Victorian fires... how are you all coping - Page 2

malcolm erik bogaert · #31 09-02-09, 20:55

all our thoughts with all our members in Australia regards from North-Northumberland.malcolm

Tony Smith · #32 09-02-09, 22:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

..... Also psychological trauma in survivors dealing with utter loss of loved ones, and emergency services crews exposed to heartbreaking scenes, will need to be treated to stem any suicides. .... many stories will never be told and will haunt those involved for years to come.

The death of any individual is a tragedy, but it also has an effect on those surrounding the incident. One of the victims of the fires had actually featured in a previous news story relating to occupational trauma. The common occupations thought of at risk of psychological trauma (aka PTSD) are the Military, Police, Fire, Medical staff and they are extremely well supported with counselling services. Equally at risk are secondary groups such as railworkers, truck drivers, bank tellers, etc who don't actually respond to an incident, but are actually involved in the incident at the time. To those people we can now add the residents of the affected communities.

phoenix · #33 10-02-09, 00:06

I still find it hard to comprihend the scale of this disaster, and the size of the death toll.

One REMLR member has lost 2 Acco's to it as he is on holidays in QLD. I wouldn't be surprised if there were more vehicles lost in all of this.

Keith Webb · #34 10-02-09, 04:55

Euan has just called from Glenburn where he has taken a load of hay for the cows and reports they have been very fortunate with the house and main sheds surviving.
The fire burnt right up to the winch truck Euan has been working on but didn't damage it. The casualties are a couple of tyres on the back of one of the F15s and another on a rear axle and also some fire damage to the rear body section of a No9 CGT.
Will post some pictures when the become available.

As for the larger situation more and more is being revealed in all it's tragedy, human stories starting to come through, stories of survival and loss... the worst is it is a long way from being over.

Rookie · #35 10-02-09, 05:06

300+ on our news today. After the twin towers a number of us offerred accomodation to the US personnel (distance didn,t help.) Am trying among neighbours who like me have cottages on the beach to make an offer for survivors to jump the ditch and re energise away from this mess. Will be approaching the Oz High Commission in the next few days.

Rookie

Max Hedges · #36 10-02-09, 05:44

volunteer fire fighters from around the Yass area are volenteering their services to go and help with the fires in Vic if needed. At the moment the RFS are putting together a list of names so its just wait and see

Max

Daniel Treasure · #37 10-02-09, 07:14

To all at the Vic fires and Qld floods,
Good luck, God speed, Safe return!

From a West Aussie Firey

cliff · #38 10-02-09, 07:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rookie

300+ on our news today.
Rookie

Your news is wrong with about 177 confirmed dead and 50 or so still missing presumed dead.

The people who struck the matches that caused this should be burnt at the stake in payment for their crime

Daniel Treasure · #39 10-02-09, 07:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by cliff

Your news is wrong with about 177 confirmed dead and 50 or so still missing presumed dead.

The people who struck the matches that caused this should be burnt at the stake in payment for their crime

SLOWLEY!!!!!!!!!

Jan Thompson · #40 10-02-09, 07:44

I have just had a phone call from Dave Argles of Wiseman's Ferry in NSW. If anyone needs assistance with storage of vehicles he is happy to help you out.

NSW members of KVE, AMVCS and AAVA are thinking of all in Victoria who have been effected by the fires.

Keith Webb · #41 10-02-09, 11:36

Euan dropped in with some pictures - As you can see we got off very lightly.

The front and back axles were from a buggy - one of the tyres on the F15 went along with another which was spare and we were wondering how to get the tyre off.

Scrivo18 · #42 10-02-09, 13:10

Hi Guys

I was actually down south with some of my Vehicles when the fire threatened my friends property, the fire got to within a kilometer of his house when the wind changed, one of the most frightening experiences of my life.
We sat on his verander and watched the fire roar along the next ridge line untill a wind change halted its progess towards the property.
To see 100+ foot tall trees explode in flames and send fire balls into the sky is really undescribable.
The truck driver with my Stuart and Bren carrier had to reverse his semi trailer 2.5 Kilometers up a highway when the flames crossed the road and he could not continue.

To all the fire fighters and volunteers they do an incredible job and there have been several that have lost there own property's while they are protecting others.

My thoughts and pray's are with everyone involved and especially those that have been so dreadfully effected by these fires

Tim

Ian Pullen · #43 10-02-09, 13:25

It's definately worrying. The smoke was incredibly dense come Sunday evening and Monday.
With years of drought, days of temperatures over 45degrees centigrade and strong dry hot winds it was a recipe for disaster.
We were packed ready to leave at a moments notice but thankfully it didn't happen.
There are still numerous fires around the region.
Any one interested can check out the DSE webpage. Or type in Victorian Bushfires into google and go from there.

alleramilitaria · #44 10-02-09, 20:09

Thoughts go out to everyone down there in the zire and flood zone.

Col Tigwell · #45 10-02-09, 22:50

Euan it is so pleasing that you, your lady and the kids are un harmed, great news which I am sure we all give thanks for.

The trucks well that is sad but could be a lot worse. Did you loose much fencing and stock.

All the best mate, hope you turn the corner soon. Give the kids a big hig from us, bit of advice, keep an eye on them for a while, some kids keep it bottled up, and they may need a bit of extra kindness and support.

All the best,

Col

phoenix · #46 11-02-09, 00:52

Looks like Euan was very lucky. There are so many stories circulating of close calls.

Euan McDonald · #47 16-02-09, 13:41

A week after black Saturday and we had another flair up tonight, in the lower paddock the clumps of grass are still burning under the ground reignited and burnt out more of the remaining pasture.
After a slight set back I'm back to restoring the F60l with the frame body and cab to be sandblaster in the next few days.

Alex Blair (RIP) · #48 16-02-09, 20:58

Police in Gippsland interrogated a suspect by
placing a metal colander on his head and connecting it with
wires to a photocopy machine. The message "He's lying" was
placed in the copier, and police pressed the copy button
each time they thought the suspect wasn't telling the truth.
Believing the "lie detector" was working, the suspect
confessed.

Quote:

Australian arson suspect named
Helen Spowart, Melbourne, 16 Feb 09
Defence lawyer Helen Spowart argued her client was at risk even in custody

A court has lifted a ban on identifying an arson suspect in Australia's deadly bushfires, despite fears of possible retribution attacks by angry residents.

Prosecutors say Brendan Sokaluk deliberately set a fire in Churchill, Victoria, in which 11 people died.

The 39-year-old was not in court to hear the judge lift the suppression order which kept his identity a secret.

At least 189 people are now known to have died in the dozens of bush fires that swept Victoria earlier this month.

Firefighters in the south-eastern state are still battling nine blazes.

Police have warned that the death toll could rise further as officers continue to search through the debris of razed houses for victims.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced that a national day of mourning will be held on Sunday for all victims of the bush fires.

Anger and disgust

Mr Sokaluk, a local man from the Gippsland region, is facing charges of arson causing death and of intentionally starting a bushfire.

Tony Smith · #49 17-02-09, 00:44

The effect of the fires are also being noticed in the South Island. The smell of smoke has been noticed in the Canterbury and Otago districts for the last week and the snow on Mt Cook has grey smears from ash. My reporters say, though, that the Sunsets are magnificent!

Alex Blair (RIP) · #50 17-02-09, 01:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

The effect of the fires are also being noticed in the South Island. The smell of smoke has been noticed in the Canterbury and Otago districts for the last week and the snow on Mt Cook has grey smears from ash. My reporters say, though, that the Sunsets are magnificent!

I was talking to my brother in law on Skype in NZ and they see the smoke there and can some times smell it ..The sunsets are spectacular..and no snakes..

Max Hedges · #51 23-02-09, 22:17

heard on the news that 2 fire fighters we injured and one fire truck damaged yesterday, there are still several fires burning

Max

Ryan · #52 24-02-09, 09:59

Saw on the channel ten news tonight some footage of a current fire in Upwey or possibly Dalesford where a CMP Blitz had been destroyed. Not sure if it was a Ford or Chev but it had a large jib on the rear. The owner was okay. Did anybody else see this report?
The owner was a Matt Leary I believe, I'm pretty sure that was the name they showed.

Keith Webb · #53 24-02-09, 11:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by rynoki

Saw on the channel ten news tonight some footage of a current fire in Upwey or possibly Dalesford where a CMP Blitz had been destroyed. Not sure if it was a Ford or Chev but it had a large jib on the rear. The owner was okay. Did anybody else see this report?
The owner was a Matt Leary I believe, I'm pretty sure that was the name they showed.

I missed the channel 10 news but saw a segment on a later one where there was someone who had lost a car collection - but didn't see any CMPs.

cletrac (RIP) · #54 24-02-09, 20:31

I just saw one on the news. It was a Cab 13 but they didn't say which town it was near, just that it was in the latest flareups.

Ryan · #55 25-02-09, 02:09

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/wor...ef=videosearch

Keith Webb · #56 25-02-09, 03:42

Looks to be a Ford F60L, or rather was...

Shakey985 · #57 11-07-09, 04:41

In 1927 Glenburne station Conbanaine Victoria, built new shearers quarters and kitchen. On the 7th of February 2009 (Black Saturday) the 82 years of history went up in smoke.

This is the shearers side were many a tale tail was told and a few cans were drunk .

The cooks side with a slow combustion stove.

On the 27th 0f April 2009 the chimney was donated and moved to my place were after a lot of cleaning of bricks I have rebuilt a fire place worthy of more tall story’s and a few more cans

Keith Webb · #58 11-07-09, 05:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shakey985

In 1927 Glenburne station Conbanaine Victoria, built new shearers quarters and kitchen. On the 7th of February 2009 (Black Saturday) the 82 years of history went up in smoke.
On the 27th 0f April 2009 the chimney was donated and moved to my place were after a lot of cleaning of bricks I have rebuilt a fire place worthy of more tall story’s and a few more cans

Nice work!

We should arrange a get-together sometime.

Hanno Spoelstra · #59 11-07-09, 11:10

I was sent this beautiful picture of this terrible event a while ago. I hope enough time has passed to show this picture.

Shakey985 · #60 11-07-09, 23:01

Keith just PM me when your coming past on the way to Pucka

Hanno its a good picture as it incapacitates fire and the suburbs, life in Australia, as I was saying on Friday night over a quite drink by the fire, in 1939 they would of been talking about the same thing.