The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Australian Wildfires Death Toll Hits 84, 700 Homes Destroyed
By TANALEE SMITH
Associated Press Writer
HEALESVILLE, Australia (AP) -- Towering flames razed entire towns in southeastern Australia and burned fleeing residents in their cars as the death toll rose to 84 on Sunday, making it the country's deadliest fire disaster.
At least 700 homes were destroyed in Saturday's inferno when searing temperatures and wind blasts produced a firestorm that swept across a swath of the country's Victoria state, where all the deaths occurred.
A fire truck moves away from out of control flames from a bushfire in the Bunyip Sate Forest near the township of Tonimbuk, 125 kilometers (78 miles) west of Melbourne, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. Walls of flame roared across southeastern Australia, razing scores of homes, forests and farmland in the sunburned country's worst wildfire disaster in a quarter century. (AP Photo)
A fire truck moves away from out of control flames from a bushfire in the Bunyip Sate Forest near the township of Tonimbuk, 125 kilometers (78 miles) west of Melbourne, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. Walls of flame roared across southeastern Australia, razing scores of homes, forests and farmland in the sunburned country's worst wildfire disaster in a quarter century. (AP Photo)
Flames rise from a bushfire in the Bunyip Sate Forest near the township of Tonimbuk, 125 kilometers (78 miles) west of Melbourne, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. Walls of flame roared across southeastern Australia, razing scores of homes, forests and farmland in the sunburned country's worst wildfire disaster in a quarter century. (AP Photo)
"Hell in all its fury has visited the good people of Victoria," Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told reporters as he toured the fire zone on Sunday. "It's an appalling tragedy for the nation."
Thousands of exhausted volunteer firefighters were still battling about 30 uncontrolled fires Sunday night in Victoria, officials said, though conditions had eased considerably. It would be days before they were brought under control, even if temperatures stayed down, they said.
Government officials said the army would be deployed to help out, and Rudd announced immediate emergency aid of 10 million Australian dollars ($7 million).
The tragedy echoed across Australia. Leaders in other states _ most of which have been struck by their own fire disasters in the past _ pledged to send money and volunteer firefighters. Funds for public donations opened Sunday quickly started swelling.
Witnesses described seeing trees exploding and skies raining ash on Saturday as temperatures of up 117 F (47 C) combined with blasting winds to create furnace-like conditions.
The scene was utter devastation Sunday in at least two regions _ the town of Marysville and several hamlets in the Kinglake district, both about 50 miles (100 kilometers) north of the state capital Melbourne.
In Kinglake, just five houses out of about 40 remained standing, an Associated Press news crew who overflew the region observed. Street after street was lined by smoldering wrecks of homes; roofs collapsed inward, iron roof sheets twisted from the heat. The burned-out hulks of cars dotted roads. Here and there, fire crews filled their trucks from ponds and sprayed down spot fires. There were no other signs of life.
Even from the air, the landscape was blackened as far as the eye could see. Entire forests were reduced to leafless, charred trunks, farmland to ashes. The Victoria Country Fire Service said some 850 square miles (2,200 square kilometers) were burned out.
"This is our house here _ totally gone," Wayne Bannister told Sky News, standing with his wife Anita amid a tangle of blackened timber and bricks in Kinglake.
Another man, who was not named, described to Sky battling the flames with a garden hose until he heard first his car gas tank, then a house propane tank, explode. He and his wife fled through a window.
"It rained fire," he said. "We hid in our olive grove for an hour and watched our house burn."
Witnesses said about 90 percent of the buildings in Marysville, a town of about 800 people located 20 miles (35 kilometers) west of Kinglake, had been ruined. Police said two people died there.
"Marysville is no more," Senior Constable Brian Cross told the AP as he manned a checkpoint in nearby Healesville on a road leading into the town.
The official toll climbed higher during the day, reaching 84 at 20 locations by Sunday night, according to a police statement. It was expected to keep rising.
Australia's previous worst fires were in 1983, when blazes killed 75 people and razed more than 3,000 homes in Victoria and South Australia state. Seventy-one died and 650 buildings were destroyed in 1939.
Police said charred bodies had been found in cars in at least two places _ suggesting people were engulfed in flames as they tried to flee.
At least 80 people were hospitalized with burns. Dr. John Coleridge of Alfred Hospital, one of the largest in the fire zone, said injuries ranged from scorches on the feet of people who fled across burning ground to life-threatening burns. At least three would probably die, he said.
Victoria police Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said police suspected some of the fires were set deliberately.
Temperatures in the area dropped to about 77 F (25 C) on Sunday, but along with cooler conditions came wind changes that officials said could push fires in unpredictable directions.
Dozens of fires were also burning in New South Wales state, where temperatures remained high for the third consecutive day. Properties were not under immediate threat.
Wildfires are common during the Australian summer. Government research shows about half of the roughly 60,000 fires each year are deliberately lit or suspicious. Lightning and people using machinery near dry brush are other causes.
___
On the 'Net:
Victoria's Country Fire Service: http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/index.htm
Associated Press Writer
HEALESVILLE, Australia (AP) -- Towering flames razed entire towns in southeastern Australia and burned fleeing residents in their cars as the death toll rose to 84 on Sunday, making it the country's deadliest fire disaster.
At least 700 homes were destroyed in Saturday's inferno when searing temperatures and wind blasts produced a firestorm that swept across a swath of the country's Victoria state, where all the deaths occurred.
A fire truck moves away from out of control flames from a bushfire in the Bunyip Sate Forest near the township of Tonimbuk, 125 kilometers (78 miles) west of Melbourne, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. Walls of flame roared across southeastern Australia, razing scores of homes, forests and farmland in the sunburned country's worst wildfire disaster in a quarter century. (AP Photo)
A fire truck moves away from out of control flames from a bushfire in the Bunyip Sate Forest near the township of Tonimbuk, 125 kilometers (78 miles) west of Melbourne, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. Walls of flame roared across southeastern Australia, razing scores of homes, forests and farmland in the sunburned country's worst wildfire disaster in a quarter century. (AP Photo)
Flames rise from a bushfire in the Bunyip Sate Forest near the township of Tonimbuk, 125 kilometers (78 miles) west of Melbourne, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. Walls of flame roared across southeastern Australia, razing scores of homes, forests and farmland in the sunburned country's worst wildfire disaster in a quarter century. (AP Photo)
"Hell in all its fury has visited the good people of Victoria," Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told reporters as he toured the fire zone on Sunday. "It's an appalling tragedy for the nation."
Thousands of exhausted volunteer firefighters were still battling about 30 uncontrolled fires Sunday night in Victoria, officials said, though conditions had eased considerably. It would be days before they were brought under control, even if temperatures stayed down, they said.
Government officials said the army would be deployed to help out, and Rudd announced immediate emergency aid of 10 million Australian dollars ($7 million).
The tragedy echoed across Australia. Leaders in other states _ most of which have been struck by their own fire disasters in the past _ pledged to send money and volunteer firefighters. Funds for public donations opened Sunday quickly started swelling.
Witnesses described seeing trees exploding and skies raining ash on Saturday as temperatures of up 117 F (47 C) combined with blasting winds to create furnace-like conditions.
The scene was utter devastation Sunday in at least two regions _ the town of Marysville and several hamlets in the Kinglake district, both about 50 miles (100 kilometers) north of the state capital Melbourne.
In Kinglake, just five houses out of about 40 remained standing, an Associated Press news crew who overflew the region observed. Street after street was lined by smoldering wrecks of homes; roofs collapsed inward, iron roof sheets twisted from the heat. The burned-out hulks of cars dotted roads. Here and there, fire crews filled their trucks from ponds and sprayed down spot fires. There were no other signs of life.
Even from the air, the landscape was blackened as far as the eye could see. Entire forests were reduced to leafless, charred trunks, farmland to ashes. The Victoria Country Fire Service said some 850 square miles (2,200 square kilometers) were burned out.
"This is our house here _ totally gone," Wayne Bannister told Sky News, standing with his wife Anita amid a tangle of blackened timber and bricks in Kinglake.
Another man, who was not named, described to Sky battling the flames with a garden hose until he heard first his car gas tank, then a house propane tank, explode. He and his wife fled through a window.
"It rained fire," he said. "We hid in our olive grove for an hour and watched our house burn."
Witnesses said about 90 percent of the buildings in Marysville, a town of about 800 people located 20 miles (35 kilometers) west of Kinglake, had been ruined. Police said two people died there.
"Marysville is no more," Senior Constable Brian Cross told the AP as he manned a checkpoint in nearby Healesville on a road leading into the town.
The official toll climbed higher during the day, reaching 84 at 20 locations by Sunday night, according to a police statement. It was expected to keep rising.
Australia's previous worst fires were in 1983, when blazes killed 75 people and razed more than 3,000 homes in Victoria and South Australia state. Seventy-one died and 650 buildings were destroyed in 1939.
Police said charred bodies had been found in cars in at least two places _ suggesting people were engulfed in flames as they tried to flee.
At least 80 people were hospitalized with burns. Dr. John Coleridge of Alfred Hospital, one of the largest in the fire zone, said injuries ranged from scorches on the feet of people who fled across burning ground to life-threatening burns. At least three would probably die, he said.
Victoria police Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said police suspected some of the fires were set deliberately.
Temperatures in the area dropped to about 77 F (25 C) on Sunday, but along with cooler conditions came wind changes that officials said could push fires in unpredictable directions.
Dozens of fires were also burning in New South Wales state, where temperatures remained high for the third consecutive day. Properties were not under immediate threat.
Wildfires are common during the Australian summer. Government research shows about half of the roughly 60,000 fires each year are deliberately lit or suspicious. Lightning and people using machinery near dry brush are other causes.
___
On the 'Net:
Victoria's Country Fire Service: http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/index.htm
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Michael Vito on
-
our prayers for Tony, Luke and Wildfire! TCSS.
-
Permalink Reply by Ken O'Brian on
-
For those of you who want to know, it is estimated the Forward Rate of Spread of these fires was close to 300 metres each minute.
-
-
Death Toll now 128 and climbing... 33 fires still burning throughout our State...
-
Permalink Reply by Aussie_Wildfire on
-
Ken you look like me
-
Permalink Reply by lutan1 on
-
Not that it makes a difference (I'm pretty certain it will change again, no doubt), but they've just revised it back to 126.
-
Permalink Reply by Mark Montgomery on
-
The latest information (as at 2104 Australian Eastern Daylight time today (9 Feb 2009)) report that the toll has reached 131 and is expected to climb.
One report I heard earlier from Victorian Government officials suggested that the death toll could top 300. The Victorian Prime Minister has ordered Police to treat the fires as major crime scenes.
No reports of firefighter deaths, but at least one firefighter that I am aware of has returned to his home to find it destroyed and his wife and children killed.
Bushfire toll climbs as crews battle blazes across Victoria
* Britt Smith
* February 9, 2009 - 8:06PM
Firefighters work in the bush on the road to Kinglake.
The death toll in the Victorian bushfires now stands at 131, police have confirmed.
Survivors of the Kinglake fire converge at the Whittlesea community activity centre to recount stories of daring escape.
The number of dead is rising as police access devastated areas.
Victoria Police have confirmed that 33 people died in Kinglake, nine were killed in Kinglake West and seven died in Strathewen.
Six people were killed in St Andrews, 12 in Marysville, eight in Narbethong and three in Taggerty.
Seven were killed in Steeles Creek, two in Mudegegonga, one in Yarra Glen and four in Koornalla.
In Hazeldene two people were killed and three perished in nearby Flowerdale.
In Gippsland, nine people were killed in Callignee and one person died in Upper Callignee.
Four perished in Hazelwood and one died in Jeeralang.
Four died in Wandong, one in Arthurs Creek, one in Eaglehawk and four in Humevale.
Six people died in unspecified locations.
Firefighters have worked through the night to battle dozens of fires that continue to burn across the state.
Twenty people are being treated for serious burns at The Alfred hospital. Ten of those are in a critical condition in the hospital's intensive care unit, spokesman John Heselez said.
"There were three who we were very concerned about, but they made it through the night,'' he said.
It is believed half the burns victims are from Whittlesea.
Mr Russell said conditions this morning had improved from the weekend with a cooler change coming through with moist air.
A southerly wind is pushing fires in a north to northeasterly direction.
"Our biggest concern at the moment is around Beechworth,'' Mr Russell said.
Communities around the town of Yackandandah in Victoria's north-east are under immediate threat today after fires jumped the Kiawa river and Yackandandah Road.
The fire has skirted Beechworth and is heading towards Yackandandah.
"There are seven or eight small settlements in the path of this fire and those residents have been urged to get their fire plans underway,'' Mr Russell said.
There were 31 active fires across the state as of 5.30am on Monday, the DSE and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) said.
At least 750 homes have been destroyed and more than 330,000 hectares burnt out, while authorities said some fires could take weeks to contain.
The latest death toll, announced by the DSE at 6am this morning, surpasses the toll from the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires, in which 75 people died in Victoria and South Australia, and the Black Friday bushfires of 1939, which killed 71.
The Murrindindi Mill fire has so far burned up to 93,000ha and is still burning in a northeasterly direction.
Firefighters are working hard to construct and consolidate containment lines around the west side of Black Range back to the original fire source, the statement said.
Strike teams are also working between Buxton, Marysville and Narbethong to clear access along roadsides into properties.
The DSE and CFA said the spread of fire in the Bunyip Ridge area has been halted, but authorities warned that there may still be increased amounts of smoke in the area and local road use could be hazardous.
The Princes Highway has reopened with reduced speed limits.
Fires have also broken out near Noojee, Erica and in Wilsons Promontory National Park and Little Desert National Park but neither fire is threatening communities at this stage, the DSE and CFA said.
Ninety-two firefighters from Tasmania arrived to help the firefighting effort in the morning, in addition to the 150 NSW firefighters currently helping fight the Beechworth fires.
While the weather has cooled across most of Victoria, authorities warn that there remains a very high risk of bushfire.
CFA state duty officer Mark Glover said firefighters were focused on protecting communities and assets as a priority.
"It may not always be possible for fire authorities to give warnings and people need to activate their fire plans early," Mr Glover said on Monday.
DSE state duty officer Graeme Davis urged people to stay away from fire-ravaged areas.
"Residents in fire-affected areas and those planning to visit these regions should stay away until fire agencies advise it's safe to return," Mr Davis said.
He said a number of roads had been closed as a safety precaution to protect people from being caught in a bushfire.
Mr Davis said there were smoky conditions in a number of areas and people with lung or heart conditions, the elderly and children who are in areas affected by smoke should take their medication, limit physical activity and reduce time spent outdoors.
Emergency relief centres are operating in a number of locations.
Nearly 40 schools in West Gippsland, central and South Gippsland are closed due to fire.
People wanting information on the Victorian fires and general fire safety can contact the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on freecall 1800 240 667.
Anyone concerned about family and friends in the fire areas are advised to call the National Registry Inquiry Service on 1800 727 077.
with AAP
http://www.theage.com.au/national/bushfire-toll-climbs-as-crews-bat...
-
Permalink Reply by Dennis Brown on
-
So sorry to hear this real bad over there to all the bothers & sisters stay safe over there and may the rains come
-
Permalink Reply by John on
-
A Bad situation out there for our Aussie Brothers and Sisters, I Just pray that it will end soon for them with out any more Death and destruction.
-
Permalink Reply by BillySFCVFD on
-
I wish I could gather up my guys and join our Aussie brothers and sisters in the fight. Stay safe my friends. Keep updating us please. TCSS
-
-
One report I heard earlier from Victorian Government officials suggested that the death toll could top 300. The Victorian Prime Minister has ordered Police to treat the fires as major crime scenes.
Talking to a mate up there, he was saying that all bodies found are being left in place and DVI teams are investigating.
-
-
Toll is now at 173, expected to possibly go as high as 300
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25033579-661,00.html
-
Permalink Reply by Doug on
-
Unreal. Godspeed to all our Aussie brothers and sisters. Awesome picture lutan1
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- Next ›
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
