Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Fires in Australia

So sad to read the news of these brave Americans losing their lives helping out another friend in need, RIP to the 3 heroes and condolences to their families.

That is indeed very tragic news I know we have firefighters from Colorado and our town over there. The aircrews do an amazing job of flying and dropping retardant in awful conditions, they will be having a wet in the bar at the Final RV with their colleagues.

Thanks for the support Bruce. We are very grateful.
I trust we look after your team and have them home safe and sound very soon.

Thank you. We are used to wildfires up here every summer from the last snow aroundJune to the first snow in October we are on high alert, which means having the emergency kit packed and vehicles full of petrol facing down the drive ready to go. Our firefighters are volunteers including the smoke jumpers, they are a wonderful group of men and women who were only too willing to go out to you and help their comrades. Their employers stepped up too and continue to pay them during their absence, as a community they are our heroes and have tremendous support. Hope their efforts have helped you conquer these adversities?

I dont know how true it is Peter but I have seen reports that bush fires are a frequent issue in Oz so whilst these are worse than normal, they are far from unknown. Whats more the situation has been made worse by stopping scrub clearance on land in the name of the environment and tree numbers so it has spread worse than it might otherwise have had.

It seems likely that it has happened at just the right time to be picked up by the "climate emergency" activists, which is not to say that it isnt climate affected or that there isnt an emergency. Just that the reporting has painted a picture of a one off event solely dues to the Ozzie governments policies. Bit like everything here is down to "austerity".

I just heard that one of our friends in Australia, near Tilba Tilba, lost everything yesterday. Apparently they thought the danger was past but a wind sprang up from the west and the fire, in dense forest, got going again. He is a motorcycle mechanic in retirement and other than one bike and the clothes he was wearing everything is gone, house, tools and equipment, and all the usual stuff that one would have in a house and sheds in a remote area. He has managed to get back into his land but has said that all that is left is melted lumps of metal. Thank goodness he was able to get out in time.

Unfortunately he has no insurance. His friends are setting up a fund to help him with any immediate needs. Apparently there will be a payment from a government fund but that will take time and will never cover his loss.

Peter, that is tragic news and I am afraid he is not alone. Tilba Tilba is a glorious spot but would be very vulnerable to bush fire.

Good to hear he made it out alive. Others have not been so lucky.

Can you put a link up here or PM me with it? I'll happily put some cash his way....

That is very nice of you Neil. So many have lost everything that it is just a drop in the ocean in comparison the the overall need. When I mentioned Roge's loss it was not with the thought that any TM members may wish to contribute to the fund.

This is the fund that was set up: https://www.gofundme.com/f/roges-bushfire-disaster

I should mention that some of Roge's friends have also contributed more directly so the gofundme total does not represent the true total.

On a more general scope it is difficult to know which of the many bushfire relief funds are genuine or otherwise. There are always those who will take advantage of such situations so a little research came up with the Australian Red Cross. I think they can be relied on to use any funds collected in a correct way.

https://www.redcross.org.au/news-and-media/news/australian-bushfires-how-we-are-using-funds

Donations to the Red Cross disaster relief fund can be made at: https://fundraise.redcross.org.au/drr

Just to give you some idea how quickly these fires move take a look at this....
Fire crews realise what is coming and get out
(this footage is in real time and not sped up)

Fire spread in Canberra