Any Aussie mates threatened by fire?

Killed four so far: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2003/01/item20030119054139_1.htm

Some bad burns - and the nation's skin supplies were down following Bali bombings.

I do not personally - so far - know anyone affected - but losing stuff like the observatory is a nasty blow.

i just looked it up on mapquest. looks to be about 100 miles inland, foothills, north east side of a mountain range about 1/3 of the way between sydney and melbourne. not a very good map tho.

am i close deb?

Yep - you are indeed.

From all reports, the fires were absolutely horrific. Considered to be a 1 in 200 year event. The last bushfires around Canberra were 50 years ago, so they wouldn't be expecting it, either. All reports say that even the best possible preparation couldn't cope with the fury of it.

I wasn't affected, but one of the staff of our Canberra office has lost everything, and several others are affected.

I don't think we have any A2K-ers in Canberra, although there was one in the other place.

It's been a nightmare season for fires - we're having a huge drought all over the country. There are fires all round the state.

Thanks for asking, Lash

I live in Melbourne, south of margo in Sydney & east of dlowan in Adelaide. While Canberra & the areas around Sydney have copped the worst of it till now, there have been pretty awful fires in the country areas of my state (Victoria) over the weekend. They are not under control yet & tomorrow looks like being worse.
Today all of Melbourne was engulfed with thick, smelly smoke for most of the day. Very oppressive, combined with a maximum temperature of 37 C.
This morning all I had the energy to do was to grab all 3 (very zonked)cats & bring them inside where it was cooler & less smokey, leave a couple of buckets of water out for the birds & then just sit it out till the cool change. What a day. What a Summer!

I just spoke to my ex who lives in Canberra - he says it is really bad, but since he is near the City Center, he is fairly safe. But the smog, and smoke and heat are really horrible....

Just heard one in four homes destroyed (over 400) not insured!!!

A lens about to be shipped to a telescope in Hawaii destroyed - more fires threatening Canberra....

msolga--

Horrible. I hadn't thought about the air quality, and other by-products of the fire.

I know you'll stay informed. Fire is so unpredictable.

I heard a gov official is taking heat (no pun) for suggesting people try to save their homes. I believe this is what led to the deaths.

Please be safe, and know your buds here are concerned and hoping for a quick resolution.

Thanks all for continuing updates. Please keep us informed.