Please Spare a thought (Full Version)

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goodwoodrw -> Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 12:18:16 AM)

Fellow forum members, please spare a thought for my fellow Victorians who lost their lives and their family members who have experienced the most tragic event ever to hit Victoria.
In the space of a few tragic hours on Saturday over 100 people lost their lives, at least 700 hundred homes were lost, several communities totally destroyed and an undermined number of people injured in most devastating bush fire in the states history. My thoughts go out to those that still have love ones missing, and hope they are found well.
God Bless all those volunteers, emergency and essential services people who put their lives at risk to save the lives and property of others.
Ron



Nomad -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 12:20:27 AM)

I have, my prayers go out. I saw that this morning, it looks bad. Having grown up in Southern California, I know how devastating grass/wild fires can be.



Erik Rutins -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 12:24:17 AM)

I just read about these terribly fast and strong fires that wiped out entire towns in Australia. I hope all of "our" Australians are safe and sound. My thoughts and condolences go out to those who have lost loved ones.

I was quite furious after reading that some arsonists were caught trying to restart some of the fires as firefighters were working to put them out.



06 Maestro -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 2:18:34 AM)

I have been following the horrible events in Australia for a few days. I can only offer my deepest sympathies and prayers for those who have suffered loss in this calamity.

Regarding the arsonists, hanging is too good for them. We have them here too-they like to torch things up in the dry season in California. What kind of sick creature does things like that?



Nomad -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 3:11:59 AM)

Burning at the stake is suitable punishment for arsonists. [:(][:@]



Jeffrey H. -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 4:03:25 AM)

As a survivor of some pretty horrible wild fires all Australians have my sympathy and compassion. Wildfires can be very devastating and there isn't much a person can do but run away. Even that sometimes can't save someones life. Frightful events for sure.




e_barkmann -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 4:05:40 AM)

horrific.  I have fond memories of Marysville.



Grell -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 5:09:30 AM)

You are all in my prayers.

Be Well,

Grell



Valkyrie -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 5:54:21 AM)

It's a tragedy. [:(]

I've never heard of such loss of life from a wildfire. Property damage.. yes... but hundreds of people and whole towns... terrible, terrible.... I weep for them. [:(]



iaidoka2 -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 7:31:19 AM)

Last Saturday was the worst day I have ever experienced. It got to about 47 where I live (suburbs of Melbourne) and the wind was extremely terrifying. My sister-in-law's parents live in Kinglake and lost everything apart from what they were wearing. In fact I don't know how they survived (their neighbours sadly didn't). Their property disappeared in about 10 minutes it was that quick. I know of someone else in the same area who lost his house and his dog and someone I know from work also lost everything she has.

There is a kind of numb feeling around at the moment, even for people who do not know anyone affected by the fires. It was very hard to keep your concentration at work today.



Adam Parker -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 9:25:36 AM)

Hi Iaidoka2 - best wishes to your family.

My wife and I went shopping Saturday morning around Bentleigh (a suburban area for the overseas readers)  and it was pretty hot - a really dry heat, not like the type you get in DC or NY in June.

But there wasn't even a breeze. I joked to my wife that the weather bureau had it wrong as they predicted gale force winds.

Then at home, we saw on TV that the temperature had slowly risen to 47 degrees C that 116 degrees F folks! Something rarely if never experienced in an Australian major city. Melbourne is the country's second largest city. And then the winds picked up and the gum trees blew wild.

So the news started coming in - of just only an hour or 2 out of the city north and east, of the tragedy that was unfurling - and its still going on as I write with the winds now southerly and pushing to the Victorian/New South Wales border.

You watch the first reports and you think it's a news story, you watch for half an hour and you start to go numb. So I can understand our senior leaders now having been there amidst the carnage for hours to a day now, crying.

It reminds me of the shock we had watching September 11, a half a world away. Different to be sure but numbing just the same.

Cheers mate,
Adam.



Goblin -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 1:18:21 PM)

My condolences to all of our Aussie brothers and sisters. [:(]

I hope they catch the bastards. [:@]



Goblin



Joe D. -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 1:19:44 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: 06 Maestro

... Regarding the arsonists, hanging is too good for them. We have them here too-they like to torch things up in the dry season in California. What kind of sick creature does things like that?


I'd be curious as to who these arsonists are and what possibly could be their motives?



Terminus -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 3:38:48 PM)

It arouses them sexually. I wish I was kidding.

The above goes for pyrophiliacs, which are distinct from pyromaniacs, who also feel gratification and euphoria, but not of a sexual nature.

Both pyromaniacs and pyrophiliacs are distinct from arsonists, which set fires for all sorts of reasons not related to personal gratification.



sabre1 -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 3:54:04 PM)

The instant loss of loved ones and long held personal possessions through the course of a lifetime is so horriffic that I can hardly contemplate or empathize with those who are suffering.  I am sorry for their losses, deeply sorry. 

One way people can probably help is to donate anything they can to the Australian Red Cross.



PunkReaper -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 4:14:08 PM)

A truly terrible situation. To see the survivors interviewed was gut wrenching.....[:(]



Erik Rutins -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 5:26:41 PM)

Read this:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25026912-2702,00.html



Joe D. -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 6:06:42 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Terminus

It arouses them sexually. I wish I was kidding ...


Then it's a shame it wasn't auto-erotic, i.e., self-immolation, and I'm NOT kidding.



Terminus -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 6:19:04 PM)

We don't disagree.



Marc von Martial -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 7:09:28 PM)

The footage shown here in german news are shocking. I have never seen such thing before, not even with the annual Californian fires, or the onces each year in Greece and Spain.

I hope our fellow forum members from Australia are save and have no losses to mourn.


quote:

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins
I was quite furious after reading that some arsonists were caught trying to restart some of the fires as firefighters were working to put them out.


I hope they mob them.



leastonh1 -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 7:28:19 PM)

What's happening in Australia is so saddening to see and hear about in the news. I really feel for everyone affected by this tragedy. Truly awful.



Jeffrey H. -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 7:54:25 PM)

Those Eucalyptus trees and possibly the 'gum' trees mentioned above tend to resist burning until the very end when they literally go off like firebombs. Lots of people had them around their houses here in San Diego and those were often the houses that were burned down.

The burning embers tend to follow air currents around and up the walls, lodging in the reverse slope of the eaves. The fire then burns up the rafters into the attic of the house and that's all folks - house destroyed.

Bad stuff. Makes you feel helpless. 



Arctic Blast -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 9:08:46 PM)

Absolutely horrible story. Definitely feel for those who have lost someone, and also for all of those who have been left with literally nothing.

As for the arsonists...[:@]



JamesM -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 9:11:49 PM)

What A country I and my fellow Aussies live in! We have horrific fires in the south following a number of days of 40C + days and in North Queensland we have records floods (our biggest dam (Burdekin falls dam) had water 6.8meters over the spillway) in Ingham. Food is having to be shipped and flown into Cairns because the roads have been cut for at least a week. I Think I prefer flooding rains to fire, the stories coming out of Victoria are scary and amazing.



Phatguy -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/9/2009 11:16:13 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Nomad

Burning at the stake is suitable punishment for arsonists. [:(][:@]


Sad thing is they will get a year or two and some fine they will never pay..Only hope is Australia has some real laws unlike the travesties that pass for some laws here in the US of A.



Grell -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/10/2009 5:16:58 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: apathetic lurker


quote:

ORIGINAL: Nomad

Burning at the stake is suitable punishment for arsonists. [:(][:@]


Sad thing is they will get a year or two and some fine they will never pay..Only hope is Australia has some real laws unlike the travesties that pass for some laws here in the US of A.



Canada has some lousy laws as well.

Regards,

Grell



105mm Howitzer -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/10/2009 1:36:35 PM)

My sincerest sympathies for all the victims of this major human catastrophe. We get our fair share of fires, but nowhere near the maelstrom-loke proportions of this. If it does turn out to be the work of arsholes, pardon, arsons, then, frankly I say tossing them into a raging inferno would be just rewards. But of course, the law would forbid that.
I don't know what galls me the most, idiotic laws that protect the criminals, or those morons that clamor for more of these laws. Ah, don't get me started....[:@]



sol_invictus -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/10/2009 2:10:25 PM)

I was just thinking this morning how utterly horrible these fires were. Reading about the wrecked cars with charred bodies inside of people who were completely overwhelmed by the inferno is absolutely shocking. It is almost beyond comprehension. My thoughts go out to all of the stoic Australian people.



doomtrader -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/10/2009 3:13:28 PM)

Tragedy like this is something beyond mind. Man is powerless against this wildfires. We can only pray for the losts. There is only faith in such moments.

I'll pray for them.




Zap -> RE: Please Spare a thought (2/10/2009 8:38:02 PM)

A tragedy for your great country Autralia.
I know the fear of facing a fire. Living in a National Forest here in California. One was stopped 2 miles from my home 2 years ago. I feel deeply for your loss of life and peoples property.

May the arsonist(or terrorist) be brought to justice.



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