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08-12-2019, 09:21 PM
1

Australian Fires

Things are reaching a catastrophic prediction. Fires are raging 1 hour from Sydney, and are too big to put out, it doesn't bear thinking about.
Stay safe Australia.
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09-12-2019, 02:45 AM
2

Re: Australian Fires

I appreciate your concern. It is a scary time. But right now we have had a little respite with the heat easing for a few days. There is reduced activity in some areas which has allowed fire crews to start backburning and re-establishing containment lines. Basically there is one huge mega-blaze on the rural north west fringe of the greater Sydney Metro Area. This has been burning for weeks. All of the efforts on the north side are concentrated on trying to contain this massive area which is the size of Sydney Metro - which is bigger in area than greater London or Paris and about 3/4 the size of Los Angeles. So that gives you an idea of the size of the fire area. The aim isn't to put it out. ONly rain can do that. But very large air tankers - C17s, large modified airliners etc plus hundreds of smaller aircraft water bombers and helicopters are being used to constantly try to make the containment lines bigger and bigger so eventually the fire will be starved of fuel. ONce the big one is under control then the smaller ones can be given more attention. This is like a war and the RFS is like an army and air force fighting a fierce and brutal enemy. It 's going to take time to get on top of this one. But we will do it. We have no choice. We are lucky. We have crews from NZ, the US and Canada here helping. It's like bloody D Day!..haha
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09-12-2019, 06:38 AM
3

Re: Australian Fires

No Brits Keezoy thats disappointing.

As you say the size of it is mind boggling ...I hope it's starved and under control soon.
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09-12-2019, 06:55 AM
4

Re: Australian Fires

Originally Posted by summer ->
No Brits Keezoy thats disappointing.

As you say the size of it is mind boggling ...I hope it's starved and under control soon.
I think it's just that in places Like California, Montana, Oregon, Washington State and British Columbia in Canada and also New Zealand where these people are coming from, they have the same kind of fires we do. Firestorms that cover huge areas of forest. They have the equipment and training that is compatible with ours. Especially the aircraft. We go there to do the same thing when they need us. I think you'd have a different kind of fire situation in Britain where the populations are much more concentrated. But hey if anybody wants come and help they sure will be welcome!
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09-12-2019, 06:59 AM
5

Re: Australian Fires

Originally Posted by keezoy ->
I think it's just that in places Like California, Montana, Oregon, Washington State and British Columbia in Canada where these people are coming from, they have the same kind of fires we do. Firestorms that cover huge areas of forest. They have the equipment and training that is compatible with ours. Especially the aircraft. We go there to do the same thing when they need us. I think you'd have a different kind of fire situation in Britain where the populations are much more concentrated. But hey if anybody wants come and help they sure will be welcome!
Ah ok... I don't feel so bad about it now I can see it's more specialised training than is required by our fire crews
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09-12-2019, 07:04 AM
6

Re: Australian Fires

My son has jus sent me a video that I cannot send here .He is at this very minute just flying into Sydney . it’s almost white outed with smoke .
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09-12-2019, 07:12 AM
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Re: Australian Fires

Hope he lands safely Muddy....scary stuff.
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09-12-2019, 07:49 AM
8

Re: Australian Fires

I know I worry about it all the time .
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09-12-2019, 08:07 AM
9

Re: Australian Fires

They will attempt to contain these fires to protect people and property because that is the best they can do.

The fires will not be put out until there is substantial rain which BOM forecast will not occur until the end of February or March.

BTW tomorrow (10th December) Sydney water users go onto level two water restrictions (basically no use of hoses at all) because the dams are only about 46% full and the desalination plant has been turned on. Some towns in NSW are on level 5 restrictions because they have less than 12 months supply of water left.

Fighting fires is a lot harder with no water.

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09-12-2019, 08:35 AM
10

Re: Australian Fires

It's ironic that while Australia is on fire we have the South Island cut in half by floods and washed out roads after record rainfall. Always pleased to see our firefighters helping . Aussie teams were one of the first help after the Christchurch quake.
 
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