Australian Fire/Severe Drought Thread

[Arkhastok]

It's very fucking weird that they only mobilised the military to assist a matter of a day or two ago.

Military’s been in there since November, I’m pretty sure they only mobilised in Victoria 3 days ago but they’ve been in NSW for a while to help out

[The New California Republic]

It's very fucking weird that they only mobilised the military to assist a matter of a day or two ago.

Military’s been in there since November, I’m pretty sure they only mobilised in Victoria 3 days ago but they’ve been in NSW for a while to help out

Have they? The only mention I saw was a couple of days ago: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-50956318

Australian military aircraft and vessels will be deployed to help emergency services in the fire-ravaged states of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria.

[Lost Memories]

The whole reporting from up close is shocking. There are lots of images and videos shared around, both of the work of the firefighters, and of civilians responses.
This is a video with firefighters on the move, which gives an idea of the speed the flames can get if the wind starts blowing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvy2siEwOZ0

Australian firefighters capture moment their truck is engulfed by a bushfire

The crew from Fire and Rescue NSW Station 509 Wyoming in Australia recorded this video showing the moment their truck was overrun by the bushfire burning south of Nowra. The crew was forced to shelter in their truck and used a blanket to keep the scorching air from coming in as the fire front passed through.

Two people died overnight, taking the death toll from wildfires since the beginning of October to 11. The bushfires have destroyed more than 4m hectares (10m acres) of land, with new blazes sparked almost daily by extremely hot and windy conditions in bushland left tinder-dry after a three-year drought
31 Dec 2019 guardian

edit. the bbc has just released an interactive map of the fires over all of Australia, and not just the south eastern part of it.
(though, the map's timeline starts only from November 2019)

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-50951043

[Arkhastok]

Military’s been in there since November, I’m pretty sure they only mobilised in Victoria 3 days ago but they’ve been in NSW for a while to help out

Have they? The only mention I saw was a couple of days ago: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-50956318

Australian military aircraft and vessels will be deployed to help emergency services in the fire-ravaged states of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria.

I’m pretty sure that’s mainly for rescuing the people who fled to the coast but I’m not too sure. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard news of the military being in there for a while but I may be wrong. I’m on holiday right now (haha just like our PM not too long ago, just not in Hawaii) so I’m not too up to date with news back home

[Major-Tom]

Fire in the disco
Fire in the Taco Bell
Fire in the disco
Fire in the gates of hell!

Also this thread was long overdue tbqh

I completely forgot about that fucking banger of a song.

Scott Morrison's resignation, too, is something that is becoming long overdue. What an infectious prion of a human, he's hardly done anything to mitigate the fires, or take any ownership of why this catastrophe is happening in the first place.

[Shrillland]

Fire in the disco
Fire in the Taco Bell
Fire in the disco
Fire in the gates of hell!

Also this thread was long overdue tbqh

I completely forgot about that fucking banger of a song.

Scott Morrison's resignation, too, is something that is becoming long overdue. What an infectious prion of a human, he's hardly done anything to mitigate the fires, or take any ownership of why this catastrophe is happening in the first place.

Alas, I don't see a resignation in the cards. Too many in the Coalition still see him as the Miracle Man of last year even with the fires going.

[An Alan Smithee Nation]

After this is over, is the idea that people will move back to the same areas and wait for the same thing to happen again?

Scott Morrison putting the coal at the front of the coalition.

[Major-Tom]

I completely forgot about that fucking banger of a song.

Scott Morrison's resignation, too, is something that is becoming long overdue. What an infectious prion of a human, he's hardly done anything to mitigate the fires, or take any ownership of why this catastrophe is happening in the first place.

Alas, I don't see a resignation in the cards. Too many in the Coalition still see him as the Miracle Man of last year even with the fires going.

Neither do I, but the way in which this has handled certainly warrants one. Same with the Premier of NWS who slashed the fire service budget months before these fires, despite being warned repeatedly that it could have dire consequences.

[Arkhastok]

Alas, I don't see a resignation in the cards. Too many in the Coalition still see him as the Miracle Man of last year even with the fires going.

Neither do I, but the way in which this has handled certainly warrants one. Same with the Premier of NWS who slashed the fire service budget months before these fires, despite being warned repeatedly that it could have dire consequences.

Berejiklian’s brain is just pure fuckery sometimes, but at least she’s actually declared us into a state of emergency

[Shrillland]

In the meantime, another holidaying official, NSW's Emergency Services Minister David Elliott, has officially said his trip to Euroe was inexcusable: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-04/david-elliott-admits-his-absence-from-nsw-was-inexcusable/11840360

And with highs expected to be in the 40s(104-122 F), Victoria and NSW are expecting more out of control flames today: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-04/nsw-victoria-bushfire-conditions-to-worsen-until-unstoppable/11839672

[Lost Memories]

In the meantime, another holidaying official, NSW's Emergency Services Minister David Elliott, has officially said his trip to Euroe was inexcusable: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-04/david-elliott-admits-his-absence-from-nsw-was-inexcusable/11840360

And with highs expected to be in the 40s(104-122 F), Victoria and NSW are expecting more out of control flames today: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-04/nsw-victoria-bushfire-conditions-to-worsen-until-unstoppable/11839672

The coast towns on the east look pretty screwed up.
Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Narooma, Bermagui.
They seems to be on course to be run over by the flame front. Wonder where all the people currently evacuating from there (by ground, with cars etc) are going to go.

[Shrillland]

In the meantime, another holidaying official, NSW's Emergency Services Minister David Elliott, has officially said his trip to Euroe was inexcusable: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-04/david-elliott-admits-his-absence-from-nsw-was-inexcusable/11840360

And with highs expected to be in the 40s(104-122 F), Victoria and NSW are expecting more out of control flames today: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-04/nsw-victoria-bushfire-conditions-to-worsen-until-unstoppable/11839672

The coast towns on the east look pretty screwed up.
Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Narooma, Bermagui.
They seems to be on course to be run over by the flame front. Wonder where all the people currently evacuating from there (by ground, with cars etc) are going to go.

To the coast like everyone else, I suppose.

[Lost Memories]

Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Narooma, Bermagui.
Wonder where all the people currently evacuating from there (by ground, with cars etc) are going to go.

To the coast like everyone else, I suppose.

I mean, they're literally leaving the coast, and given the widespread of fires and their quick and somehow not really predictable evolution, i would assume most of them would opt to move to an entirely different region.
Also the coasts near those towns aren't really safe either, even if the ground can't flame up, they can still get smoked if the wind starts blowing from land to sea.

As for evacuation zones, i'm only aware of this one:

A "tourist leave zone" has been declared for a 14,000-square-kilometre area between Nowra and the edge of Victoria's northern border.

Are there other evacuation zones on the coasts of NSW?

[Shrillland]

To the coast like everyone else, I suppose.

I mean, they're literally leaving the coast, and given the widespread of fires and their quick and somehow not really predictable evolution, i would assume most of them would opt to move to an entirely different region.
Also the coasts near those towns aren't really safe either, even if the ground can't flame up, they can still get smoked if the wind starts blowing from land to sea.

As for evacuation zones, i'm only aware of this one:

A "tourist leave zone" has been declared for a 14,000-square-kilometre area between Nowra and the edge of Victoria's northern border.

Are there other evacuation zones on the coasts of NSW?

Not that I can make out.

[Cetacea]

Scott Morrison tells us everything is fine, people are crowding the beaches, there’s not a rain cloud in sight and the sunsets are spectacular

Australia, best place in the world to braise your kids ....

[Major-Tom]

Neither do I, but the way in which this has handled certainly warrants one. Same with the Premier of NWS who slashed the fire service budget months before these fires, despite being warned repeatedly that it could have dire consequences.

Berejiklian’s brain is just pure fuckery sometimes, but at least she’s actually declared us into a state of emergency

I was unaware of that, I suppose that's a silver lining.

[Lost Memories]

As for any disaster, there is always someone being dumbass or malicious, trying to take advantage of the chaos.

'Beggars belief': Thieves target Tasmania's volunteer firefighters
Man charged following deliberately lit grass fires

[Jack Thomas Lang]

I'm a lucky Westralian, bushfires have not been an issue for us as it has been in the East Coast. I don't know what the government can really do beyond having more prescribed burnings and clearing underbrush. I dislike how the fires have been used a political bludgeon, even though this is not the worst in our history and we won't be able to """solve""" bushfires by lowering only our emissions.

[Slavakino]

Bawahahahaha, I'm unaffected because I don't live in the East where it's fugged culturally, politically or very flammable

Scott Morrison tells us everything is fine, people are crowding the beaches, there’s not a rain cloud in sight and the sunsets are spectacular

Australia, best place in the world to braise your kids ....

Cant get a good beach day because of the smog on the East causing more thunder

[Samadhi]

After being stupid and almost driving into a fire two weeks ago, I've retired to the beach.
Heard it's pretty shit though

[Costa Fierro]

After this is over, is the idea that people will move back to the same areas and wait for the same thing to happen again?

More or less, once a fire passes it takes a few decades for fires to become an issue again on the basis of fuel availability. Although Victoria has introduced measures to prevent people from building in "fire prone" areas.

[Special Aromas]

To the coast like everyone else, I suppose.

I mean, they're literally leaving the coast, and given the widespread of fires and their quick and somehow not really predictable evolution, i would assume most of them would opt to move to an entirely different region.
Also the coasts near those towns aren't really safe either, even if the ground can't flame up, they can still get smoked if the wind starts blowing from land to sea.

As for evacuation zones, i'm only aware of this one:

A "tourist leave zone" has been declared for a 14,000-square-kilometre area between Nowra and the edge of Victoria's northern border.

Are there other evacuation zones on the coasts of NSW?

Most of the evacuees are tourists who will return home. When the front comes through those who stay in the area will usually head into the middle of a major town or to a sports field where it's safest.

[Nouveau Yathrib]

Domestic and international observers can help by donating to the NSF Rural Fire Brigade. (Saw the link posted within my personal Instagram network)

https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/volunteer/su ... al-brigade

Donations made directly to the NSW RFS are for the benefit of volunteer brigades and are always gratefully received and are a tremendous help. All donations over $2.00 are tax-deductible.

Interested in making a donation? You can do so in three ways:

1) Donate by credit card

Westpac Logo Secure online donations

2) Deposit funds directly

Account Name: NSW Rural Fire Service

Bank: Westpac BSB: 032-001 Account No: 171051

To request a receipt please email your name, date of deposit, amount and address to dgr@rfs.nsw.gov.au.

3) Post a cheque or money order

NSW Rural Fire Service
Locked Bag 17,
Granville NSW 2142

[Albrenia]

This is some scary shit, yo.

[Risottia]

I was considering starting a thread but naturally assumed there already was one and I'd just not seen it.

It's a pretty worrying situation - I'm in New Zealand and we're actually seeing haze and in some cases smoke (I was certainly able to smell smoke yesterday) that has blown across the Tasman Sea, so I can only imagine how dire the situation is across the ditch.

And, well seeing as we're on a fairly political website, I might as well venture my opinion that the Australian Prime Minister's response has been... at best eyebrow raising. I don't follow Australian politics or claim to know anything at all about it and I'm quite happy to be corrected if my facts are incorrect but from what I'm observing he comes across as pretty damn inept.

Oh, he doesn't just come across that way, he is that inept.

How the fuck did the Australians elect him, then?