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Posted on 12/30/2019 6:39:02 PM PST by Candor7
Scores of fires are burning out of control across Australia amid a heatwave that has seen temperatures exceed 40C (104F) in every state.
The most dangerous fires on Monday were in the state of Victoria.
About 30,000 residents and tourists were urged to flee East Gippsland - a popular holiday region - but evacuations were later deemed too risky as fires encroached on major roads.
A volunteer firefighter died battling a blaze in the state of New South Wales.
In total, 10 people have died in the nation's bushfire crisis since September.
Meteorologists say a climate system in the Indian Ocean, known as the dipole, is the main driver behind the extreme heat in Australia.
Authorities said the volunteer firefighter was killed and two others suffered burns after their truck rolled over in extreme winds while they were battling a blaze east of the city of Albury.
New South Wales (NSW) Premier Gladys Berejiklian described the death as "heartbreaking"......
"This is awful news for the families and our sympathies are with them. These are testing times. We are so grateful for the courage and dedication of our firefighters," he tweeted.
The volunteer firefighter is the third to be killed so far this fire season. Two volunteer firefighters, both fathers to young children, died on 19 December battling a blaze near Sydney...
Scorching temperatures, strong winds and thunderstorms created dangerous conditions in Victoria on Monday.
In East Gippsland, three fires burning near the towns of Bruthen, Buchan and Bonang rapidly expanded as temperatures soared to the mid-40Cs.
Officials said the wind-driven blazes were "racing" towards the coast, and had moved faster than predicted.
Residents in northern Melbourne were told to "act immediately to survive" as firefighters struggled to battle an out-of-control fire. ...................................( see video and more text)
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
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New South Wales Fires & Victoria Fires LIVE BREAKING NEWS COVERAGE
Getting the news out Fred.
Most news outlets here have not covered this disaster down under, News staffers are on holiday, for Christmas and New Years, so it is not getting the attention it should.
It seems that rain is very badly needed, and the lightning strikes do not help.
Few in America know that the fires are so big that they create their own atmosphere. One firefighter was sucked into a firestorm whirlwind and was killed! Horrible!
The fire clouds are 14 km high and generate their own lightning strikes according to news I have seen. The video feeds look like hell on earth.
I wonder if the same “environmental” policies are contributing to the fires in Australia as they have in California.
Tragic. Just saw an article where Koala Bears are begging bicyclists for water.
Would love to hear the “experts” explain how exactly the Indian Ocean Dipole is being affected by climate change.
“Tragic. Just saw an article where Koala Bears are begging bicyclists for water.”
Let me edit what I just said above and add.... Hopefully, the story of the Koalas was not something put out by the Climate Change Alarmists because that would be a very bad Boy Who Cried Wolf Thing.
Thousands told to ‘prepare to run into the water’ at Mallacoota beach
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZI1NotFd3E&feature=youtu.be
More news:
At least nine properties lost in Gippsland as merging fires rage near Dargo
(Not enough fire units to protect homes.)
This is tragic, obviously. What can we do to help?
A massive heatwave, coming on top of the driest conditions on record for many places. Currently a mild 42 where I live. Sydney has seen the December record for hottest day just taken out today. Sydney is currently ringed on its south west and north west boundaries by gargantuan fires. We nearly had a 50c in December in Western Australia and South Australia not long ago. The Wet ( monsoon) has not arrived in northern Australia yet ( very late). This is allowing heat to build and build in cloudless desert and semi desert regions with no ground cooling due to lack of cloud and rain. The Indian Ocean Dipole has dipped now but reached record numbers, which means no moisture crossing the continent from north west to south east. The AAO ( antarctic annular mode) has been in negative territory a lot, which results in the winds that have low pressure systems embedded in them have been very prevalent. A good thing im winter, but very bad for this time of year. It will take the breakdown of these driving conditions to bring rain. The land arround me is normally verdant green. It is now parched and yellow. The driest December in 150 years. No suprise the fires have been monumental size and destructive
Hoping you get that rain, or most of Oz will be toast!
Few here in America realize the tremendous size and continental scale of these fires!
What can we do to help?>>>>>>>
They need rain. But if this continues to go South, We can send aid and put together care packages if needed. The scale of loss is massive.
America shouldbe sending help, but Australia is such a long way from us on the other side of the world.
Before its over we may be sending the US Navy to help.
.……….the Aussies must have elected a bunch of Californians to public office...………..
next stop buy a generator
Thanks for this thread. I hadn’t heard anything about this.
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On this one, can’t really blame government mismanagement. It’s just that big systems that effect our climate in a negative way as far as heat, and lack of rain, have all aligned at the same time. Australia is not much smaller than the lower 49 U.S in terms of size. One of the fires near that is to Sydney’s north west ( Gospers mountain mega fire) has burned out about 500,000 hectares (about the size of Delaware)
Lower 48 states of U.S i should say
Prayers to you and the whole country.
Don’t worry about it. You were a lot closer than our last president. :)
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