Current Affairs Australian Bush Fires

[peteblue]

I find it hard to believe just how useless the authorities have been. The firefighters are working their nuts off but there just isn’t enough support. Meanwhile the whole of the Northern Hemisphere who have put their numerous firefighting aircraft away for the winter have apparently not even been asked for support, and that’s before we even get into the military. I take little notice these days of Australian politicians, but surely anyone with an ounce of common sense would have had the USA, Canada, the EU and U.K. on the telephone.....

 

[WA Toffee]

I find it hard to believe just how useless the authorities have been. The firefighters are working their nuts off but there just isn’t enough support. Meanwhile the whole of the Northern Hemisphere who have put their numerous firefighting aircraft away for the winter have apparently not even been asked for support, and that’s before we even get into the military. I take little notice these days of Australian politicians, but surely anyone with an ounce of common sense would have had the USA, Canada, the EU and U.K. on the telephone.....

Not sure where you are getting your news from, but we have quite a lot of firefighters and equipment from usa and canada all helping, another load of firefighters arrived today.

 

[COYBL25]

Not sure where you are getting your news from, but we have quite a lot of firefighters and equipment from usa and canada all helping, another load of firefighters arrived today.

Some bloke in the pub told him, so it must be true.

 

[peteblue]

Not sure where you are getting your news from, but we have quite a lot of firefighters and equipment from usa and canada all helping, another load of firefighters arrived today.

Some bloke in the pub told him, so it must be true.

Looks like I might have to call in for another pint and get an update......

 

[summerisle]

That went well.

 

[roydo]

Record temperatures and strong winds predicted for the weekend.

They cant buy a break can they?

 

[Toffee in Jandals]

I find it hard to believe just how useless the authorities have been. The firefighters are working their nuts off but there just isn’t enough support. Meanwhile the whole of the Northern Hemisphere who have put their numerous firefighting aircraft away for the winter have apparently not even been asked for support, and that’s before we even get into the military. I take little notice these days of Australian politicians, but surely anyone with an ounce of common sense would have had the USA, Canada, the EU and U.K. on the telephone.....

Lots of Americans, Canadians and New Zealanders are helping out. Likely they’ve been asked for help first because, a) geographically they’re of course closer, and b) I’d suggest firefighters from those countries would be more experienced than Europeans at tackling forest / bush fires?

 

[Toffee in Jandals]

Amazing the difference a day or two makes weather-wise in NZ. On Wednesday the sky was filled with haze with the westerly winds blowing smoke in from Aussie, Thursday weather turned southerly and blue skies again.

Sounds like the weather forecast isn’t looking great this weekend over there again, fingers crossed it won’t be as hot / windy as predicted.

 

[Ozdec]

One of the main issues, is that with more frequent and longer dry spells in both hemispheres, the firefighters aren't as readily available as there isn't as much of an off season. This is also compounded by smaller windows when they can do hazard reduction burns due to generally hotter drier conditions all year around.

The vast majority of the Fire Fighters fighting the fires are volunteers organised through the Country Fire Authorities/ Associations in each State. This time a lot of them have bene away from their own homes, jobs and businesses for many days stretching into weeks. There have been major fires in all the Eastern/Southern States for the last couple of months. A sizable amount of Firies (I think mainly the ones employed as Fire Fighters) have already been bouncing around between these states meaning they haven't had a lot of downtime either.


To truly understand the scale and power of these fires need to check some of these links. remember currently at least 17 people are confirmed dead with a similar number unaccounted for

1. Showing how large the areas affected over the last couple of months (not the current newsworthy ones but a conglomeration of the activity at the end of 2019 etc)

https://www.theguardian.com/austral...n-the-east-coast-of-australia-interactive-map

2. Images of the fires and results - Some of the images may be distressing

https://www.theguardian.com/austral...f-thousands-stranded-while-attempting-to-flee

https://www.theguardian.com/austral...ralias-bushfires-begins-to-emerge-in-pictures

https://www.theguardian.com/austral...ains-after-bushfire-rages-through-in-pictures

3. Current situation (NSW perspective only - has largest affected area currently)

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...-emergency-again-for-nsw-20200102-p53ofd.html

While their have been major bushfires in the past . These seem to be larger, more widespread and causing far more devastation then ever before

 

[peteblue]

Lots of Americans, Canadians and New Zealanders are helping out. Likely they’ve been asked for help first because, a) geographically they’re of course closer, and b) I’d suggest firefighters from those countries would be more experienced than Europeans at tackling forest / bush fires?

Indeed. My thoughts really were not about firefighters, who are magnificent, but about the use of aeroplanes that are used throughout the USA, Canada and Europe to scoop up water etc and put fires out. These planes, of which there are many, have been put away for the winter, yet could all be in Australia within 2-3 days......

 

[peteblue]

That went well.

He has a habit of grabbing people’s hands then trying to look as though they are shaking each other.....cretin....

 

[Chewbacca]

I find it hard to believe just how useless the authorities have been. The firefighters are working their nuts off but there just isn’t enough support. Meanwhile the whole of the Northern Hemisphere who have put their numerous firefighting aircraft away for the winter have apparently not even been asked for support, and that’s before we even get into the military. I take little notice these days of Australian politicians, but surely anyone with an ounce of common sense would have had the USA, Canada, the EU and U.K. on the telephone.....

The PM is totally in the pocket of the fossil fuels industry and is a bit of a Basil

 

[JimmyJeffers]

That went well.

Brutal. What a douche

 

[Ozdec]

Our PM is a real winner.

He has made some bizarre comments and done some things that should have been handled better regarding these Fires

Comments made regarding the upcoming Test between Aus and NZ in Sydney - during a reception for the teams at the height of the latest Fires. These follow on from similar comments made at the height of another round of Bushfires in QLD and NSW just at the time of the Brisbane Cricket Test

https://www.news.com.au/sport/crick...s/news-story/c000756d5f2253495e3fd9fdc2042ac6

He also took a Holiday at Christmas in Hawaii - basically his staff lied about it and then had an odd press conference when he reluctantly came home early because of the Fires

https://diazhub.com/scott-morrison-...disaster-from-hawaii-holiday-to-hose-comment/


He also happens to be a Pentacostal Evangelical who once bought a lump of coal into the Parliament to wave around because we should all love it.

 

[cronullasharks]

Mid 40's temps tomorrow, fires predicted to flare up again. Not good