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THE CHATTER BOX

	The Chatter Box : Blathering On
	Messages 1 2 3 4 5 6 7  Fires by kazzzz on 7 February 2009 7:34am   Just thought I'd do a separate thread to report the fires here. We've had record temps, 47 degrees, the hottest since records began. As feared, there have been fires everywhere. The Bunyip State forest is out of control, there are many other fires and losses of homes. I have taken some pix of the sky, it is full of smoke and it's a greyish orange,i'll post them later it's awful. There's a fire in Ferntree Gully (where my brother lives), also in Yarra Glen, 10 mins from my parents, and a very large one at Narre Warren where my cousin lives. Kathryn's just heard there's one at yellingbo where the kids went to primary school. I've been listening to the emergency radio all afternoon, people have been winched out of houses by helicopters, many homes lost, one man reported earlier his wife saved their home single handedly before jumping into a dam wrapped in a blanked, and survived. The neighbours stayed to protect their home and are now missing. They knew it was going to be bad today but it's just horrific seeing the news pictures. The main power line that supplies Melbourne has been damaged and is under threat of being cut. We've had a cooler change come through but for the fires that's not good as the wind changes direction and blows them in another direction.   Re: Fires by kazzzz on 7 February 2009 8:26am   Kathryn's just rung, the town of Wandin is alight, she's one side of it and I'm the other:(   Re: Fires by kazzzz on 7 February 2009 1:03pm   Up to 40 deaths. My friend's just rang she's been evacuated with her kids and her brother in law's house has burnt down. Kathryn's OK, but stuck where she is and scared:(   Re: Fires by peripatetically on 7 February 2009 1:40pm   I knew there were fires, Kaz, but nothing like this! OMG! This is just the worst. My mind can'teven wrap itself around what it must be like there. This disaster brings to mind the fire in "The Thornbirds". The horrific heat there and the ruin..... Please be careful. I pray you and your loved ones will be safe. And that those who have already lost so much will recover. How awful for you to have to face this nightmare.   Re: Fires by bIG bLOGGER on 7 February 2009 2:43pm   WILDFIRES SWEEP THROUGH VICTORIA AND NEW SOUTH WALES:There has been posted a dramatic REUTERS photo of firefighters tackling a house fire during the night,on: http://www.telegraph.co.uk More than 40 feared dead in Australia's 'worst ever' bushfires by Bonnie Malkin in Sydney This short piece says that the worst-hit areas are around Healesville,Kinglake and Coleraine,and that local people haven't seen such a disaster since the bad one of "Ash Wednesday" in February,1983,when 75 people were killed in brushfires across the 2 states. There are some dramatic 'eye-witness' reports now also in this report.   Re: Fires by canaveralgumby on 7 February 2009 4:34pm   Advise to you and yours from Hurricane Central: Get together: your crucial papers (birth certs. and IDs, insurance docs., most recent of all your bills for acct. #s) peoples' AND pets' medicatons and most basic care supplies, NOT every little thing... photos & objects which can't be replaced (antiques, kids' prized artwork from school, that widget your great-grandma gave you) Have boxes ready to put all of the above in. Now, BE READY TO TAKE THAT STUFF AND LEAVE AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE. For hurricanes we have days to get it together, but WITH FIRES YOU MAY HAVE AN HOUR OR LESS. Now hopefully you'll go through this preparation to evacuate, but NEVER have to. Godspeed, Cori   Re: Fires by Lounge Trekker on 7 February 2009 4:43pm   Thinking of Karen and Missy. Be safe and well. Pete   Re: Fires by mrsthing on 7 February 2009 10:42pm   Best of luck to you all in Australia. Sounds like California last summer--they lost hundreds of square miles of forest and hundreds of homes. Cori's right--start getting that stuff together NOW as you may not have much warning to evacuate. And make sure the homeowner's insurance is paid up! Stay safe!   Re: Fires by mrsteabag on 8 February 2009 12:22am   Angels be present!! Kaz, prayers are with you, Missy,and both yours.   Re: Fires by suzulu on 8 February 2009 1:11am   OMG, this is really scary, Kazzzz. I do hope everything will be OK for you all.   Messages 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
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