Bushfires.

[Richard Mason]

We had quite an exciting day yesterday, 50-80Km/hr, gusting to 100 at times, 34 degrees C and 4% humidity, so some d_ckhead thought he would light a fire.

End result, several sq kms of bush burnt and a pretty scarey afternoon/night for residents in the affected area. I went home early as the highway I use goes straight through the affected area, they closed it shortly after I went through.

No houses lost and no one seriously hurt but an absolute miracle, apparently, we had the worst fire weather since Feb 1967, when 60 people died and several hundred houses were lost.

Check out the piccies, which are doing the rounds by email this morning.

[Richard Mason]

........So obviously crap quality.

And this is sort of diving related. If you look at the pic of the Tasman Bridge (#3), looking from the right hand side to left, you'll see there is a big gap between piers 6 and 7. That's because in 1974 (I think), the bridge was hit by an ore carrier, the Lake Illawarra, which took out 2 piers and a whole section of roadway. The wreck is still down there, along with several cars and their occupants, and it sits in about 30M of water, it's 18m to the upperworks. Probably one of the most dangerous dives in Tas, low vis ( often less than a metre) and very strong tidal stream but also festooned with loads of fishing line. Did it once, never again.

Richard M.

[simon varley]

probably inevitable give the current weather. Here in Victoria they're declaring the official start of the fire season will be at the beginning of November -- six weeks earlier than usual apparently. Over the last few days we've had very similar weather 30-35C and very strong winds. Everywhere you look you can see plumes of smoke.

This is scary for me coming from the Herts/Essex border - I guess you get used to it eventually? Last year, the fires came to within about 20k from Geelong, and loads of homes were lost in Anakie. When we arrived in March, the scars were really obvious, and they're only just starting to fade now really.

[ahar]

Best check there aren't any divers being scooped up and dropped on the fires by the firebrigade

[CotoChris]

Those pics are frightening. It look like you will have a tough suummer ahead. Hope you'll get the rain.

These are the pics from the Summer 2005 which devastated this area. This fire went over my mothers house but as the ground around was clear the house wasn't damaged. Very frightening though.

[Finless]

Originally Posted by ahar

Best check there aren't any divers being scooped up and dropped on the fires by the firebrigade

When I saw the thread title I got quite excited ......... I was preparing to volunteer to blow the flames out and maybe bestow some "kiss it better" ..... oh well.

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by simon varley

probably inevitable give the current weather. Here in Victoria they're declaring the official start of the fire season will be at the beginning of November -- six weeks earlier than usual apparently. Over the last few days we've had very similar weather 30-35C and very strong winds. Everywhere you look you can see plumes of smoke.

Ours are all out now, on account of it raining all day today and the fact that it only reached 14 degrees C. If you don't like the weather here, just wait a while!

Originally Posted by simon varley

This is scary for me coming from the Herts/Essex border - I guess you get used to it eventually?

Trust me, it's pretty scarey for me coming from the Lancs/Cheshire border too.

Originally Posted by simon varley

Last year, the fires came to within about 20k from Geelong, and loads of homes were lost in Anakie. When we arrived in March, the scars were really obvious, and they're only just starting to fade now really.

I remember that and I was hoping it had burned down this place:

Anakie Fairy Park.

Went there for some kid's birthday party/BBQ when we lived in Ballarat, about 17 years ago. Unbelievably, horribly kitsch, 38 degrees, full of bogans & losers (except me of course), I was dreading being recognised there. I can't believe it's still open.

Bushfires though - yes you do get used to it, best thing is don't buy a house close to bushland, or if you do, make sure you take proper precautions, with appropriate building protection zones, free of flammable plants and have a decent firefighting system (2 stroke pumps, not electric), reliable water supply and a plan for how you are going to fight it. We rarely lose houses in Tas because the Tas Fire Service encourages people to stay home and protect their property, whereas NSW enforces evacuations, even of able-bodied people who want to stay, and they lose dozens every Summer.

There's loads of stuff on the Fire Service websites about how to protect your property.

Richard M