Australian Fire/Severe Drought Thread

[Special Aromas]

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

How the fuck did the Australians elect him, then?

Favourable preference deals with shady minor parties.

[Kowani]

How the fuck did the Australians elect him, then?

Favourable preference deals with shady minor parties.

Ah, democracy.

[Valentine Z]

All the best to you folks out there!

Got a few friends in Melbourne, but they don't seem to be affected much. Still, affected or not, I worry for everyone of you as a whole, so... Take care! Maybe get those 3M masks if you haven't yet!

[Slavakino]

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

How the fuck did the Australians elect him, then?

By these categories

1. I dont know who i'm voting for plus I dont want a fine
2. I voted because my parents voted x
3. Im extremely uninformed

[The Huskar Social Union]

So the PM is gone after this right? Surely this will cost him the election

[Special Aromas]

So the PM is gone after this right? Surely this will cost him the election

Nah this will be water under the bridge by the time 2022 comes around. He'll have done something way worse by then.

[Arkhastok]

How the fuck did the Australians elect him, then?

By these categories

1. I dont know who i'm voting for plus I dont want a fine
2. I voted because my parents voted x
3. Im extremely uninformed

One of my mum’s friends who are quite old and barely follows politics last election just got my mum to come along to tell her who to vote for lol

[Lost Memories]

This schreenshot is being shared about the fire prevention and political responsibility over fire prevention.


source according to google

Assuming it can be trusted (i can't verify) makes it look ScoMo like the useful idiot of the situation (he sure doesn't help his case by being so out of touch with reality), to pile all the blame on as scapegoat, for the peace of mind of anyone else with some actual responsibility, and also for the peace of mind of anyone who feels powerless and needs to vent out their (just) frustration.

[Valentine Z]

As someone who doesn't know much about the Australian politics, I think this one video sums it up on the situation.

I hope you guys will put out the fire ASAP. Australia is a very nice place like many others, I would love to give a visit one day.

[Shrillland]

In the latest news, 450,000 masks are being sent to first responders and communities in Victoria: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/federal-government-sends-450-000-smoke-masks-to-fire-affected-victorians

73 new fires were started today in Victoria alone: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/evacuations-continue-in-victoria-amid-ongoing-bushfire-threat

Here's the latest updates on the NSW fires from the Sydney Morning Herald: https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-fires-live-updates-rfs-braces-for-spreading-fire-fronts-as-soaring-temperatures-and-high-winds-fan-flames-20200104-p53oq6.html

And Penrith, one of Sydney's western suburbs, recorded the Sydney area's highest temperature in recorded history, 48.9(120 F): https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-04/nsw-bushfires-rfs-issues-emergency-warnings-amid-dire-weather/11840524

Acclaimed bush pilot Dick Lang and his son were identified among the dead in the Kangaroo Island fire in SA: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/two-people-have-died-in-the-catastrophic-kangaroo-island-bushfire/news-story/5871473c9936beea18b31db7b461d0e5

[Heloin]

So the PM is gone after this right? Surely this will cost him the election

Unlikely but I appreciate whomever replaced the leader of the Liberal–National Coalition with The most punchable face in the world on Wikipedia.

[Lost Memories]

73 new fires were started today in Victoria alone: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/evacuations-continue-in-victoria-amid-ongoing-bushfire-threat

That's a lot of new fires.
I wonder, there haven't been any thunderstorms to light up more fires, so where do all those new fires come from?

There is surely the wind and air currents generated by the fires, which can fly hot dust far away. But i would assume those cases of new fires should all be very close to already active fires.
Is there a site with an updated map of the fires, including the new ones?

edit. found this recording https://www.reddit.com/r/australia/comments/eju4ty/
it seems the wind picking up has relit the old fires and helped spread new ones

Acclaimed bush pilot Dick Lang and his son were identified among the dead in the Kangaroo Island fire in SA: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/two-people-have-died-in-the-catastrophic-kangaroo-island-bushfire/news-story/5871473c9936beea18b31db7b461d0e5

Rip.

Amidst all this chaos, it's important to remember a growing number of people are dying in the fires. (or indirectly from them, as that old woman who died from respiration problems right after arriving by plane in Canberra, rip for her too)
Before this will be over the total toll may be quite big.

[Major-Tom]

So the PM is gone after this right? Surely this will cost him the election

Nah this will be water under the bridge by the time 2022 comes around. He'll have done something way worse by then.

With the high rate of turnover among Australian PMs since Rudd was elected in '07, it wouldn't surprise me if Morrison was ousted by his own party by the end of the year. I mean, Turnbull seemed so comparatively tame and inconsequential as a whole when compared to Abbott and Morrison, and yet he still had knives out for him.

[Australian rePublic]

Whilst my family and I were minorly affected by the fires, we're blesses that it was only a minor unconvince compared to the people who have died. We have a beach house which we went to visit between Christmas and New Year, and came **this** close to being trapped down there because of road closures. We managed to make it back before the road was closed, though, so that was good. Other family members of mine, who drove interstate, actually got trapped and had to significantly alter their New Year's plans, but they made it back, which was good. Thank God that that was the worst which happened to us.

My mum also knows some in the same area who's facing the worst of the fires. She owns a farm and had t ok evacuate all of her animals possibly her family too. She was showing us pictures of the fires near her property and it was hell. I feel sorry for people in her situation.

Everyone in that area of the world (including the RFS volunteer we spoke to) hate The Greens for refusing to allow hazard reduction burning, even the Aboriginals of the area, have stated that they've been burning the land for millenia, and now the Greens' won't let them. And now the Greens have the hight to claim that they've supported hazard reduction burning all along **spits on ground** how stupid do they think we are? The sooner we have a royal comission into the Greens' mishandling of the situation, the better.

Bloody Greens. If the areas they lived were subject to bush fires, you'd watch their attitude toward common sense land management change quick-smart. If the people who made decisions actually had to suffer the consequences of those decisions...

And another thing, why in the hell aren't we giving non-amenic punishments to arsonists? Most fires were deliberately lit!

If you can afford to donate to bush fire victims, please consider doing so, but make sure you go through a legitimate charity

After two months and the fires still going on, I was genuinely surprised(and slightly disgusted and ashamed at all of us including myself, I won't lie) to find that NSG still doesn't have a thread to discuss the massive bush fires burning across Australia even as it discussed the smaller ones in the Amazon.

Hey, don't blame me,, I tried to create this thread a couple of months ago, back when the fires weren't so bad and the drought was the big talking point, but it fell into oblivion. As the drought is still on going, but discussion of drought fell into oblivion, please edit the thread title so that we could further discuss that too, and so that people don't forget about it. Pretty please. Entire towns have run out of water and had to truck it in. Personally, I couldn't think of anything worse than turning the tap on and having nothing come out, and believe that it is a worthy enough discussion. Unfortunately, the discussion of drought has fallen into oblivion, even in Australia, and that's dangerous. Even this tiny NSG thread will do its bit to remind everyone of the drought. We need rain. If you're religious, please pray for rain

[Australian rePublic]

73 new fires were started today in Victoria alone: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/evacuations-continue-in-victoria-amid-ongoing-bushfire-threat

That's a lot of new fires.
I wonder, there haven't been any thunderstorms to light up more fires, so where do all those new fires come from?

There is surely the wind and air currents generated by the fires, which can fly hot dust far away. But i would assume those cases of new fires should all be very close to already active fires.
Is there a site with an updated map of the fires, including the new ones?

edit. found this recording https://www.reddit.com/r/australia/comments/eju4ty/
it seems the wind picking up has relit the old fires and helped spread new ones

Actually, there have been few thunderstorms- dry lightning thunderstorms, which cause fires. Also, arson

[Major-Tom]

Whilst my family and I were minorly affected by the fires, we're blesses that it was only a minor unconvince compared to the people who have died. We have a beach house which we went to visit between Christmas and New Year, and came **this** close to being trapped down there because of road closures. We managed to make it back before the road was closed, though, so that was good. Other family members of mine, who drove interstate, actually got trapped and had to significantly alter their New Year's plans, but they made it back, which was good. Thank God that that was the worst which happened to us.

My mum also knows some in the same area who's facing the worst of the fires. She owns a farm and had t ok evacuate all of her animals possibly her family too. She was showing us pictures of the fires near her property and it was hell. I feel sorry for people in her situation.

Everyone in that area of the world (including the RFS volunteer we spoke to) hate The Greens for refusing to allow hazard reduction burning, even the Aboriginals of the area, have stated that they've been burning the land for millenia, and now the Greens' won't let them. And now the Greens have the hight to claim that they've supported hazard reduction burning all along **spits on ground** how stupid do they think we are? The sooner we have a royal comission into the Greens' mishandling of the situation, the better.

Bloody Greens. If the areas they lived were subject to bush fires, you'd watch their attitude toward common sense land management change quick-smart. If the people who made decisions actually had to suffer the consequences of those decisions...

And another thing, why in the hell aren't we giving non-amenic punishments to arsonists? Most fires were deliberately lit!

If you can afford to donate to bush fire victims, please consider doing so, but make sure you go through a legitimate charity

After two months and the fires still going on, I was genuinely surprised(and slightly disgusted and ashamed at all of us including myself, I won't lie) to find that NSG still doesn't have a thread to discuss the massive bush fires burning across Australia even as it discussed the smaller ones in the Amazon.

Hey, don't blame me,, I tried to create this thread a couple of months ago, back when the fires weren't so bad and the drought was the big talking point, but it fell into oblivion. As the drought is still on going, but discussion of drought fell into oblivion, please edit the thread title so that we could further discuss that too, and so that people don't forget about it. Pretty please. Entire towns have run out of water and had to truck it in. Personally, I couldn't think of anything worse than turning the tap on and having nothing come out, and believe that it is a worthy enough discussion. Unfortunately, the discussion of drought has fallen into oblivion, even in Australia, and that's dangerous. Even this tiny NSG thread will do its bit to remind everyone of the drought. We need rain. If you're religious, please pray for rain

I'm glad your family is doing well in the grand scheme of everything, it is tragic for me to watch Australia burn from all the way in the states. Good luck to you guys.

In regards to the Greens, it's more nuanced than simply black and white. Prescribed burns do often work in a variety of areas that are prone to massive wildfires/bushfires, though not in the middle of fire season itself. Especially when a fire season is absolutely catastrophic. Former NSW Fire Rescue Commissioner Mullins writes here that you can't put all the blame on the Greens, ditto for a Guardian article that goes in depth about prescribed burns.

Hazard reduction works only when the conditions are right, otherwise it is quite literally adding more fuel to the fire. If the Greens were to oppose such methods of hazard reductions such as prescribed burning during a cool, wet period, then perhaps the argument that they're not helping in that facet would be legitimate.

[Heloin]

Everyone in that area of the world (including the RFS volunteer we spoke to) hate The Greens for refusing to allow hazard reduction burning, even the Aboriginals of the area, have stated that they've been burning the land for millenia, and now the Greens' won't let them. And now the Greens have the hight to claim that they've supported hazard reduction burning all along **spits on ground** how stupid do they think we are? The sooner we have a royal comission into the Greens' mishandling of the situation, the better.

Bloody Greens. If the areas they lived were subject to bush fires, you'd watch their attitude toward common sense land management change quick-smart. If the people who made decisions actually had to suffer the consequences of those decisions...

Blaming the Greens is a sure fire way to prove that your just looking to scapegoat. A party that hasn’t every been in power is not the reason the Australian government isn’t doing controlled burns.

[Australian rePublic]

Whilst my family and I were minorly affected by the fires, we're blesses that it was only a minor unconvince compared to the people who have died. We have a beach house which we went to visit between Christmas and New Year, and came **this** close to being trapped down there because of road closures. We managed to make it back before the road was closed, though, so that was good. Other family members of mine, who drove interstate, actually got trapped and had to significantly alter their New Year's plans, but they made it back, which was good. Thank God that that was the worst which happened to us.

My mum also knows some in the same area who's facing the worst of the fires. She owns a farm and had t ok evacuate all of her animals possibly her family too. She was showing us pictures of the fires near her property and it was hell. I feel sorry for people in her situation.

Everyone in that area of the world (including the RFS volunteer we spoke to) hate The Greens for refusing to allow hazard reduction burning, even the Aboriginals of the area, have stated that they've been burning the land for millenia, and now the Greens' won't let them. And now the Greens have the hight to claim that they've supported hazard reduction burning all along **spits on ground** how stupid do they think we are? The sooner we have a royal comission into the Greens' mishandling of the situation, the better.

Bloody Greens. If the areas they lived were subject to bush fires, you'd watch their attitude toward common sense land management change quick-smart. If the people who made decisions actually had to suffer the consequences of those decisions...

And another thing, why in the hell aren't we giving non-amenic punishments to arsonists? Most fires were deliberately lit!

If you can afford to donate to bush fire victims, please consider doing so, but make sure you go through a legitimate charity


Hey, don't blame me,, I tried to create this thread a couple of months ago, back when the fires weren't so bad and the drought was the big talking point, but it fell into oblivion. As the drought is still on going, but discussion of drought fell into oblivion, please edit the thread title so that we could further discuss that too, and so that people don't forget about it. Pretty please. Entire towns have run out of water and had to truck it in. Personally, I couldn't think of anything worse than turning the tap on and having nothing come out, and believe that it is a worthy enough discussion. Unfortunately, the discussion of drought has fallen into oblivion, even in Australia, and that's dangerous. Even this tiny NSG thread will do its bit to remind everyone of the drought. We need rain. If you're religious, please pray for rain

I'm glad your family is doing well in the grand scheme of everything, it is tragic for me to watch Australia burn from all the way in the states. Good luck to you guys.

Thanks. Australia is similar to California with regards to these things. I wish you all the best too

[/quote]
In regards to the Greens, it's more nuanced than simply black and white. Prescribed burns do often work in a variety of areas that are prone to massive wildfires/bushfires, though not in the middle of fire season itself. Especially when a fire season is absolutely catastrophic.
Well, obviously. Nobody is proposing that we conduct hazard reduction burns now. We're pissed at the fact that they didn't winter, when it was safe to do so.

Former NSW Fire Rescue Commissioner Mullins writes here that you can't put all the blame on the Greens, ditto for a Guardian article that goes in depth about prescribed burns.

I know. ScoMo and Co. can't wash their hands of this either, nor can Gladys and Co.

Hazard reduction works only when the conditions are right, otherwise it is quite literally adding more fuel to the fire. If the Greens were to oppose such methods of hazard reductions such as prescribed burning during a cool, wet period, then perhaps the argument that they're not helping in that facet would be legitimate.

Yep, as said earlier, obviously noone is proposing to conduct hazard reductions burns now. The RFS should have full authority to do so when it was safe. See, due mostly to ENSO and Indian Ocean Dipole (as well as other minor factors), Australia has cycles of flood and drought. Better water and fire management during flood and deluge fazes leads to less significant issues during dry and drought periods. And the lack of accountability is deafening

[Arkhastok]

Nah this will be water under the bridge by the time 2022 comes around. He'll have done something way worse by then.

With the high rate of turnover among Australian PMs since Rudd was elected in '07, it wouldn't surprise me if Morrison was ousted by his own party by the end of the year. I mean, Turnbull seemed so comparatively tame and inconsequential as a whole when compared to Abbott and Morrison, and yet he still had knives out for him.

While that could happen, I’m pretty sure the Libs tightened their leadership change process so PM’s don’t go out every year

[Heloin]

With the high rate of turnover among Australian PMs since Rudd was elected in '07, it wouldn't surprise me if Morrison was ousted by his own party by the end of the year. I mean, Turnbull seemed so comparatively tame and inconsequential as a whole when compared to Abbott and Morrison, and yet he still had knives out for him.

While that could happen, I’m pretty sure the Libs tightened their leadership change process so PM’s don’t go out every year

What’s the point of the liberals if they don’t bring out another PM for every season?

[Australian rePublic]

Everyone in that area of the world (including the RFS volunteer we spoke to) hate The Greens for refusing to allow hazard reduction burning, even the Aboriginals of the area, have stated that they've been burning the land for millenia, and now the Greens' won't let them. And now the Greens have the hight to claim that they've supported hazard reduction burning all along **spits on ground** how stupid do they think we are? The sooner we have a royal comission into the Greens' mishandling of the situation, the better.

Bloody Greens. If the areas they lived were subject to bush fires, you'd watch their attitude toward common sense land management change quick-smart. If the people who made decisions actually had to suffer the consequences of those decisions...

Blaming the Greens is a sure fire way to prove that your just looking to scapegoat. A party that hasn’t every been in power is not the reason the Australian government isn’t doing controlled burns.

I'll grant you that they're not in power. But it doesn't mean they're not influencial enough to sway government policy

[Arkhastok]

While that could happen, I’m pretty sure the Libs tightened their leadership change process so PM’s don’t go out every year

What’s the point of the liberals if they don’t bring out another PM for every season?

Comedic relief

[Heloin]

Blaming the Greens is a sure fire way to prove that your just looking to scapegoat. A party that hasn’t every been in power is not the reason the Australian government isn’t doing controlled burns.

I'll grant you that they're not in power. But it doesn't mean they're not influencial enough to sway government policy

Or, more likely, you’re scapegoating.

[Shrillland]

Blaming the Greens is a sure fire way to prove that your just looking to scapegoat. A party that hasn’t every been in power is not the reason the Australian government isn’t doing controlled burns.

I'll grant you that they're not in power. But it doesn't mean they're not influencial enough to sway government policy

They barely are, they only have some slight influence in the Senate right now, and that's all they're going to get for a long time.

[Arkhastok]

I'll grant you that they're not in power. But it doesn't mean they're not influencial enough to sway government policy

They barely are, they only have some slight influence in the Senate right now, and that's all they're going to get for a long time.

Good. Because if they were any more powerful then..
oh no