Looks a nightmare, Dadpad!
Thoughts are with you and fingers are crossed, whatever help that might be. Crossed paws somehow sounds more powerful.
This barstard is taking some beating but we are getting there. The linked PDF is quite large so if your on dial up forget it. Shows the controll lines. For those of you who are familiar with the movie The man from snowy river Jim Craigs hut is no longer with us.
Wind is currently SW and gusty but unpredictable (Thats upish and leftish on the map)
DSE PDF MAP of fire ground
STATEWIDE OVERVIEW
Currently 15 fires are burning across the State, including forest and parks in North East Victoria, Gippsland and East Gippsland. The north east and Gippsland fires continue to grow and merge and have now burnt up to 280,000 hectares.
This sucker will go all summer or until we get 3 inches of rain.
jeez the wegians have really copped it! at least we had time to prepare.
Australia Fires Destroy Homes, Ski Lodge
Dec 12, 12:06 PM EST
HOBART, Australia (AP) -- Dozens of wildfires burning Tuesday across southern Australia destroyed more than a dozen homes and a popular ski lodge, while residents in a suburb of the western city of Perth were urged to flee an approaching blaze.
More than 3,000 firefighters were working to contain the fires in four states, with the worst centered in Victoria and the island state of Tasmania.
In Victoria, firefighters assisted by bulldozers and water bombing aircraft battled to dig containment lines around a series of wildfires that have blackened more than 965 square miles, or 617,750 acres, of alpine and farm land.
A popular ski lodge in Australia's Snowy Mountains was destroyed after firefighters failed to fend off the blaze, according to media reports.
Smaller fires were also burning in New South Wales and Western Australia, where officials were urging residents to evacuate their homes in the hills near the state capital of Perth.
Wildfires are a regular feature of Australia's hot summer, but the danger has been heightened this year by the country's worst drought in more than a century. No deaths have been reported.
In Tasmania, firefighters were frantically digging containment lines in a bid to stop a fire that raged through the northeastern town of Scamander late Monday, destroying at least 14 homes, according to media reports.
Tasmanian Fire Service spokesman Danny Reid said firefighters had been helpless to stop the blaze amid 74 mph wind gusts.
"The conditions were that bad there was nothing to be done," he said. "It just went off like a bomb. ... You can't fight that, you can't defend it. (It was a) horrible afternoon and night."
Scamander resident Sue Brown fled her home as the fire approached.
"It was terrifying, I just grabbed my dog and my daughter and we went," Brown said.
Nine people died in fires on South Australia state's Eyre Peninsula in January 2005. Eight of them died in their cars as they tried to flee the approaching blaze.
In January 2003, more than 500 houses were destroyed and four people killed when a huge fire tore through the national capital of Canberra.
B/fly some talk of bringing in Californian mega fire managers.
Our section of the fire is largly controlled. we have had some cooler weather which is helping back burning operations. Next couple of days will get hot again so no-one is calling the fire blacked out but we are in much better shape. There is still a LOT of country to burn if we get hot northerly winds.
Hoping for the best for you Dadpad and all of OZ.
Is Glenmaggie still OK? Got family there - hot northerly winds aint what I wanted to hear about.
Could be in a spot of bother hinge The fire has a fair way to travel before it gets to the township but I woldnt be sitting on my arse waiting.
http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/images/news_image/web_sentinel_map_2006_12_14_0545_11865.jpg
From cfa.
Heyfield Fire Complex Update - 3.20pm
Licola Road Closure and Update
14/12/2006
The Licola Road at Cheynes Bridge has been closed due to flame and smoke now preventing road access.
Residents north of Cheynes Bridge on the Licola Road are advised that access south on the Licola Road is now not possible.
CFA and DSE will advise residents when access south of Cheynes Bridge is possible.
Residents in the Coongulla, Heyfield, Glenmaggie, Upper Maffra West and Seaton areas are advised that the Heyfield Complex Fire may impact on these communities this afternoon. Residents must remain on high alert and activate their bushfire plans.
Stay tuned to ABC Gippsland for important updates.[/B]
Thanks for the pic - 'Go jump in the lake' might actually be good advice for them.
updating you hinge.
Extreme weather is forecast for today with high temperatures and strong northwesterly winds.
fire is now 5 km from Licola
A southwesterly change is forecast for later in the day, which will slow the Tolmie fires but fuel the Governors/Jamieson fires to Mt Buller's south.
Real time from a poster in Narbethong
the change
It's settled down now to a strong southerly, but it came initially with gale force winds for about 2 mins
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What that all means is the SW wind change we are expecting will blow the fire back and away from Glenmaggie/licola. The northern fronts will arc up and we are in the sh*it again over this side.
Plenty of asset protection over that side for the Thomson dam. (Melb watersupply)
It's an ill wind that...
Good luck dad.
I think the change is coming through Melbourne now, dadpad. Before too long it'll be with you.
But the bloody wind is crazy! Momma mia! You don't need that!
CFA and DSE wish to advise that the Coopers Creek fire is now heading North West towards Walhalla.
CFA and DSE wish to advise residents of a South Westerly wind change currently occuring. This will mean that properties in the Walhalla, Coopers Creek, Maiden Town, Mormon Town, Happy Go Lucky, Cowwarr, Seaton, Glenmaggie, Toongabbieand Heyfield areas may become impacted on by the fire.
When will this stop? It's awful.
Just reading that list you posted, dadpad (many belonging to places I'm familiar with), it struck me with charming names they are.
Happy Go Lucky: lovely!
It rained here this afternoon!
Not heavy, but there.
Crossed paws.
