Aussie friends OK?

[danzo]

In light of the terrible fires in Victoria, Austrailia, it certainly would be nice to get a "check in" from our posters Down Under. Hopefully you and your friends and family were not effected.

[ARCHINSTL]

Latest word in STL paper is that 166 people have perished.
Kinda boggles the mind, in this day and age in a modern country.
Tom M.

[Mattel]

I normally live in the city about 50km from where the fires are but am in Perth WA (not washington) for the next couple of weeks. We have offered our house to a friends family as they have evacuated as it is still touch and go up in the hills. It has been a horrific time for everyone involved. It is unfortunatly a big risk of living in the Australian bush. We have an amazing volunteer fire service (some of whom lost houses whilst saving others) but Saturday had the 'perfect' storm, we had no rain for 35days, 5 days of 40°C+ heat (104°F), 100 kmph winds, and heavy fuel loaded countryside that hadn't seen a fire since 1939, we then had a week cool change that fanned the fires in another direction later in the evening. The government warned people for a few days previous about how bad it would be but no-one was expecting this.
I'm going to help my friends on their farm for a few days when I get back as they were lucky to have no loss of life or buildings but will need help with fences and the like.

Thanks for your support, I heard that your government has pledged help also.

[Mattel]

and yes, thats a tercel 4wd burnt out in that shot.

One of the saddest stories I heard was where the people that got caught in car crashes leaving the scene of the fires in the panic and low visibility many perished crashing into each other and then dying from injuries or being burnt.

[Mattel]

The heat even melted the alloy wheels of the Tercel.

[Neu]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NOT A TERCEL!

[takza]

Looks like some buildings got hit? No parts there I'm afraid. About like S California? Ouch!

[MootsMan]

Although they do add into the total loss suffered by folks from fires such as this, buildings and cars are not the "important" things that are destroyed.....houses can be re-built, and cars can be replaced. My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives.......and for those who have survived with their lives, only to have lost all their possessions, it's probably on the magnitude of the death of a close family member or friend. I have not experienced a total loss by fire myself, but close family members of mine have....it is totally devastating. Everything you have worked for over an entire lifetime can be gone in a matter of minutes. My thoughts and prayers will continue to be with those who are suffering so much during this disaster.

[takza]

Much more misery coming for the people of this planet over time? The aliens told me so.

[GTSSportCoupe]

Although they do add into the total loss suffered by folks from fires such as this, buildings and cars are not the "important" things that are destroyed.....houses can be re-built, and cars can be replaced. My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives.......and for those who have survived with their lives, only to have lost all their possessions, it's probably on the magnitude of the death of a close family member or friend. I have not experienced a total loss by fire myself, but close family members of mine have....it is totally devastating. Everything you have worked for over an entire lifetime can be gone in a matter of minutes. My thoughts and prayers will continue to be with those who are suffering so much during this disaster.

Very well put. What a terrible disaster, I can't imagine what those families must be going through.

[terceldude]

I wanna save that Terc!!

[ARCHINSTL]

Mattel (and the world) -
I think we all apologize for terceldude's remark.
Tom M.

[Mattel]

Thanks Tom, it's cool. Ir's sort of what I expected. I hope the other Aussies are getting through the fire season OK. Most of the time it is a very good place to live.

[terceldude]

Mattel (and the world) -
I think we all apologize for terceldude's remark.
Tom M.

WOE are you talking about??? You tend to say weird things that are irrelevant to my cares and that is sad, by all means!!!

[takza]

The BIG picture?

http://www.alternet.org/environment/127625/?page=entire