thoughts and prayers for Australian | Forum

I'm not there in AU, but every day I get to see the world news with very disturbing information about it. I can relate to what goes on because here in CA we have a lot of wild fires too. But I can't remember being able to see a smoke cloud that big from a space satellite.

the pic below is just the SE area of AU. they have 100+ fires in the country. this is just a few of them in a heavily populated area.

Since then the fire died down here but then comes the wind and whips it up again.  While the worst of it moved away from me the smoke was been dreadful.  The mornings are still so it sits around then the wind comes back in the afternoon and fans the flames up again. I'd like the wind to come and blow the smoke away but it also fans the flames, can't win.  Catch 22.

We were lucky here, no loss of homes but the loss of so many of our wildlife makes me cry.  As does the loss of the brave firefighters who have tirelessly worked to help others only to fall themselves when suddenly and unexpectedly trapped by fallen trees or wind changes.

In other areas many homes have been lost along with livestock and the lives of home owners who stayed too long trying to protect their property.  

I wasn't well for about 3 weeks, the smoke caused my sinus to play up with lots of headaches, cough and lost sleep.  Panadol is my new best friend. But, I will survive... as the song goes.  I still have my home and my cats.  So many can't say the same.

Around me there are 3 roads, one heading north to Port Macquarie, one west to the highway and another south to Laurieton.  (Note: I'm about 4 hours drive north of Sydney).  All of these are through bushland and 2 were closed as the fire had crossed them.  I had my car packed and ready to go for weeks in case we got the word to evacuate.

I've been told that logs and tree trunks can hold smoldering embers deep inside them for months even though the fire has been put out (or seems to be).  A strong wind can then fan them and start the fire all over again.  Now that's a scary thought, just as you're relaxing and thinking it's all over... whoosh!

So no-one can be complacent, still have to be aware and ready.

Hi spectrumAU,

My prayers and thoughts are with you for your well-being and safety in these trying and dangerous bushfires happening in and around your area. So glad that the immediate danger is over for you and I hope it stays that way!

The visuals from media reports are horrendous and show the immense risks to the firefighters and general communities affected. Stay vigilant and hoping the situation sees improvement soon. Prayers for the safety of everyone concerned.

Update:

Whew!  Relief this morning, it's still smokey but not as bad as late yesterday.  The firefighters must have that one under control.  

snowing ash is a very unpleasant feeling. Its hard on your logic and your home, too. if you have an air purifier use it. don't forget to change/clean the filter(s) per manufacturer's specs. if you don't have one, I'd suggest getting one when its safe to do so. I dunno about forced air furnace/air conditioning (air conditioning may or may not be a purifier) in your house, but if you have forced air that has a filter, it is also a purifier and that filter should be changed/cleaned when it is safe. Depending on your car, you also may have a cabin filter in it for air purity, too.

glad your close call was more fear than action, Louise.

It's certainly better than breathing the smokey air.

Our food prices are going up, so many farmers have lost their animals and crops.  It will take years to recover.  But we're a resilient people, we'll bounce back.

Happy to hear you got some rain, Louise. I know nothing about the layout of the land around there, but is it mountainous? Here we get most of our wild fires in the mountains. so lets say after the vegetation burns up it rains. No roots in the ground means mudslides/landslides are a serious risk in the mountain areas, unless it is a very light rain.

I'm sure many have lost everything, or close to it, and that itself is sad. Some may find new and different opportunities, others may take longer.

The lake here has almost dried up because of lack of rain and the build up of sand at the ocean entrance and the fish in it are dying.  Now they say the rain wont help as it will wash ash (and other things) into the water making it even more unhealthy.  **sigh**

But, first things first.  This big dump of rain should have put the fires out so people can start getting their lives back together.  Everything else will follow.

or grow horns and tails to fit right in with the fire??