Bushfires in Australia

[Richard Farrant]

We have a good few forum members in Australia and my thoughts are with them at present regarding the devastating bushfires out there. I have many friends in the military vehicle scene around that country and hope they keep safe and do not suffer any loss of life or property.
While we are enjoying the festive season many of them are out there fighting fires or keeping watch.
Just to put the size of it into perspective for those of us in the UK, the major fire area in New South Wales over the Blue Mountains and surrounding area is over 4,100 square miles, this is equal to the size of Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Greater London combined.
Only wish they could have some of our rain!

best regards,
Richard

[Ganmain Tony]

I am one of the lucky ones - nothing anywhere near us, however there will be a few guys on here that will be in the thick of it.

Smoke is a as thick as a fog out here but no flames thankfully.

Looking forward to Corowa - Im sure there will be a few hair raising stories.

[Dale Jordan]

Where Ok now . We had packed up ready to go ,
I'm near Wauchope N.S.W all's good up hear now ..

[Tony Smith]

Nope, it's tore through here and we're stuffed. More later.

Photo 1 is 4 months ago, photo 2 is yesterday.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Just to put the size of it into perspective for those of us in the UK, the major fire area in New South Wales over the Blue Mountains and surrounding area is over 4,100 square miles, this is equal to the size of Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Greater London combined.

best regards,
Richard

See the map at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au

The fire that burnt our place is 140Km Nth to Sth, and 125Km east to west, and that is just ONE of the fires currently burning uncontrolled.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Tony, that looks fearsome! Hope you and your loved ones are o.k.

To all other MLU members, my thoughts are with you.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Richard. I have been following this via TV news stories but did not realise such a vast area is affected - it is a quarter of the surface area of the Netherlands

Hanno

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Tony, that looks fearsome!

Hanno

The remarkable thing is that 4 months from now it will all be thick, dense green again and you would never guess the intensity of the fire.

It will only be the condition of the wrecked vehicles that will indicate the heat involved.

A Ferguson TEA20 tractor is likely to be the most common tractor to be found on Australian rural smallholding properties. They are also designed with an aluminium gearbox, of thick enough cross-section that it forms a structural part of the tractor's chassis, or "spine".

The heat of the fire was enough to completely melt the gearbox casing (and there is no magnesium in the alloy!), and break the back of this old Fergy.

[Tony Smith]

And this Suzuki LJ50 has an alloy gearbox and transfer case. These melted in the heat and have pooled beside the vehicle. The heat took all the temper out of the springs, and they have bent inverted and the vehicle's chassis now rests on the axle housings.

[Tony Smith]

We had a timber railway sleeping carriage built in 1912 on our property as guest accomodation. After some years of meticulous restoration work, it was quite a novel and appealing place to stay.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

A Ferguson TEA20 tractor is likely to be the most common tractor to be found on Australian rural smallholding properties. They are also designed with an aluminium gearbox, of thick enough cross-section that it forms a structural part of the tractor's chassis, or "spine".

The heat of the fire was enough to completely melt the gearbox casing (and there is no magnesium in the alloy!), and break the back of this old Fergy.

Tony,
The TE20 gearbox casing was made of Elektron, which was a magnesium alloy, much stronger the cast aluminium.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Horrific....

Tony, was your house spared at least?

Hanno

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

The remarkable thing is that 4 months from now it will all be thick, dense green again and you would never guess the intensity of the fire.

It will only be the condition of the wrecked vehicles that will indicate the heat involved.

A Ferguson TEA20 tractor is likely to be the most common tractor to be found on Australian rural smallholding properties. They are also designed with an aluminium gearbox, of thick enough cross-section that it forms a structural part of the tractor's chassis, or "spine".

The heat of the fire was enough to completely melt the gearbox casing (and there is no magnesium in the alloy!), and break the back of this old Fergy.

[Tony Smith]

Fortunately, yes. We were luckier than many of our neighbours.

[Ken Hughes]

what a worrying time for everyone,im thinking of you all and hope for the best.
I have most of my cousins from a large family living in different parts of Australia,some are affected by the fires but ok,one cousins daughter is a fire fighter in her local community.

[Howard]

The fires continue to burn

Expecting up to 40mm rain later this week. It won't be enough to put the fires out, but should slow things down a lot.

IMG_20200108_131319.jpg IMG_20200108_131729.jpg IMG_20200111_101603.jpg

Unfortunately this fire break proved to be futile once the wind sprung up last night (9th Jan)

[Howard]

IMG_20200111_101922.jpg IMG_20200111_102115.jpg IMG_20200111_102217.jpg IMG_20200111_103000.jpg

[Howard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvzKUpAQLQ8
Fortunately for me I wasn't at Batlow when the fire storm hit.

[James P]

I have to pile on with everyone else and say how heartbreaking it is to just see it on the news and can only imagine what a nightmare it is for you all down there.
The wife and I donated $200 for the fight (and nightmare) you guys down under are living daily.