Saturday, October 19, 2013

Devastating Bushfires. In. October!!!

Saturday 19th October, 2013

Where have I been you ask?   I have been doing nothing in particular, it's just life that has been keeping me busy.  The days have skipped by so fast I can't keep up.  The weather has been great apart from a couple of days where we had some rain and strong winds.  

Firstly I must say a huge shout out to all those people in New South Wales who have been through the most horrendous bushfires in the last couple of days.  The state of NSW has had some 100 bushfires burning throughout different areas of the state, but the worst has been in the Blue Mountains and on the Central Coast, around Lake Macquarie.  

Last reports I heard was that there were some 193 homes lost, over 100 damaged, and they are still assessing the burnt out areas.  This number could go higher. So far no bodies have been found among the burnt out properties which is great news.




Our fire fighters do a magnificent job in times like this.  They put their lives on the line while trying to protect other people's properties and meanwhile their own property is burning to the ground.  This fire was apparently so fierce and fast moving there was little anyone could do.



                                                                      
                                                                            Photos from Adelaide Now

Only a few months ago we were sympathising with the people of the United States, in particular the states of Colorado and Arizona which had been decimated by wild fires.  The Americans know what it's like to have wild fires raging in their states.

The most disturbing factor is that it is not even Summer.  We can expect these sort of fires in the months of January or February but not October.  Who says Global Warming does not exist?  Just look at the weather patterns around the world and see how they are changing.  This year was our warmest winter and NSW are experiencing temperatures in the high 30's at this time of year.  I have also noticed that we are having stronger and more destructive winds than in times past.

It's only a matter of time before we (South Australia) get to experience another devastating bushfire like the Ash Wednesday fires of 1983.  Today there are thousands more people who live in the Adelaide Hills as well.  

As you drive around and through the Hills you still see peoples' houses with little or no clearing around their homes. The tree branches overhang their roofs. Plenty of advice is given to the residents to clean up their properties but a lot of it falls on deaf ears. 

It's just a disaster waiting to happen!!!

2 comments:

  1. My friend, be safe. The fires are devastating, and quite horrific to cope with. I have to agree with you about the climate change. Man really screwed things up pretty badly. I wonder if man is now up to the task of trying to slow this wicked change down.

    Today is supposed to be in the 60's F but it is only 34 F degrees at the moment (6:35 a.m.) so I have had to put the heat on. Brrr. There is a cold snap of weather headed our way. Gosh, I hope this does not mean a longer colder winter.

    For now, you be safe, and have a wonderful day. Hugs, Edna B.

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    1. Thankfully Edna the fires are some 1200 kilometres away from us. I doubt whether man could ever fix this problem of Global Warming. Whatever is being done is a little too late I fear. They say that by the end of this century temperatures could be up near 50C and people living along the coastline will not have a house as these will be washed away due to the increasing temperatures of the sea which are causing the oceans to rise. I know I won't be around to see it but it is scary for our great great grandchildren..

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