Just dropping t0 let you know we are all fine! Well, as best you can be under the circumstances. I think all of Melbourne is in a state of shock and disbelief. We have had bushfires before but nothing of this magnitude or ferocity.
On Saturday it was so hot. It reached 46c - our highest ever recorded temperature. A scorching hot northerly gusterly was blowing. Perfect conditions for a bushfire. By lunch time the girls and I went off to Doncaster Shopping Town - an airconditioned shopping centre - to escape the heat.
When the shops closed at 5.30 we went outside to see if the predicted cool change had come yet. No. It was so hot we just about passed out just stepping outside. There was no way we were going anywhere! So back in we went and had some dinner and saw a movie. Normally from the food court you can see the city of Melbourne but on Saturday all sight was lost to dust and I presume smoke. We went home at 9.30 but still were not aware of what was going on so close to home. It wasn't until Sunday did we realise the devastation that took place. Many of the fires were at the fringe of Melbourne's suburbs - probably only 30kms "as the crow flies" from our place. Thank God the change came and the wind turned from being hot and northerly to cooler and southerly. We live on a bush block and are aware of the dangers that can present when the weather is hot and windy.
Many of the fires are still burning and at the moment do not pose a high threat. But lets pray that the weather stays cool so that they do not flare up again.
You can read more about the bushfires on Wikipedia. Or on many other sites if you google Victorian Bushfires.
If you want to help, you can make a donation to the Australian Red Cross.
21 comments:
Good to hear you are safe, it's such bad news from Australia. Thanks for posting the link to the Red cross. I've just followed the link and donated, as that's all that I can do to help.
Vicki .- imagine the situation. thank goodness you all are well. I hope that everything returns to normal soon.
hugs, Paco
I have been seeing about the fires on our news. My prayers are with you and all your loved ones that you stay safe.
Hearing about the fires in Oz reminds me of what we potentially go through each summer in the US Southwest. Thankfully, nothing that horrendous has happened in Albuquerque, but it could. My heart goes out to you and all the other Aussies that are going through this.
Glad to know you are safe. One feels so helpless during natural disasters like this. All we can do is pray for the victims, which I will certainly do.
I'm so relieved to hear that you and your family are safe! I'll keep you and all of your countrymen in my thoughts as people begin the process of cleaning up and rebuilding...
Take care, Gwen
My goodness! That's close. I'll be making a donation as a teeny way of paying back a fraction of the support and generosity that was shown to New York after 9/11 and to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
So glad to hear you're safe, Vicki. The news coverage here has been heartwrenching. I feel for everyone who has been caught up in these fires. Last Sunday the smoke even made it over here and we had a day of weird, hazy, yellow skies and the sun was red when we did get to see it.
I hope the winds stay down and the temps cool so the firefighters can get on top of the fires.
Stay safe!
Keely
Yes it is all a horrible wakeup to what is going on on the planet. I found seeing the photos and reading the stories of individuals and whole families who have perished almost too much to bare . The world has changed for Melbourne I think. I have often enjoyed the bush around the city and now that enjoyment will always be tinged with fear and remembering the huge sadness which we are all suffering.Stay safe !!
I'm so glad you are safe. Fire is such a terrifying experience, I still vividly recall the Laguna Beach fire in 1993. I had the baby in the car seat ready to go at a moments notice while simultaneously watching the news and the ashes flying by our window.
These are the times when you really know what's important and what's not.
I live in Gippsland and all the towns here were under direct threat or ember attack. We were very scared . I had a fire start only 300metres away but fortunately it was quickly controlled. We all know someone here who has lost homes or family, friends.
Vicki, I"m glad to hear that you and your girls are safe. I live near San Diego which had bad fires in 2003 and 2007. Had the car packed and ready to go, but didn't have to, fortunately. I read that some of your countrymen are voicing the same complaints that we have here, namely the powers-that-be won't let the bush be cut down properly, and it is just fuel lying there for a spark.
Linda
Glad to hear you're all safe. What a horrific time, and thank you for taking the time to let us know the worst didn't happen.
Thank you for letting us know you are OK!
I'm glad to hear you're safe. Thanks for the update
Thank goodness you're OK, Vicki!
Yikes, glad you are safe. My heart goes out to all those families and friends that have suffered loss during this event.
So happy you and your family are safe. It's such a scary tragedy. Hugs my friend, here's hoping for cooler weather and rain.
vicki, I'm so glads that you and yours are OK.It must be devastating to see such a tregedy occur so close to home. I can't even imagine a temperature that reaches 46 degrees. Parts of Canada's Prairie Provinces reached -50 degrees this winter with windchill factor but at least that is not conducive to devastating fires that can destroy an entire town.My prayers go with all of you.
I'm glad you've been safe from the fires. I just looked up the conversion to farenheit and realized that's 115! F. It gets over 100 here a lot in the summer, but 115 is a rare (but not unheard of) day. No one wants to go out in that sweltering heat.
I left an award for you on my blog. enjoy.
greetings, Paco
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