fires in victoria

[bob10]

Just had a look at the news, it looks like the fires are actually on the outskirts of Melbourne, in the suburbs, and stretching to the east. The worst conditions since Black Saturday. Looks grim. Stay safe everyone, thinking of you, Bob

[bob10]

Been reported a winery and some houses gone. High winds forecast. Bob

[D110V8D]

Fires to the west of us and the south east. A lot of smoke but no real danger as yet.

Cars are packed, camper is hooked up to the Defender.

If the wind turns around we'll be leaving. :(

[Landover]

The fires are not to far from us, we have been on alert. Since the wind change a couple of hours ago it's now going away from us. Friends around Riddells Creek have been evacuated and now stuck in road blocks. There is a forum member that has just moved into this area. I hope every one is safe.

[loanrangie]

Fires surrounding my parents place, they are on 5 acres in Warrandyte and surrounded by thick bush. One house already lost in fires the other side of the Yarra and a few fires in the surrounding area's on the watch alert.

[tonyci]

I just recently moved out of the Warrandyte area to a more inner city home.
Good luck to every one in the fire area's and keep safe.
Tony

[stallie]

Watched from my verandah the Gisborne fires flare up and then change direction (was 90 deg, not the 180 every media outlet spoke of). Fortunately we were upwind of everything.

Mum evacuated from the family home in Warrandyte, not far from Tindals road. Again, fortunately upwind.

From my backyard.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t31/1913224_10151861246916537_448461124_o.jpg'dl=1

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t31/1540328_10151861247181537_461804754_o.jpg'dl=1

[PTC]

Twice now my sister and her family have had to evacuate from Warrandyte. This time it was a lot closer. Though from what i have heard all is good over there now.

[JDNSW]

I have a friend in Riddell's Creek - I heard last night it was threatened, but I have not been able to contact them. Anyone down that way know whether any houses have been lost there?

John

[Redback]

I've been keeping an eye on things with this, it doesn't show Victoria anymore, very strange.

Australia Fires | Google Crisis Map (http://google.org/crisismap/australia)

Baz.

[DiscoMick]

Certainly looks serious. We need rain. Stay safe and don't try to be a hero - get out.

[bob10]

I've been keeping an eye on things with this, it doesn't show Victoria anymore, very strange.

Australia Fires | Google Crisis Map (http://google.org/crisismap/australia)

Baz.



This might help, Bob


Home - VicEmergency (http://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/map#now)

[JDNSW]

I have a friend in Riddell's Creek - I heard last night it was threatened, but I have not been able to contact them. Anyone down that way know whether any houses have been lost there?

John

Replying to myself! I got hold of him this morning. All OK, but had an "interesting" afternoon. Says he is looking out the window at his lawn with hoses running everywhere, but they did not end up having to actually use them in earnest, just kept everything wet.

John

[bob10]

I have a friend in Riddell's Creek - I heard last night it was threatened, but I have not been able to contact them. Anyone down that way know whether any houses have been lost there?

John


Type in 'Riddells Creek' Bob



Home - VicEmergency (http://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/map#now)

[Landover]

Just got told a student in me wifes primary school class lost everything in the Riddells Creek fire. Family safe though.

[Bigbjorn]

Why do Victorians have these disastrous fires year in, year out? Don't they clear scrub and trees around their houses and have fuel reduction fires in the bush?

[JDNSW]

Why do Victorians have these disastrous fires year in, year out? Don't they clear scrub and trees around their houses and have fuel reduction fires in the bush?

Victoria (south of the ranges anyway) has a generally wetter climate than anywhere further north, so the vegetation grows better. But when there are persistent NW winds for some time (not uncommon this time of year) they have blown over more hot, dry ground by the time they get to southern Victoria so they are hotter and dryer, and the mountains result in the winds being stronger and more turbulent. So you get more fuel, stronger and hotter winds, and lower humidity than any other densely populated part of Australia, although the Adelaide hills probably comes a close second, with parts of the Blue mountains not far behind.

Add to this severe restrictions on clearing any vegetation (slightly eased since Black Saturday), and the red tape surrounding fuel reduction burns (in any case it is usually either too wet or too dangerous to do these!), and the spread of suburbia into the surrounding bush.........

John

[loanrangie]

Why do Victorians have these disastrous fires year in, year out? Don't they clear scrub and trees around their houses and have fuel reduction fires in the bush?

A lot of shires had previously made it illegal to clear any natural bush/ scrub from around your property and some of these copped a hiding after black Saturday and now have relaxed the laws a little.
When my parents built their house in Warrandyte 26 years ago they had to cut into the side of the hill adding thousands to the cost because the council wouldnt allow them to cut down a few strangly gums - which have now mostly fallen down or become weakened.

[stallie]

This was a grass fire.

The grass was explosively dry, even when short. A week of 42 degrees and no rain this year will do that.

[George130]

Things are just that dry. Even up here it took under 15 mins for a grass fire to become a 50ha blaze. At least the only house lost was empty.