Where there's smoke, there's fire!

[Dunaruna]

This is a sat picture taken TODAY of my home state of Victoria. Currently there is over 300 seperate bushfires and the fear is that they will join and become one mega fire. The short range forcast is for high wind and a temps into the 40c + range (105f +). To make matters worse, we are in the middle of a devastating drought. Ponds, lakes, dams etc are near dry, the heicopters and planes are having a difficult time finding places to fill up.

The yellow dot is my house (in the burbs of Melbourne), the blue dot is the location of my houseboat. If the wind should swing around to a westerly, we will need to evacuate. From my house I have about 100ft vision, the rest is a blueish thick fog. We are currently inside with the aircons on full as it is very difficult to breath outside. My daughter (and her boyfriend) are on my houseboat.

To put this into perspective, the smoke plume would cover 50% of England.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

Aldo, that does not look good. What's the scale on that picture/map? Can you anchor the houseboat out in the lake if needs be?

 

[aspeck]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

I think I would be getting ready to evac real soon! Be safe!

 

[JB]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

:%

 

[Plainsman]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

I'd be on the house boat way out on the water.

Good luck to you!

 

[JRJ]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

Sad to see and I hope you stay safe. Lightening is blamed for a 100,000 acre fire, (we only got smoke) that still smolders, after $60 million has been spent to put it out over a period of several months.
I hope our USFS certifies the DC 10's and 747's to fight fires soon.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

This is a sat picture taken TODAY of my home state of Victoria. Currently there is over 300 seperate bushfires and the fear is that they will join and become one mega fire. The short range forcast is for high wind and a temps into the 40c + range (105f +). To make matters worse, we are in the middle of a devastating drought. Ponds, lakes, dams etc are near dry, the heicopters and planes are having a difficult time finding places to fill up.

The yellow dot is my house (in the burbs of Melbourne), the blue dot is the location of my houseboat. If the wind should swing around to a westerly, we will need to evacuate. From my house I have about 100ft vision, the rest is a blueish thick fog. We are currently inside with the aircons on full as it is very difficult to breath outside. My daughter (and her boyfriend) are on my houseboat.

To put this into perspective, the smoke plume would cover 50% of England.

I do not mean to sound calous here, but is it not damm intresting how we are finally seeing nature and how far are mind can take thing's.

That could be constured as global warming if the day's ahead.

Off that bs topic i wish you god's blessing's and nature's remedy's.......... Umm it would concern me greatly also.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

That looks bad. You guys stay safe and I hope thing get better for you. :^

Edit; I just checked the weather there and it looks like its going to cool off into the 70's with a chance of rain on Monday. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

[colour=blue]The sat map is roughly 360,000 sq miles.

My daughter (Janelle) is with her boyfriend and his family on their houseboat, it's an old clunker of a tub. I have suggested that they transfer onto my boat as it has ample provisions for a few months and does not rely on generator power. They will probably tie them together and move to the centre of the lake.

My biggest fear is that they attempt to come home and are confronted with a roadside firefront. A lot of the roads are closed and the firefighter are stretched to the limit, the last thing they need is to rescue motorists.

My fatherly instincts tells me to go to her but I know that is not logical. Truth be told, she is currently in a safer location than me.

BTW, I hope this post gets through, this is the third attempt.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

no worries mate.
blame Bush and it will be arright
actually you really really need to keep an eye not only on the fires but on the weather, and that means do some of your own forcasting. look at the pressure gradiaent bars, if avalible, in your area.
weatherman tend to down play things.
at least here they do.
usually if they call for 5-10 MPH we can add the 2 and then another 5 and get closer,
or we can look at the gradient bars and get a good idea of what is actually going to happen.
to many times heather tecsh and and the bald guy have tried to kill me here.

get out, get out now, save your animals and possesions if ya can do it safly but get out if its comeing your way.
brush fires are indescriminate and very fast.

 

[Link]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

Aldo
Not to add to your worries but if the wind should swing around to a westerly would not it cover the lake first?
G*ds speed to you and yours

 

[rolmops]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

Your daughter best get away from that lake to where the smoke cannot get to her.
The smoke will get to the middle of the lake.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

Ditto LInk and Rolmops, anchor the boats away from shore and everyobe get out of there. The smoke can be a real serious problem.

Best of luck to you, your family, and everyone else out there.

 

[QC]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

Man, missed this last night Aldo . . . We were getting those a month ago, but not to that extent.

It looks like there are no fires south or west of the lake. How far east is that closest one to the lake? Looks like about 40 km. They wouldn't be blocked from a retreat unless there is fire between yellow and blue right?

I am confused about something else too. Wouldn't a wind directly out of the west be a good thing? i.e. Westerly?

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[technostingray]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

Good ol QC, alway striving for accuracy.8) You "should" have mail..

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

[colour=blue]DOH! I thought 'easterly' but typed 'westerly'. I believe this phenomenon is known as a senior moment :% .

They decided to stay, it's 9am here and I'm eagerly awaiting news. There have been ZERO reports of evacuations/casualities for that area.

 

[technostingray]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

If you are having senior moments now, imagine how it will be when you are as old as I!

 

[heycods]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

If you are having senior moments now, imagine how it will be when you are as old as I!

How old is that ray:^o

Heres wishing ya`ll the best on the fire situation. Be carefull there, them suckers move at unbelievable speed. We had our siege of that last winter, and Im hoping we dont get a repeat performance this year.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

[colour=blue]She is home and safe, now comes the lecture...............

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: Where there's smoke, there's fire!

Well we'll be keeping you and your family in our thoughts Aldo.

Hope you get a good weather break very soon.

Keep us updated!!