steve Irwin was taken so soon.

[sidewalker]

Hearing rain is in some areas. I so hope its helping

[orchibu]

Heard the rain in one area knocked out 24 of the fires. Hopefully it willcontinue to rain ( but hopefully not flood) for a bit. The actual bushfire season my Aussie pal has told me starts in Feb so more to come unfortunately

[kaybe]

i just came back from a holiday in Australia.
Don't think anyone can imagine what the fires have done to homes, properties , communities and wildlife.
Where i was in the northern part of Australia they are in a drought so bad that animals, plants are dying without any water.
So yes Australia needs rain all over .