It has been quite a traumatic time for myself, my mother and my family and friends, as we have watched this tragedy un-fold daily, like most Australians have. These areas are very popular with tourists/backpackers, day trippers and just people getting away for a few days, the toll could rise dramatically if there were these type of people there en masse, until they go through every single area house by house, shed by shed, car by car, area by area-which will take literally months and month.
This Summer in Australia has produced record breaking temperatures across the country. For weeks, Adelaide & Victoria had experienced prolonged periods of temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. In the past few weeks Sydney's West & South-West have had temperatures also in the high 30's and last week experienced 40 Degrees for four days straight, peaked at 46 Celsius on Sunday.
Cool heads: Guided by Instinct, fireman save 19 people by leading
them to water to escape
the fierce flames at Muurrindindi Saturday.
Story Up Soon-Quick Thinking Heroes Saved 8 Families
Above Photo showing families in the Water.
On Friday February 6th 2009 we were warned by a headline in the Sydney Daily Telegraph that stated that, "Here it comes: NSW facing record heatwave. 47 Degrees Celsius-Hottest Place on the Planet.".
NSW will become the hottest place on Earth on Sunday with the state set to roast in temperatures up to 47C. Health alerts were issued last night as CityRail was forced to slow trains and firefighters warned of devastating bushfires. Global forecasting sites yesterday predicted nowhere on the planet will come close to NSW's mind-melting weather. Not even the plains of Africa or the deserts of the Middle East will be as hot as NSW on Sunday.
The state will become the hottest place on the planet, with the current heatwave sending temperatures soaring to 47C. Worst hit will be residents in the western NSW towns of Ivanhoe, Tibooburra, and Broken Hill. Sydney will not be spared either, with the mercury set to reach 44C, in the western suburbs of Penrith on Sunday. In NSW, the Bureau of Meteorology said the central-western townships of Griffith and Broken Hill had already been affected by the heatwave, with the temperatures exceeding 40C for record breaking nine days straight.
The Perfect Firestorm: Wall of Flame: Intense Heat meant
firefighters
were unable to come within 200m of the blaze.
By Saturday February 7th 2009 the small Headlines read: 47C Heatwave. Still not allot was heard of or said about Victoria or South Australian Heatwave's in the newspaper, only on the radio and tv, which by now had broken records in Melbourne and both states.
The extent of the devastation had not been realised yet
On Sunday February 8th 2009 the Newspaper had a headline at the bottom of the cover reading: 14 Killed In Blazes. At least 14 people died in terrifying bushfires that swept across Victoria on the hottest day in the state's history yesterday. However, police warned the final death toll could be as high as 40. Deputy police commissioner Kieran Walshe said it was feared many more had perished in what would be the worst fire disaster since the 1963 Ash Wednesday blazes. He said six people died at Kinglake, four at Wandong, three at Strathewen and one at Clonbinane. All the Kinglake dead were in one vehicle.
More than 100 homes are believed to have been lost in the nine major blazes that devastated much of the state. "We suspect a number of the fires have been deliberately lit," Mr Walshe said. Australia's worst bushfires occurred on February 16, 1983-Ash Wednesday-when over 100 fires across Victoria and South Australia left 75 people dead and destroyed 3000 buildings. One of the worst fires yesterday occurred at Kinglake, to Melbourne's northeast.
Country Fire Authority deputy fire commissioner Greg Anof said the blaze had also claimed a substantial number of properties. He said up to 150 residents had been forced to take refuge in the local police station. "
it's been horrible," he said. "We threw virtually everything we had at it today." A Kinglake resident, Michael, called the ABC to describe the situation but broke off dramatically when he saw the fire approaching. He said: "it's been very red, very smoky, very hot and quite scary. We've had fire in our street. I've got to go. I'm sorry I've got to go. The fire's close.
The fires were fanned by 100 km/h winds and searing temperatures. Raging flames came within 50 metres of the home of conjoined twins Trishna and Krishna near Kilmore, north of Melbourne yesterday. The Children's First Foundation farm, home to the Bangladesh twins as well as a dozen other ill, injured and disadvantaged children from around the world, narrowly escaped disaster thanks to firefighters. Foundation founder Moira Kelly said 11 children were evacuated yesterday morning, while the twins had been taken to Melbourne on Friday night as fire warnings circulated.
"It's just unbelievable but as long as my kids ar OK, that's al that maters," she said. "the CFA saved our house. The fire was heading to the house on two fronts-Saunders Rd, Kilmore and the pine trees behind us. Playground equipment melted and the fire got within 50m of the house. It's just unreal. Power to Melbourne was also under threat as fires raged near the Loy Yang power station in the Latrobe Valley.
Scorched Earth: A Survivor drives through the charred forest near Kinglake
north of Melbourne, yesterday. Tuesday Feb 11th
On Monday February 9th 2009 the Newspaper had a headline reading: Bushfire Apocalypse-HELL'S FURY. 84 Dead: Toll To Soar; 750 Homes Destroyed; Arsonists Relight Fires. Thousands of people are homeless and at least 84 people confirmed dead in Victoria's weekend inferno. The bushfires are Australia's worst natural disaster.
As the day wore on the death toll had risen dramatically.
Like Burnt Match Sticks: The intensity of the bushfires is revealed
yesterday in this Victorian Forest reduced to ash.
On Tuesday February 10th 2009 the Newspaper had a headline reading: A Nation Mourns-Apocalypse Now 130 Dead: 500 Homeless; Amazing Survival Stories.
By now it was beginning to look as though there would be upwards of 300+ deaths by the end of this, and some estimates are above 500.;
Battling On: Shane Chapman used a garden hose to save his home
at Hazelwood South, near Churchill yesterday-Tuesday Feb 10th
On Wednesday February 11th 2009 the Newspaper had a headline reading: Honey, I'm Alive- Victoria's Inferno-Death Toll Soars to 181-Donations top $28 Million. It is what Bill calls the "fantastic moment". As the toll of the Victorian bushfires soared to 181 yesterday, amazing stories continued to emerge-none more uplifting that that of BIll Carta and wife Sherrill. After being separated by the inferno they were finally reunited in hospital. Bill said:" We didn't realise both of us were still breathing."
By now it was beginning to look as though there would be upwards of 300+ deaths by the end of this, and some estimates are above 500.;
All Gone: An Ariel view of Marysville yesterday showed the town
had lost all but a few buildings. Photograph: Mark Smith
On Thursday February 12th 2009 the Newspaper had a headline reading: 300- Police Chief prepares Nation ofr Horrific Toll as Her Officers close in on Arsonists. Victoria's State Coroner is prepared for a death toll as high as 300 as the full horror ofthe bushfires unfolds. Police Commissioner Christine Nizon said Australia should brace fro the worst, warning that many of those killed in the infernos which devestated towns north of Melbourne would never be identified.
On Friday - February 13th 2009 the Newspaper had a headline reading: Families Give $76 Million For Victims of Bushfire- Heart of a Nation. Serial arsonists at large.
On Saturday - February 14th 2009 the Newspaper had a headline reading: Most Wanted & Hated - Revealed: Strange Loner Accused of Lighting Bushfires.
On Sunday - February 15th 2009 the Newspaper had a headline reading: Black Saturday The Aftermath - Bushfire Families Return A Tribute to the Lost.
