General Chat

Last I heard Mrs B, was that people were being evacuated TO his town, so hopefully all is well.

There's no power, and mobile networks are stretched due to reduced transmission, so he can't get in touch at the moment.

I hope we hear from Mick soon it's worrying, I guess he had to evacuate. It's terrifying watching it on the news I can't imagine how it must be real life... xx

Yesterday I watched a video clip on ABC news, they interviewed a woman who was making preparations to evecuate if the fires came too close. She was very stoic about it all, saying its easy to say you'll stay and fight,but when it comes, its a different matter. I'm getting out.

Today that same woman was interviewed on sky this morning, she is so traumatised, she has lost her home of 25 years, and everything in it. She is in a state of total shock, completely traumatised.

That, the pictures showing the ferocity of the fires, and the current death toll at 76 and rising, hammers home the horror of what has happened out there. My heart goes out to everyone who has lost loved ones, their homes, suffering burns and injuries and those who have managed to survive this horrible disaster. They are going to need a lot of help in many many ways.

A phrase I heard this morning was it was likened to coming face to face with hell in all its burning fury.

God bless them all.

God bless you all, am thinking of everyone in Austrialia ... of Mick, his family, Daphne, her son family too, everyone.

Jackie asked me to leave this message from her, she cares so, knows how everyone is worrying:

Hi Shimms
Just came on to let everyone know about the fires in Victoria.
Just had the latest update a few minutes ago and the death toll is now 65 people. I am watching it as we speak so could you put it on Mick in the Bush thread for me please. Just to let everyone know as I know a lot are worried.
Will be back later

Jackie

Ive just seen it on the news,its horrific.
I pray theirs no more lives lost.

Please be careful Mick .

Just watched it on TV
Its frightening
Hope there are no more deaths
Thinking of you Mick,hope you are safe mate
xx

watching it now. prayers for all

hope you are all safe mick ...

BBC news is showing 65 have died now.

Let the fires be put out, and no more lives lost.

Linda

God bless all those who have died in the dreadful fires and those who are still in danger.

Sue xx

Dont really have the words to describe what to say about the horror of this tragic time for our australian friends, my young neighbors just flew out to Queensland yesterday,.....Mick we are all praying that you and those who are in this area are safe, houses can be rebuilt life is more important......


Jean x

Confirmed death toll now 35.

Thinking of you Mick and hope you are safe.

also my heart goes out to all in Victoria at present and to the people who have lost loved ones.

Things can be replaced people cannot. Stay safe.

Gail

SUNDAY MORNING HERE AND THIS IS THE NEWS AT 11AM

I am praying that Mick is safe. Mick my thoughts are with you at this terrible time I do hope that you and your loved ones are safe and sound. my heart goes out to all who have lost loved ones in tnis terrible tragedy.
Also to Daphne's son. Daphne I hope your son and his loved ones have got out of the area and are now safe. Please update us on how things are. Iknow you are safe but can't stop thinking of your son.
Take Care
Prayinf for you all
Regards
Jackie
ninemsn.com.au

death toll from Victoria's savage bushfires has risen to 35, police have said.

"Our concern is still ... that we believe numbers will rise as we get further into the fire zones this morning," Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said.

At least 100 homes were destroyed as nine major blazes burnt out of control across the state yesterday.

More than 3000 firefighters and many more residents worked to contain fires in all corners of the state, including major fronts at Horsham, Coleraine, Weerite, Kilmore East, Bunyip, Churchill, Dargo, Murrindindi and Redesdale.

The town of Marysville has been all but wiped out and much of Kinglake township has been destroyed.

Victoria Police announced nine more deaths at 12.25pm (AEDT), all from the Churchill fire in the Gippsland region in Victoria's east.

Four people have been killed in the town of Callignee and one more in Upper Callignee, three have died in Hazelwood and one at Jeeralang.

The other 25 deaths were all to the north of Melbourne — one in the major regional city of Bendigo and the rest from the massive blaze around Kinglake.

Most of the bodies were discovered in towns northeast of Melbourne — six at Kinglake, six at Kinglake West, four at Wandong and St Andrews, three at Humevale, and one each in Arthurs Creek and Bendigo.

At least six bodies were found in the one car at Kinglake, with reports that others may have been trying to escape the fire in cars.

Children are believed to be among the dead. But police have so far been unable to confirm the gender or ages of the victims.


"... the numbers are going to get substantially higher as the day goes on, as we're able to get into the fire zones behind the fires to do those searches," he said.

He said earlier that police would undertake a more thorough search of burnt-out properties today with the fire in the area under control and cooler conditions.

Noise of fire ‘indescribable’

Jim Scott, a resident of Kinglake for 22 years, said the loss of life was devastating.

"This horrific wind came through and just took the roof off our house, our shed," he told the Nine Network.

"I've never seen anything like it, it was horrific.

"This is devastating, the loss of life."

Sue Aldred, another resident of the Kinglake area, said she lost a couple of sheds on the family property, but saved their house.

"All of a sudden we were in a raging inferno, there was coloured smoke and the noise was indescribable," she told the Nine Network.

"It was terrifying.

"I did fear for my life at one point, there was a horrible moment of indecision where I just thought... I'm going to stay here and beat this flame back, and where do I hide?... which building do I hide in?

"It was horrible."

Raylene Kincaide, a resident of Narbethong, northeast of Melbourne, said her home had been destroyed and there was little left of the town.

"Everyone we know has lost everything they had - it's not nice," she told ABC Radio.

"I've been in Ash Wednesday but this is probably worse."

Death toll to climb

Meanwhile, police have reiterated their warning that the death toll from the Victorian bushfires will climb.

Victoria Police Deputy Chief Commissioner Walshe told ABC Radio it may well be discovered that many more people have died after they became trapped in their burning homes or cars.

"We are only getting into these fire zones now," Mr Walshe said.

"It has taken some time before the fire zones are safe so that we can get police and emergency services personnel into these areas now behind the fires and start to look at abandoned vehicles, look at destroyed properties, at buildings and undertake the searches to see what we can find there.

"We expect the number will climb considerably as the day passes on.

"The community needs to be prepared for worse news to come at this point in time.

"We have real concerns about some of the areas we haven't been able to get into yet. We know there are a lot of properties in those areas and we can expect that we are going to find some deceased people there."

Mr Walshe said police believed some of the fires were deliberately lit, but would not say which ones.

Eighteen people have been admitted to Melbourne's Alfred Hospital with burns and three are in a critical condition.

Seven of the injured have burns to more than 30 per cent of their bodies.

This site shows a lot of photos

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/

Hope Mick is safe

thinking of you Mick and hope your safe.. xxx

Hi Helen, blowing over our snow & rain to put out your fires.

Hoping you guys will be OK in Aussie land. Thinking of you at this time.

Steve.
xxx

No it's far from over.

Headline news Brisbane Courier Mail Sunday ;

" HELL ON EARTH"

14 Killed, up to 50 feared dead in Victorian bushfire horror.

Fourteen people were dead an it was feared dozens more had perished in a wave of bushfires that has devasteated Victoria.

Ten separate infernos, fanned by gale-force winds and 47.9
Centigrade - ( 118.22 Fahrenheit ) record temperatures, swept through regional towns across the state.

My heart goes out to all these poor people, I pray that the temperatures and the winds will ease.

The bitter irony is as I turn the page of the newspaper the next headline is;

"North drowing in a flood of tears"

Hope turned to hearbreak for saturated north Queensland yesterday when flooding rains swamped the region again scuttling hopes of a quick end to the crippling natural disaster that has affected thousands of families, farms and buinesses.

Two states in Australia, one burning, the other drowning, it is an abosulte tragedy.

Hope you are ok Mick, take care

Helen

As I go safely to bed I'll be thinking and praying for those in danger..

nudge up, its not over yet, though it seems to be calming down a bit.

From the ABC news site , this is Micks area.

Fire authorities say it will be days before they can stop bushfires burning in Gippsland in Victoria's east.

More towns have been added to the list of communities that will be under threat today.

The fire north of Drouin is burning in a north-easterly direction and warnings have been issued for Warragul through to Neerim Junction, and also south to Darnum and Ellinbank.

The fire has burned through 5,000 hectares and the Princes Highway is blocked at Pakenham.

The big fire that started at Churchill is now threatening the Carrajung area, Won Wron and Woodside near the Gippsland coast.

The South Gippsland Highway is closed between Yarram and Sale.

The fire is also threatening Traralgon South and Metropolitan Fire Brigade crews are working to protect the Loy Yang Coal mine and power station.

My thoughts and best wishes to Mick, his family and his neighbours.