[Rainey]

I was just reading about the fires in Australia. I don't have a good sense of where our C&Z Ausie friends are located but I hope they are all well and safely well away from the burn zones.

We in California have a well-earned respect for the fear and devastation that fires can cause so my heart goes out to you there in the South Pacific. If you have a moment to let us know you're OK that would be most welcome.
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God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny. -- Garrison Keillor

[jenjen]

Hi Rainey

I am in Victoria which is in the southern part of Australia and all is well down here. We havd some fires in the countryside yesterday buy to the best of my knowledge no one has lost their home and no onewas injured.

Unfortunately the late Jan/Feb time of the year is the worst time for fires when the temperature will often top 40degrees!
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a minute on the lips, a lifetime on the hips

[jenjen]

Rainey, I just jumped onto the newspaper on line and saw that some homes in rural Victoria HAD burnt down last night.

Sorry for the misinformation! Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected. The weather is going to be cooler for the next couple of days and then Thursday will be a hot one again.
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a minute on the lips, a lifetime on the hips

[Judy]

Thanks for your concern, Rainey, you are a dear soul.

I can't think of any C&Zers who live in WA (Western Australia, not Washington State in this instance), which is about 3 days of very solid driving from where I live in the middle of Australia, and another day and a half's drive from our friends on the East Coast. I think most Antipodean C&Zers live in the eastern states. Barbara does have some family who live in WA, but it's our largest state, taking up almost half the country and I couldn't find out any info about where the fires are.

There are also fires in Victoria and South Australia. The SA ones are nowhere near me, but we did have a lot of smoke drift yesterday. I hope everyone in Victoria is ok.

Unfortunately bushfires are a devastating part of Australian life, often caused by lightning strike, carelessness, some even deliberately lit.

Thanks again, Rainey
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Doing what you like is freedom
Liking what you do is happiness

www.cupcakerecipebook.com.au

[madameshawshank]

Rainey Darling..thanks for the concern...have been away from the computer for a few days...fires! where I am...a short drive from Sydney, we've had rain...and it seems the rains are falling here and there...however tomorrow, Australia Day, it would seem is going to be a scorcher...those brave fire crews..

a friend of mine was in the police rescue squad...years back he and another guy were trapped by a sudden change in a fire....all they could do was stay in the car...a fireball went over them...seems there are no words to describe the noise...they made it to safety..

the elements..
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"I've never accepted the external appearance of things as the whole truth. The world is much more elaborate than the nerves of our eye can tell us." - James Gleeson

[Erin]

I am so sorry for all the people and the poor animals that have been killed. The news is heartbreaking.
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"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."

"It's hot ham water."

[Rainey]

Yes, the mind boggles at the bravery and sense of duty that makes people put on 50 pound equipment packs, hot & restrictive protective clothing and go into the dangers of a fire that, at any minute, can come at you from any direction. Thank god for them!

It's an awful thing to be witness to. But, tell me, are you having the spectacular red sun and awesome sunsets? A cruel irony but magnificent to see, no?
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God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny. -- Garrison Keillor

[Donna]

I live a half a block away from the last house that burned in the conflagration in Oakland, CA in 1991 - over 3,000 dwellings burned. Amazingly, only 25 people died and 150 were injured. But the trauma for our community was immense. One of the saddest statistics was the number of house pets that were lost.

The upside - amazing empathy and compassion for the victims created some unbreakable bonds. Families adopted burned-out families and provided shelter and nuturing in relationships that are ongoing.

My heart goes out to all those who have had their homes or property damaged or destroyed. You may never get over it, but you will adapt and go on and take lessons from the experience. Courage!

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L'appetit vient en mangeant. -Rabelais

[Barbara]

My family are near Margaret River so quite close to the Dwellingup (WA) fire but not in any danger. The last big fire in the region was about 1964 and stopped 100 yards from our house when the wind changed direction. If you can imagine - the paddocks were full of kangaroos hopping about wildly trying to escape the fire, the sky was black and both the sun, and the moon that evening, were bright red balls in the sky.
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Barbara

[madameshawshank]

Friends of ours in Victoria (bottom right of continental Oz:-)) had the horrific experience of their town being surrounded by fire...years back...the sky of red red red...the sound of dry gum trees bursting into fire...ash 'n flames..

Some seem to recover from such things quicker than others...

We live at the foot of the Blue Mountains...every so often fires rage through them...I can remember one year....appeared that the entire Oz army arrived..plus firefighters from all over...over the seas as well...merci USA!

Feeding so many required great organisational skills....two amazing dames coordinated the whole thing...our kids were little at the time...I remember we'd bake muffins and take them to the main centre...

the bravery of firefighters

I've come across this:
SIEGE.

City tense
Under a scowling sky.
Mars glaring down
From one rage red eye
Till even the moon weeps blood.
Hell's cavalry,
Prancing on our hills.
Thirsty
For the wind.
Hungry to scorch our earth.
Lusting to crush us
Under
Embered hooves.
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"I've never accepted the external appearance of things as the whole truth. The world is much more elaborate than the nerves of our eye can tell us." - James Gleeson

[FoodSciGeek]

Growing up in Northern Ontario, my Dad used to work on the forest fires. He was in management, camp logistics not at the fire. They never came that close to anywhere we lived, but he was gone for weeks at a time when there was a bad summer.

Dad used to give Mom a heads up before he sent a truck into town to empty out the grocery store so she could stock up. Those guys (and gals these days) need a tremendous amount of calories for this very heavy and exhausting work.

In Australia, what grows back first after the fires have passed? Here in Canada, the wild blueberries are the first thing to reclaim the land. A nice silver lining for us foodies.

Stay safe.
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Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon. - The Dalai Lama

[Vickie]

I too am many miles away from the danger zones. It is sad to see on the television those who have finally given in and left their homes...even sadder today to hear the story of the person who left her home, came back to find it untouched by fire but burgled. Some people have no shame.

My father-in-law is 2nd-in-command of his local fire service. The bravery of these men is awesome when the bush fires start burning. Many (including my f-i-l) are volunteers.

I have the news on as I type this and I have just heard that rain has fallen in Victoria, bringing some relief to the firefighters. It is not over yet, but it has helped.