Bushfires 2019/2020!

[Pushka]

Not from what I have been asked; it's been more about people rather than about animals.

In early January people seemed to think that most of Australia was burning rather than ~12,340,000 out of 1,900,000,000 Acres.

Except that there havent been that many people killed through this bushfire - although 1 death is too many - and more have been killed on our roads since Jan 1st~! Half a billion animals is the headline!

 

[dajop]

Except that there havent been that many people killed through this bushfire - although 1 death is too many - and more have been killed on our roads since Jan 1st~!

Or indeed drowning .... Summer Drowning Toll (42 tragic drownings this summer).

But I think when serfty (or anyone for that matter) says it is about the people, it's not entirely about the people who have died, but more about the stories of the people who have lost everything, had their lives disrupted and have to start again from scratch.

 

[Pushka]

Or indeed drowning .... Summer Drowning Toll (42 tragic drownings this summer).

But I think when serfty (or anyone for that matter) says it is about the people, it's not entirely about the people who have died, but more about the stories of the people who have lost everything, had their lives disrupted and have to start again from scratch.

Agree.

I do feel sympathy for those whose houses just get burnt down - we seem to have at least one a night here in Adelaide - the other day a family lost their $500,000 home simply because they left a BBQ unattended - they have lost everything too but it barely rates a blimp on the radar and no payments from the Government for them.

 

[serfty]

Except that there havent been that many people killed through this bushfire - although 1 death is too many - and more have been killed on our roads since Jan 1st~! Half a billion animals is the headline!

But I think when serfty (or anyone for that matter) says it is about the people, it's not entirely about the people who have died, but more about the stories of the people who have lost everything, had their lives disrupted and have to start again from scratch.

It's the questions I am being asked by my friends who are not Australians - they are not asking after the health of animals, they are asking after me, my family, friends and the health of Australian people in general..

 

[Pushka]

It's the questions I am being asked by my friends who are not Australians - they are not asking after the health of animals, they are asking after me, my family, friends and the health of Australian people in general..

Well that does make sense if they are your friends. I’m thinking - general questions and concerns from randoms.

 

[dajop]

It's the questions I am being asked by my friends who are not Australians - they are not asking after the health of animals, they are asking after me, my family, friends and the health of Australian people in general..

Yes that reflects my experience. I discussed this with a colleague here, why so many people were asking if I was OK etc, and he concluded that it was the animals that raised the awareness. They were the hook. Once people realised what was happening, then they started being concerned about Australians they knew, and asking about their wellbeing.

 

[Hvr]

It's the questions I am being asked by my friends who are not Australians - they are not asking after the health of animals, they are asking after me, my family, friends and the health of Australian people in general..

I am also getting these questions from my friends in foreign countries.

I also have a friend with family in Manila and their children (adults) are being advised to wear goggles and breathing masks due to the recent volcano.

Currently in Bangkok and the Australian bush fires, and especially smoke are topics of conversation here. I think the air in Bangkok is cleaner than the air in Melbourne.

 

[OZDUCK]

After the 1967 bushfires in Tasmania, there was a story circulating in Europe that Tasmania had been evacuated by submarine That may be apocryphal, but its a good yarn!

I am old enough to remember that story as well, but for some reason in my mind it was the United States where the story circulated .

 

[I love to travel]

Has the rain helped, media coverage has died off a fair bit so it's hard to get a handle on the status?

 

[dajop]

I think the air in Bangkok is cleaner than the air in Melbourne.

Depending on which way the wind is blowing in Melbourne.

People elsewhere in the world (and indeed elsewhere in Australia), and particularly SE Asia have difficulty comprehending the variability in the weather in southern Australia. On Sunday evening I was at the beach on the surf coast and it was beautiful, crystal clear, blue skies (and quite brisk), come Monday lunchtime the beach was blanketed in thick haze. Today, I am told, it seems it is a lot clearer again. In SE Asia, when haze comes it stays for weeks at a time.

Ditto with temperatures ... oh must have been so hot for you. Well, um no, it was 40 degrees one day (with almost no humidity) and 16 two days later (with the rider that the cool weather itself doesn't put out fires). People can't comprehend the wild swings of good southern summer

 

[amaroo]

People can't comprehend the wild swings of good southern summer

Ditto with cyclones and floods.....

 

[RooFlyer]

Has the rain helped, media coverage has died off a fair bit so it's hard to get a handle on the status?

"Things are improving" never sells or broadcasts as well as "CRISIS !"

 

[Flying mermaid]

Has the rain helped, media coverage has died off a fair bit so it's hard to get a handle on the status?

It was fine in Melbourne this morning after last night’s rain. Canberra has been much better over the last week even without rain. Cooler temperatures mean that the fires are less intense and not generating the crazy levels we were getting.

 

[dajop]

It was fine in Melbourne this morning after last night’s rain. Canberra has been much better over the last week even without rain. Cooler temperatures mean that the fires are less intense and not generating the crazy levels we were getting.

That's the haze. But what about the fires?

 

[Flying mermaid]

That's the haze. But what about the fires?

None of the fires are out. Rain and cooler weather help, but it’s going to take a lot more than that .....

 

[OATEK]

None of the fires are out. Rain and cooler weather help, but it’s going to take a lot more than that .....

None of the fires?

 

[dajop]

None of the fires?

Weekly rainfall map for SE Australia tells a story. Focus in on NSW and Vic and where there fires are and aren't.

Climate Maps - Rainfall Latest

www.bom.gov.au

 

[Flying mermaid]

None of the fires?

Fires Near Me

www.rfs.nsw.gov.au

not seeing much difference in number of fires although have gone from red and yellow to blue and white (although they were blue and white for the last week, since the cool change came through).

not too familiar with the Vic fires but found this

Downpour not enough to quell devastating Victorian blazes

Heavy rain, flash flooding and thunderstorms have swept Melbourne overnight but did little to extinguish bu...

www.9news.com.au

edit - just had a tweet from nsw rfs saying while the rain won’t put out all fires it will go a long way to containment

 

[Flying mermaid]

None of the fires?

According to the Canberra Times the fires in NSW to the south of Canberra received little to no rain. They are hoping rainfalls predicted for Sunday/Monday might be better. It’s really quite cool at the moment so that helps

 

[RooFlyer]

According to the Canberra Times the fires in NSW to the south of Canberra received little to no rain.

Sounds like the CT didn't convey the full picture.

This was rain per radar for yesterday (Thursday). Some <10mm areas, but plenty of 10-25 mm also over the fire ground to the SW of Canberra and some drenchings over the fire areas to the SE. Not to say 'problem over' by any means, but like i mentioned above, not many media outlets will let this disaster go easily.






Rain since 9am today.