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There are lots of stories of looting going around today. Apparently there was a group of people going around with horse floats, saying they were with RSPCA and here to get horses out. Horses never to be seen again. Other reports of people knocking on doors- if the owner was home they would act as though they were there to warn them to get out. If no-one home, looting. I was as much concerned about being looted as about being burnt when we left the other night. Seems the concern was justified.
No need, Andrews bought some helicopters instead.Quote:
Originally Posted by bob10
I am reading that some are say that they couldn't get help from firefighters this I find as very unfair as an ex cfa volunteer an now a volunteer with Queensland rual fire people need to understand that as firefighters our safety comes first this is something all firefighters are tought world wide. Everyone is given the chance to leave and as a firefighter I prefer they did as a lot who stay have no idea how hot and hard the fight will be and find themselves overwhelmed by ember attack heat smoke and the noise of the fire and just how fast it can move. Fuel reduction burns are key in a lot of cases to reduce fire intensity but this has little to nothing to do with the cfa it a government thing not helped by tree hugging greenies who go out of there way to interrupt or cancel planed burn offs this problem extends to tree hugging council's. I understand peoples pain and frustration but blaming the people on the ground doing the work is just plain unfair remembering the may also be affected by the fire others have left jobs family and other commitments to volunteer there time. So when all is done the fire is out people should look at state and local government and ask why pander to the green faction.
The Victorian CFA said it had warned people to get out and it did not apologise for keeping fire crews safe.
Looting is disgusting. Hard to believe people would behave so selfishly.
I really hope those stories are an urban myth. I don't need my faith in human nature trashed any more than it has been. I've been feeling warm and fuzzy over only one report of looting in the Townsville floods [ AFAIK ] , and those unfortunate two drowned. Hope your fears were unfounded. And all the best, for the future.Quote:
Originally Posted by POD
Perhaps the outstanding result of all this is no reported injury or loss of life. I'll give the CFA a huge pass mark .Quote:
Originally Posted by DiscoMick
Yes. It looks like lessons from last time have been largely learnt!
And the recommendations from the enquiry into the Mt. Macedon fires of more than 20 years ago have largely been ignored.Quote:
Originally Posted by JDNSW
Every year in the "Victorian bushfire season" one sees video of houses nestled in the bush with trees and shrubs right up to the eaves being burnt to the ground. There should be no growth over 1 metre within 20 metres of a house or outbuildings. Ideally a masonry or steel fence at least 1.8 metres high, preferably 2.4 metres, should be built around a dwelling and trees and undergrowth outside the fence kept down so none can fall over the fence in a fire. These were some of the recommendations of the Mt. Macedon enquiry. I know about Mt. Macedon because a close friend was burnt out then & there. They had a little luck. It was a brand new house and they were in process of moving in and most of their valuables were still in Melbourne. His wife refused to move back there saying she now realised how dangerous it was to live in such a place. He said to me that dealing with the insurance company nearly put both of them into psychiatric care.
I recently watched a TV show on fox about Australia's best homes, or something similar. It was about a man whose parents house had been burned down, at Kinglake, and came back with his partner to build a home on land at Kinglake. It was like a fortress on the outside , built out of mud with fire proof outer covering, beautiful inside. Grass on the roof, which filtered water down to a huge underground water tank, I thought at the time this should be the minimum standard for fire prone areas. I wish I could find the video of it, because you would know what I mean.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigbjorn
So my brigade is in district 8 and we've had our tanker up there all week. Did a nightshift up there Monday and a lot going on. The quarry up there had a diesel pump to the quarry with 64mm fittings but was isolated and unable to be used and everyone had evacuated, could have been handy instead of having to drive 20 minutes down to Gumbaya world and back to refill to keep putting out fires.
Yep people have been looting, lots of police in area around Nar Nar Goon and Princes hwy was closed off until Tuesday morning. I'm going back up to drive Thermal Imaging camera crew through the area looking for hotspots.
I understand the anger from the individual who lost his house but CFA are tasked and safety of crew is paramount. Everyone is in it CFA, MFB, VICPOL, SES, Coast Guard etc. The people doing catering, coffee etc are life savers and many people have donated food and drinks for the firefighters. Good mob out there.