The Victoria fires

blissed · 09-02-09 02:23:00

It's pretty awful news, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-p … 877054.stm
my thoughts go to anyone who may be affected.

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ashmedi1 · 09-02-09 02:31:39

Mine also ....

Reminiscent of the California wildfires that occur annually

hyperballad · 09-02-09 02:35:39

It was really really awful. 2 of my friends narrowly escaped with their lives... I know many that have lost their houses and some that have lost friends, family or worse still can't get in contact with their loved ones in the affected areas.

Makes you stop and could your blessings. Also breaks my heart.

If anyone wants to please donate to Victorian Bushfire Fund - 1800 811 700
Or the RED CROSS APPEAL 1800 811 700.

Thanks.

hyperballad · 09-02-09 04:30:23

Also a call out to any aussies: the red cross is swiftly running out of blood for those injured by the fires. Please roll up your sleeve and donate blood.

Go to www.donateblood.com.au to find out if you're eligable and for donation sites around the country.

Last edited by hyperballad (09-02-09 04:32:00)

momentextase · 11-02-09 02:49:04

This is really devastating, not only to the human population, but to those non-human and other furry and feathered friends of ours that make the brush their homes and is the only home they know.

Speaking from the experience of fighting fires across the western USA, if you are not doing anything or have some time, you might want to try it. It is not easy, it is hellish at times, it is emotionally and physically exhausting, but it can be so rewarding. BTW, women make good firefighters, I was on a helitac crew that was 40% female.

Also, if you know any firefighters fighting the Australian fires, be sure to give them a hug.

"It's the paw that breaks your heart: Firefighter David Tree shares his water with a burned koala near Mirboo North, Victoria state, after wildfires swept through the region. "He kept reaching for the bottle, almost like a baby," said Tree. The koala, since determined to be a female, is now recovering at a wildlife center. (Mark Pardew / AP)" from:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/ar … ip.DTL&o=6

adele_w · 11-02-09 07:06:49

Thanks momentextase, for reminding us about the other casualties of the bushfires. That photograph is really touching. I've always wanted to be a volunteer firefighter. They truly are heroes in tragic times like these.

aven frey · 11-02-09 11:33:34

wow, that really is a touching photo.

momentextase · 11-02-09 19:44:28

I found a cool story about this animal rescue, and a cell phone video of the rescue.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st … 85,00.html

As tragic as these fires are, times like these provide ways for everyone to come together. Everyone can help in some way and according to their means, talents and free time. Giving blood, helping in shelters and with the red cross, helping with all the animals left homeless, fighting and mopping up after the fires... the list is endless.

Want to meet people?? This is a chance to do just that. The friendships formed on a fire team, or in any volunteer effort can last a lifetime. It is funny, people who volunteer in any capacity in response to events like this are always amazing, wonderful and passionate people. Just sayin...

adele_w: I've always wanted to be a volunteer firefighter.

Go for it!

I stumbled into it on a mindless lark, thought it would be exciting, thought it would be a more interesting thing to do than flip burgers between semesters, and it sort of fit with my rock climbing passion. It was a particular bad year for forest fires in our area, so they were asking for volunteers... so I blithely joined a US Forest Service fire crew. Well... to say it was exciting is an understatement, but an overstatement too because so much of the work comes after the fire is contained. Between fires we built firebreaks. Moments of pure adrenaline -punctuated by hours of physical toil and tedium.

BUT -a great way to stay in shape... and the little moments like the one shown in that picture that come along, along with being with people who are abundant enough, and wacky and vivid enough to volunteer for that type of thing was a reward beyond measure. Perhaps the best decision I ever made in my life, an education that still shapes me, we worked hard and we played hard. Sexiest people in the world IMHO, oh the stories I could... but won't... tell. Lets just say danger potentiates passion! LOL!

When I joined, women fighting fires was a controversial issue, but USFS was so pressed they relented and took on women. It turned out women exceeded many men in common sense and endurance, so the USFS never looked back, and many women got selected over men for "hot shot" crews (first responders, helitac and parachute crews). Wondering if Australia is similar...

Last edited by momentextase (11-02-09 19:47:05)

blissed · 12-02-09 02:41:50

momentextase wrote:

This is really devastating, not only to the human population, but to those non-human and other furry and feathered friends of ours that make the brush their homes and is the only home they know.
Speaking from the experience of fighting fires across the western USA, if you are not doing anything or have some time, you might want to try it. It is not easy, it is hellish at times, it is emotionally and physically exhausting, but it can be so rewarding. BTW, women make good firefighters, I was on a helitac crew that was 40% female.
Also, if you know any firefighters fighting the Australian fires, be sure to give them a hug.

"It's the paw that breaks your heart: Firefighter David Tree shares his water with a burned koala near Mirboo North, Victoria state, after wildfires swept through the region. "He kept reaching for the bottle, almost like a baby," said Tree. The koala, since determined to be a female, is now recovering at a wildlife center. (Mark Pardew / AP)" from:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/ar … ip.DTL&o=6

http://www.3aw.com.au/displayPopUpPlaye … _Koala.mp3

.

ashmedi1 · 12-02-09 03:52:46

I hope that act of kindness guarantees the firefighter a place in Heaven at some time, the whole story is so sad ....

phexy · 12-02-09 07:42:49

Awww, *beams* ...I just watched the video footage and I was nearly in tears. That there is a shining example of the Aussie spirit at it's best.

(But he's right - as cuddly as that Koala looks, it could easily have ripped his hand in half!)

richard · 12-02-09 13:29:54

Ah yes but the picture doesn't tell you the full story. This video was actually taken several days before the fires, during a backburning operation - so the fire that stranded this koala was lit by the firemen. No wonder he's giving the poor fella a drink...

blissed · 12-02-09 14:57:40

In the radio interview David Tree the firefighter said there'd already been a fire that burned a complex of homes "we lost all the houses in Ballarat" "so everyone was very jittery" I think exactly when the video was taken isn't the point tho.

I think it's a question of what news you wanna go for after a tragedy, at this point the negative stories were going to be getting very gruesome and press access has been restricted to prevent those kind of images causing any more distress. The main human activity has been the moments where people supported each other with donations of blood, clothes, money and emotional support, all largely unrecorded, so the koala footage really is a kind of symbol of that, which I think has been good.

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bathory · 13-02-09 04:30:24

blissed wrote:

In the radio interview David Tree the firefighter said there'd already been a fire that burned a complex of homes "we lost all the houses in Ballarat" "so everyone was very jittery" I think exactly when the video was taken isn't the point tho.
I think it's a question of what news you wanna go for after a tragedy, at this point the negative stories were going to be getting very gruesome and press access has been restricted to prevent those kind of images causing any more distress. The main human activity has been the moments where people supported each other with donations of blood, clothes, money and emotional support, all largely unrecorded, so the koala footage really is a kind of symbol of that, which I think has been good.
.

I agree. That image has become a symbol of the whole tragedy, rather than an epic image of the fires tearing through a town or something miserable. Its a symbol of hope, which is exactly what people need right now, not that kind of sensationalist horror that the media usually churns out.

neukgraag · 04-04-09 14:00:13

A few weeks ago, we discussed the devastating forest fires in Australia that riveted the world. It might interest you to know that there is an article in the April issue of National Geographic Magazine www.ngm.com titled "Australian Drought Takes Its Toll" and which tries to delve into the root causes and which, according to the author, are man made. It may also be a harbinger for things to come the world over. Scary stuff.

#1 09-02-09 02:23:00

The Victoria fires

#2 09-02-09 02:31:39

Re: The Victoria fires

#3 09-02-09 02:35:39

Re: The Victoria fires

#4 09-02-09 04:30:23

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#5 11-02-09 02:49:04

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#6 11-02-09 07:06:49

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#7 11-02-09 11:33:34

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#8 11-02-09 19:44:28

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#9 12-02-09 02:41:50

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#10 12-02-09 03:52:46

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#11 12-02-09 07:42:49

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#12 12-02-09 13:29:54

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#13 12-02-09 14:57:40

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#14 13-02-09 04:30:24

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#15 04-04-09 14:00:13

Re: The Victoria fires

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