aussiew Posted February 10, 2009 Posted February 10, 2009 Stay safe you guys. My heart is there with you all. Nothing moves faster than flames through gum trees in hot wind.
ExiledInIllinois Posted February 10, 2009 Posted February 10, 2009 Godspeed to the Aussies. This is a really bad story...people generally have no idea what fire can do until it's too late. Conditions have to be perfect for a firestorm to thrive. In Peshtigo, Wisconsin on the same exact day as the Great Chicago Fire, several forest fires merged in 85 degree temperatures, fueled by dry brush and gale force winds, destroying the town (north of Green Bay) and several others. Officially, the death toll was around 1,250. Most historians think that due to the nature of the fire and the lack of record keeping in 1871, that the real toll is near 3,000 dead. Witnesses said the flames reached an estimated 800 feet in height, and the firestorm was estimated to be more than a mile wide in spots. What has happened in Australia sounds very similar to Peshtigo. Few escape from such conditions. Yep. Chicago gets all the historical headlines but Preshtigo (near Green Bay) was the bigger disaster! Stay safe Shamrock!
BuffaloBill Posted February 10, 2009 Posted February 10, 2009 Yep. Chicago gets all the historical headlines but Preshtigo (near Green Bay) was the bigger disaster! Stay safe Shamrock! According to report on NPR this morning conditions are still deteriorating near Melbourne. Sounds like a once in a generation (maybe two) disaster. Keep the Aussies in your thoughts (and prayers if you are an individual who does this). The situation appears to be pretty grim for a lot of people.
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