Bush Fires-narre North & Surrounding Areas

[shanusr33]

The fire bugs that allegedly started some of this better hope the police find them before other residents and people effected do! Imagine what you would want to do to them! I dont know what the law is but 25 years doesn't seem like much

[fuzzy_scuz]

The CFA have been for years saying back burning has needed to take place. either they have no power to due to public opinion or resources to complete it.

The issue here is policy gone mad, by the greens and many governments before hand. What this shows is we have learnt nothing from 1983, and nothing that came out of 1983 was done.

In 1983 similiar scenario the state enquiry found that "MANDATORY EVAC" for extreme conditions should be inforceable. The CFA should have these powers as they are ones fighting the fire, and know the severity or dangers of the situation.

Some insurance companies have in there fire policies that the owner occuper is compelled to stay and defend there home from fire. That is unaustralian, when do we put material possesions over a value of a life?

So for the people living in those areas, I feel for how you hands have been tied by people why know sweet F A.

Living in the country has many dangers, the farmers in those areas have lost everything, there incomes, from loss of stock or crops. You will find the price of Milk and Beef will go up due to the fires and the shortage of supply now. That affects us all, as this tradegy over time will affect us all one way or another.

[fuzzy_scuz]

Should be 25 years x 178 in my opinion, Max security in general population.

[Deluxe]

What about them... I said it was a tragedy, death is not something you wish for, but should i stop and cry randomly in the street when i don't even know anyone like other people?

The media would have you believe you need to feel bad, sorry and so on for as long as they think necessary.

If it gets stolen it gets stolen. I cant do a thing about it champ. That's how it is.

Stephen - I can see your points. I certainly hate the Green's and back burning is something thats required regardless of what they think.

I think people are forgetting that I do understand and appreciate that it is indeed a tragedy and unfortunate, hell ive offered my help any time too two friends who most likely lost properties up there too.

I've spoken to a lot of people about this since I posted and some agree, so do not.

Maybe its all over the media and people feel it more because its Victoria, i don't know.

Can everyone here having a go @ me say they felt the same for the Americans that died during Felix? 130+ dead, 150,000 people displaced? Its a risky area they knowingly live in.

If you answer no, then I'm very interested to know why. It's no different to what's happened here, in fact its worse.

I felt the same over that situation as i do about this, at least i am consistent

Nice contradiction there champ.......

Hows about put yourself in all these peoples positions and you HAD lost property AND loved ones and some dick like yourself just goes on like you have.........

Did your parents ever teach you to treat people how you would like to be treated back?? If not then if/when your car gets stolen or loose a loved one or something thats "part of you", dont expect people here to be sorry for you!!

Sometimes its best to keep opinions to yourself even if you are on a open forum and behind a keyboard!!

[adznight]

[joeyjoejoejuniorshabadoo]

awwwwwwwwwwww

[joeyjoejoejuniorshabadoo]

$100,000 now on offer to anyone with information leading to a conviction

[Snowman]

How many people here think they saw Ash light one? I'm pretty sure right now I did....

[joeyjoejoejuniorshabadoo]

he sure lit one in here

there is also now a 100 person taskforse, along with a suspect. (its not ash)

[femno]

This disaster is bloody terrible and we should help by giving donations etc to help people along.

But the thing that gets me...if you know there are bushfires burning through houses in 30 seconds, and burning faster than a car can drive, why would you wait in your house until you can see the fire coming? Why wait until its so late? Where theres smoke theres fire...when theres so much smoke that you cant see, its got to be a big, fast fire.

If you live out there, you should be prepared to take some losses (posession-wise), why wouldnt you take your family and run? Get a hotel in the city or go somewhere away from the fires. Stay with relatives or friends etc. I dont understand it.

Surely your famililes lives are worth more than a house and photographs? Why stay and try to fight something this big?

[Bass Junky]

Femno.

You have to understand that country people are tougher than us city folk.

Often the house and land they are living in are generations old, and often, they have nothing but what is on their property.

Staying to fight is what they have done during every other fire they have fought.

But on the other hand, places like Kinglake, Marysville etc, the fire moved to fast to make a decision. By the time the authorities know that there was even a big fire in Kinglake, the place was wiped out.

You can't just leave your house every time a fire is warned about.

Imagine this if you will. Doncaster. 20 kilometers from the city, straight down the eastern freeway. Fire goes from the city to doncaster in a matter of a 15 odd minutes.

That's fast. Now imagine that there is one road in and one road out of town, and it's windy and up and down hills.....

You can't get out.

In this weekends incidents, people would have to have left their houses before there was even a single fire to escape it.

My Mum and partner stayed to defend against a grass fire that could have wiped out everything they own.

It's not the initial fire ball that burns houses down, it's the 30 minutes after the fire ball where the house actually begins to really burn. So if you can defend your house against the initial fire ball, and the area around it (a clearance around your house of 10 odd meters or so, then you are in with a very good chance of successfully defending.

Mum and Alan could easily defend their house and sheds from a grass fire, but not if they weren't there. (They live in Thornton, about 20 ks from the current fire front)

So there are many reasons for staying and defending, especially if you have nothing but your property, it's your livelihood, it's your home, it was your parents and grand parents home and it will be your kids home.

[Ant97GTR]

One solution that would no doubt save lives would be similar to rules that exist in the US when you build a house in 'tornado alley'

Every house built on bush type land should have a fireproof basement/room under the building.

[SS8_Gohan]

for those wondering why residents didn't leave, they did... but the fire was travelling at 120km/hr....... 120km/hr..... i don't care if you're Tsuchiya, you cannot maintain a 120km/hr+ place on a winding country road with smoke so thick you can only see a few metres in front. Ever wonder why there were so many car accidents? people couldn't see, people were rushing to get out

it was the speed of which it came.

[Jdfnq]

Some interesting comments....

Put yourself in the shoes of someone who has lost a house, a pet or the life of a family member (or friend).

Some of my family have lost everything.... They kept their lives, which at the end of the day is the most important thing.....

But saying that they shouldn't live there is just stupid...

Tell that to all the queenslanders that they shouldn't live in a cyclone prone area.... It's not like they happen all the time or anything...... Doesn't mean we are going to farken move.....

[Bass Junky]

Ant, I have been talking about this all morning.

*Gets up on soapbox for a second*

Houses in fire prone areas, should be build to withstand the onslaught of fire.

Steel Frames, Steel Roofs, fire proof cladding (steel, brick etc) aluminium window frames, proper sealing under eaves/valleys, ridges etc, steel verandar posts etc etc etc.

If a house can't combust, it worn burn... Obviously.

A fire proof cellar is also a must I think, along with a minimum of 25,000 litres of water and pumps/sprinklers etc.

This will stop the house igniting during the fire ball and hence safe property.

*unmounts box*

[Bass Junky]

Mind you, none of this helps now, it can only help in the future.

[femno]

especially if you have nothing but your property, it's your livelihood, it's your home, it was your parents and grand parents home and it will be your kids home.

Ok sorry for not knowing people who live in the bush as hard flamin mongrels.

Why wait for authorities to alert everyone? thus my point regarding smoke and fire.

Why not leave your house every time a fire warning is out? it could be the difference between living and being burnt alive.

It takes balls to stay and fight no doubt, and good on your Mum and partner, but im sure the majority of those staying and fighting failed, spoken by the current number of deaths.

The point is that life is more important than posession. I love my home and everything in it and everyone who has been through it. But whats the point having a home if there is a chance there may not be any kids to live in it?

There could be so much less loss of life if people made a few defferent decisions thats all. Which would make times a little easier..

[impact_blue]

Any QLDer's reading this, we will have donations set up at Archerfield Drifts this Friday night - So come along and help the hundreds that have lost everything, including their loved ones. It has really hit home with the death of one of the DA drifters and his family

That's awesome our cruise is scheduled for the 22nd so we're hoping to get some cash flowing there too.

Ash, you never cease to amaze the majority of us with the douchebag responses you come up with. I agree, ease off with these kinds of comments until it's all over and done with. There are a lot of people who have the attitude of 'it can't happen to me', but i'd like to see how your opinion would change if you lost a loved one, or were caught in the middle of it all. You can pretend to be as tough and 'realistic' as you want, but until something like this has happened to you, zip it. There's thousands homeless, and it's nearing on 200 dead. No-one is asking anyone to be sad, people are asking for help, whether it be donations of goods, or cash, no-one has ever asked people to have a cry and carry on about it. And those of us who are disgusted at your views are the ones who are taking those requests on board and helping out with fundraisers etc. Keep up the good work people

My condolences go out to those who have lost friends or family, or their own homes. I am just glad to hear that the fire fighters have decreased the amount of blazes overnight, very good news.

[Rhinorebel]

As a very wise friend once told me (a few minutes ago...)

Once again Ash proves that it is better to keep your mouth shut and have people think you are a fool than to open it and prove them right.

[Bass Junky]

I guess we must make a difference of true country regions and farming land too.

Farming land is easier to defend as generally there is more space around the houses and less trees.

Kinglake etc is more like hillside rural/outer urban, rather than country, so in this case, there would be little that you could do against the fire ball through the trees with so many houses close together with all the fuel that has gathered up recently.

But again, it's the aftermath of the fire ball that destroys houses.