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MG TD TF 1500 - Any OZ Forum members threatened by fire?

Forest fires are devastating, and if you’ve never experienced one (summer job whilst in college), you can’t believe the enormous amount of radiated heat and showers of burning embers. They can change direction in the flick of an eye.

The BBC has an excellent article on it - see:- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-50951043/ My brother spends his Christmases in Sydney and says the smoke is choking.

A dear friend of mine lost his Lagonda and a Riley to fire, and they basically, melted.

I am concerned about any TD/TF Forum members, threatened or suffering losses from these terrible fires in Australia.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gord Clark

Hi Gord
There would be bound to be someone caught up in it all, but talking on here is probably the last thing on their mind at the moment-
On behalf of anyone involved--thankyou for your thoughts
I'm in Tasmania which is about 250Klm south of mainland Australia seperated by Bass Strait-so probably 600-700Klm south of the main Vic/NSW fire area
Yesterday(Saturday )morning the wind had swung round to a N/Easterly overnight and we woke to thick smoke, there's a lighthouse on the bluff probably half a kilometer from me and I couldn't see it and only just make out the outline of the bluff ,and that smoke travelled over water that far--it must be horrible in the middle of it
It got real bad yesterday with three fires joining together and creating a monster burn that has developed it's own weather with more lightening etc--The fire jumped a river which had been thought wouldn't happen so now it's heading up into NSW through thick forest
It's just got too big to stop
A fireman lost his life a couple of days ago when he got caught in the updraught of the fire which picked up his 8ton firetruck and killed him and injured his co-worker
The Navy went in and rescued about a thousand people trapped on a beach and relocated them to Melbourne and are returning now to see what else can happen there
It'll burn itself out eventually but the loss of human life , animals and property is horrific
There was a TV reporter on last night and he was 10-15 Klm ahead of the fire and was getting covered in ash and pieces of burning bush as he spoke -The fire simply jumps any containment lines put in and keeps going- The fire is running along on top of the smoke about 50 meteres above the ground-it's unbelievable how strong it's going -It just gets to a town and takes everything in it's path--and still there are some people that think they can stay and defend their property putting everyone else at risk trying to get them out---why
Thanks again for your thoughts it would be appreciated by those there
There are a bunch of US firefighters landing today to help out--They've got a big job ,I wish them a safe time here
Cheers
willy
William Revit

Thanks for your asessment of the situation, Willy. I understand there are a few fires in Tasmania. I hope your situation is OK.

I have experienced a forest fire. Before I realized what was happening, I was surrounded by fire. Fortunately I had a hose, and my first concern, was to make sure the hose didn't get burned. Only then was I able to get out of trouble. 15 Minutes later, it was all over.

For the record, Canada has sent 80 fire fighters. We have also developed out own water bomber, the CL44, but its impractical to send them my ship.

Gord Ckark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gord Clark

Pretty right where I am thanks Gord
I'm on the coast up North of our little island
The main fire is on the East coast at Fingal about 150Klms away and was supposedly started by anarsonist
There's a largish coal mine at Fingal, hopefully the fire doesn't get into that-It'd burn forever-------
The list of current fires in Tas.------

http://www.fire.tas.gov.au/Show?pageId=colCurrentBushfires

It's still fairly green here, but in a month or so it'll be a different situation
Having said that though, once a fire starts in the eucalyptus forest and starts generating heat it just goes woosh, the bush burns and smokes then the oils and fumes from the eucalypts fireballs again above that and away it goes

With the Vic/NSW fire there are heaps of water bombers there ,helicopters, cropdusters, and some larger winged aircraft
If I remember corectly a large water bomber came from US or Canada(possibly your CL44) a couple of years ago when there was a large fire going
Problem was, last night the smoke was that thick they couldn't put the thermal imaging plane up to check on where to waterbomb so it's pretty bad up there
They've been going ahead of the fire and dropping that red fire retardent on houses etc to try and limit damage but man there's no stopping that fire up there
willy
William Revit

I am in NSW visiting friends for 2 weeks. It feels like the entire country is ablaze but it is essentially NSW and Victoria. My friends son is a motorcycle patrol officer who in addition to his regular duties in Sydney gets called out to traffic management in the fire areas. A significant portion of the fire fighting teams are volunteers.

The whole thing is tragic. We are able to fly away on Tuesday.. it is not so easy for the Aussies. My heart goes out to them.

Regards, Tom
tm peterson

Good luck to you Willy. We had horrible fires here in Florida in 1998 or so that were so bad they cancelled the summer Daytona NASCAR race. Google for the Wall Street Journal article last week about the California and Australia fires and fire seasons. Hope you get rain! George
George Butz III

This thread was discussed between 04/01/2020 and 06/01/2020

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