Author Topic: things that really p** you off (Read 666385 times)

coneman · « **Reply #625 on:** February 08, 2009, 06:39:17 AM »

Sad day indead.

Daniel · « **Reply #626 on:** February 08, 2009, 07:43:35 AM »

Why is the death toll so high? Did these fires start in homes or something?

Daniel

Nosferatu · « **Reply #627 on:** February 08, 2009, 08:16:33 AM »

46 degrees, very strong hot northerly winds and everything being so dry after several years of drought. These towns are mostly in the mountains and surrounded by forest. Many people chose to stay and defend their homes and the fires consumed them. Others were caught in their cars while trying to escape.

It all happened incredibly quickly. ...then there was a cool change and a strong wind change that pushed the fires sideways into more towns.

It will probably take weeks to get a final death toll as many places are still inaccessible.

Edit: It's now 76 84 people.

Mr Teufel · « **Reply #628 on:** February 08, 2009, 10:58:33 AM »

Yeah, it's worse than Ash Wednesday in '83.

weareblind · « **Reply #629 on:** February 08, 2009, 11:01:08 AM »

Never had so high temperature neither so many dead... I hope you can control this disaster quickly.

gi6ers · « **Reply #630 on:** February 08, 2009, 12:09:37 PM »

Quote from: Nosferatu on February 08, 2009, 06:21:32 AM

In pretty poor taste, I'd suggest.

Apologies, didn't read about the loss of life. I've deleted my post.

coneman · « **Reply #631 on:** February 08, 2009, 01:08:19 PM »

Quote from: Daniel on February 08, 2009, 07:43:35 AM

Why is the death toll so high? Did these fires start in homes or something?

Daniel

Unfortunately, despite all the efforts of the fire service to educate people about the dangers of bushfires and what to do if there is one, people still under estimate the fury of fire and have this crazy idea they can fight it with a garden hose and a few buckets.
By the time they realise its far too late.

DRAGON · « **Reply #632 on:** February 08, 2009, 07:47:06 PM »

Total is now up to 108 according to the news - if they catch the arsonists they should be executed

freakinacage · « **Reply #633 on:** February 08, 2009, 10:00:36 PM »

agree, slowly

Daniel · « **Reply #634 on:** February 09, 2009, 01:05:07 AM »

Thanks for the insight as to why so many died. Here in California we have had a few large fires these last few years, but the deaths were not so high. Lots of lost homes etc, but the folks were evacuated.

So sad so many had to die.

Daniel

Nosferatu · « **Reply #635 on:** February 09, 2009, 01:38:28 AM »

Fires in eucalypt forests burn incredibly fiercely, with extreme heat, and this one was travelling very fast. Houses were literally exploding in flames.

Mr Teufel · « **Reply #636 on:** February 09, 2009, 03:18:31 AM »

This is now the worst natural disaster in Australian history - short though that may be.

Inso · « **Reply #637 on:** February 09, 2009, 07:45:59 AM »

It always astounds me that people are so thoughtless as to cause tragedies like this. I know that there is talk of people setting the fires deliberately but I could almost guarantee that some are the result of a flicked cigarette end or spark from a BBQ.

I saw on the news this morning that the Australian Prime Minister is saying that this is mass murder...I can't disagree.

Is there such a thing as murder through negligence?

Chris_M · « **Reply #638 on:** February 09, 2009, 09:15:57 AM »

Quote from: Inso on February 09, 2009, 07:45:59 AM

Is there such a thing as murder through negligence?

Usually classed (in the UK at least) as Manslaughter - causing death without intention to do so.

Murder requires the intent to be proved as well.

weareblind · « **Reply #639 on:** February 09, 2009, 09:31:41 AM »

I saw TV news this morning, fire at south and flood at north.
I hope you'll control this disaster quickly.

Nosferatu · « **Reply #640 on:** February 09, 2009, 11:06:02 AM »

Quote from: Inso on February 09, 2009, 07:45:59 AM

It always astounds me that people are so thoughtless as to cause tragedies like this. I know that there is talk of people setting the fires deliberately but I could almost guarantee that some are the result of a flicked cigarette end or spark from a BBQ.

I saw on the news this morning that the Australian Prime Minister is saying that this is mass murder...I can't disagree.

Is there such a thing as murder through negligence?

Most of these fires are caused by people deliberately lighting them or by lightning. In fact large fires will create their own weather system and more lightning, hence more fire.

Saturday was a day of "Total fire ban", that means that the lighting of any fire outdoors is illegal. That includes BBQs. Anyone using one on that day in Victoria would be be breaking the law. Cigarettes butts are a problem and will sometimes start fires when thrown from cars, but I believe that most of these fires were deliberately lit.

After the big fires get going, like these, the winder can blow embers for kms ahead of the main firefront starting more spot fires, that soon develop into large extensions of the main fire itself.

keeper40k · « **Reply #641 on:** February 09, 2009, 12:19:36 PM »

Apologies in advance for the ignorance, but are these fires just affecting Victoria, or are they affecting NSW and South Australia, too?

It seems so horrible, I just can't get my head around it

coneman · « **Reply #642 on:** February 09, 2009, 12:36:45 PM »

There are large fires burning in both Victoria and NSW, here in SA we had a largish fire down south today but its under control.

Some of these fires would have been deliberatly lit by

and one has been put down to a cigarete butt.
Its totaly possible some of them started from broken glass too.

The areas where these fires are burning have had little or no rainfall for a long time and have had no clearing for years, so once this started and the 100kmh wind got hold of it there was no stopping it.

DRAGON · « **Reply #643 on:** February 09, 2009, 07:22:15 PM »

Quote from: Nosferatu on February 09, 2009, 01:38:28 AM

Fires in eucalypt forests burn incredibly fiercely, with extreme heat, and this one was travelling very fast. Houses were literally exploding in flames.

It's the oil in the leaves which helps fuel the fire - same thing happens in pine forest fires the resiny sap in the bark and needles cause the trees to literally explode outwards with extreme heat. The high winds and temperatures are turning the fires into the equivalent of a blast furnace

Mr Teufel · « **Reply #644 on:** February 10, 2009, 01:11:51 AM »

Correct me if I'm wrong, but while there were/are fires in SA and NSW, I think only the Victorian fires caused any fatalities.

Nosferatu · « **Reply #645 on:** February 10, 2009, 01:25:34 AM »

Yes, that is correct. Currently there are 173 confirmed fatalities and this is expected to rise. 740 houses have been destroyed. Some small towns are still under direct threat.

Healesville is now also under threat. It is a large town and also hosts Healesville Sanctuary which is a zoo for native animals. I hope they can stop it before it gets that far...

They're expecting that these fires could burn for up to 3 weeks.

coneman · « **Reply #646 on:** February 10, 2009, 04:11:09 AM »

I don't believe it, some religious group, Catch the Fire Ministries, is saying this is an act of god because abortion laws were passed in Victoria last year.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/pastors-abortion-dream-inflames-bushfire-tragedy-20090210-832f.html

The guy must think he is overdue for a good ridiculing.

Nosferatu · « **Reply #647 on:** February 10, 2009, 04:35:02 AM »

I'm not going to say how I really feel about this person and his cult because I'll get banned from the FOD.

Inso · « **Reply #648 on:** February 10, 2009, 04:45:21 AM »

I hate not being able to sleep...it's 04:45hrs in the morning and I doubt I'll bother going to bed now

. Bleeping insomnia

.

I've been watching the news and some of the stories coming from the people in the fires are pretty terrible. It certainly makes you think how you'd cope losing everything...and maybe loved ones...

...it is shocking.

greenstuff_gav · « **Reply #649 on:** February 10, 2009, 06:37:56 AM »

slight divert on topic, Royal Fail again!
i ordered a set of These back on Jan the 15th... was thinking to myself, "where are they? when'd i order 'em?" thinking i've got another Figures In Comfort "oh! we'll lie and take your money for 6 months" situation... so after a long night shift, i'm wading thru the river running by my door (a mix of half melted ice and rain water!) and a box bobs alongside me! lunging for it, this small cardboard box falls apart in my hands... revealing the minis! daft post-muppet must have left it out in the snow and rain for god knows how long!
i gotta find out the invoice, check i paid for recorded delivery (i always do!) and wrangle some money outta the post office <_<

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