Please pray. The state of Victoria is a murder scene.

[rubytuesday]

Please pray for those down here in Victoria.

Half of this state has been declared a crime scene! The fires were deliberately lit and theres about 140 dead so far. They said it was the worst peace time disaster in Australia. That's just the people though, as a foreigner here seeing the kangaroos bouncing for safety symbolized the tragedy.

My partners parents property hasn't been lost but it's devastated the whole state. we have been giving money but each time you turn on the tele its filled with just aweful scenes and I wish we could do more.

Arsonists are restarting fires that have been put out! I hope these people get burnt at the stake cause thats what happened to all these people. Most haven't died from being overcome by smoke they have died from being burnt alive in the inferno. It's an unimaginable disaster. Please pray for these people and if theres any australians here please donate what you can.

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[chriskisn]

Even worse is the fact that they reckon that there are many many more dead that they haven't managed to get to yet. I heard somewhere that there are over 200 separate fires in the state of Victoria alone.

This is now Australia's worst peace time tragedy. Unbelievable the lives lost, but made so much worse by the fact that arsonists are lighting them.

Over here in Western Australia we have been lucky so far, but we have still had arsonists lighting them in response to the Victorian fires.

[rubytuesday]

Even worse is the fact that they reckon that there are many many more dead that they haven't managed to get to yet. I heard somewhere that there are over 200 separate fires in the state of Victoria alone.

This is now Australia's worst peace time tragedy. Unbelievable the lives lost, but made so much worse by the fact that arsonists are lighting them.

Over here in Western Australia we have been lucky so far, but we have still had arsonists lighting them in response to the Victorian fires.

I fail to understand people. The army has been sent in and the NZ fire department is on standby I think. Its incredible the fire department over the tasman sea might be needed to come in and help put this out and all because of these criminals.

Theres deadly ones in new south wales too I believe but here in Melbourne we're just getting so much info on the ones just north that theres little energy to worry about other states.

I told my family back in Scotland that I don't want to hear anything more about all the snow there because being are being burnt alive right now here and those are only the ones we know about. I wonder what the true number is going to be. this is just a horrible time for vitoria and for all of Australia.

[Sahara]

These situations are awful because they show you the best and worst that humanity has to offer :( Praying for everyone out there.

[Phoenix]

This is terrible.:distress: I will pray.

[gretchen]

This is a horrible and tragic situation. All those people who lost their lives. :distress::distress::distress:. And to the arsonists resetting the fires: Hell is too nice a place for your asses.

[TrueFaith77]

Why is this arson being committed?

[Steviefan49]

What a horrible tragedy this is! My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in Australia at this time of loss..

All my love,

Arlene

[BombaySapphire3]

These psychopaths start fires here in California as well.I hope they catch the culprits and no more lives are lost.

[rubytuesday]

Thanks guys. The toll is now 173 and they said that it'll probably be 200 by the end of today cause they've just started going through some towns looking through remains.

We haven't heard anything from the partners long time friend from the region. His parents are ok but some friends haven't been heard from.

I heard even the US and new zealand are sending firemen over cause ours are suffering from exhaustion themselves.

[Ench]

This whole thing is just terrible. My thoughts and best wishes go to all those affected by this disaster.

[Zombie]

I'm so sorry for you all down there. I've been watching the news online, and I am just sick over it.

Is there somewhere you can point me towards to donate some help? I can't afford much, but I figure even a little helps.

[rubytuesday]

I'm so sorry for you all down there. I've been watching the news online, and I am just sick over it.

Is there somewhere you can point me towards to donate some help? I can't afford much, but I figure even a little helps.

thats so kind of you! the Australian red cross is probably the best place to donate to. That's where I was donating to atleast. There website is here

https://www.redcross.org.au/Donations/onlineDonations.asp

[Neb-Maat-Re]

The official source for donations is the Red Cross State Government Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund. There is a bank account for donations within Aus.

I'm not sure what the international arrangements would be, but I'm sure as an international organisation the Red Cross where you are would be able to assist.

[Zombie]

^^^^

Done and done. Thank you.

The thought of a fire like that is horrifying to me - one that comes so fast, you can't even drive away from it in a car. And to think that some of it may have been deliberately set...even worse. I don't even know what to say.

[Zombie]

The official source for donations is the Red Cross State Government Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund. There is a bank account for donations within Aus.

I'm not sure what the international arrangements would be, but I'm sure as an international organisation the Red Cross where you are would be able to assist.

I'm in the US and it let me do it right from the link rubytuesday posted with a credit card.

[rubytuesday]

thanks so much for donating!

[DoubtfulMiracle]

It really is too much to comprehend. I think the most haunting images are of the burnt out cars that had crashed into either trees or each other because the drivers couldn't see past their bonnets through the smoke.

Still, the tireless work of the volunteers and the generosity of the community has been amazing as always. Over $31 million has been donated already to the Red Cross, with appeals ongoing and a telethon on Thursday. Today, the Red Cross was turning away people wanting to donate blood because they'd been swamped by donors (but they say keep it coming over the next few weeks!).

As well as the human toll, I can only imagine how many pets, livestock and wild animals have been lost. But this brought smiles to our office this afternoon:

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6479112,00.jpg

[Sahara]

As well as the human toll, I can only imagine how many pets, livestock and wild animals have been lost. But this brought smiles to our office this afternoon:

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6479112,00.jpg
It does the heart good to see that even in times like these, the weakest and most vulnerable are not being forgotten :o

[BTFLCHLD]

This just melted my heart… praying for you all.

Video of the koala when it was found by a fire fighter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35FT5DymIHU

[GoldDustOrphan]

Sam - the koala - was treated for burns on his paws.

<a href="http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i156/rickdunn101/?action=view&current=0211_water_koala.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i156/rickdunn101/0211_water_koala.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[Steviefan49]

Sam - the koala - was treated for burns on his paws.

<a href="http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i156/rickdunn101/?action=view&current=0211_water_koala.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i156/rickdunn101/0211_water_koala.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Awww... what a sweet little thing he is.. Bless his little heart.. I'm glad he survived tho!

[msLinds]

I have been watching the news on TV and and reading online the news, the Radio etc.About the horrible wildfires that are burning in Australia.Besides all the deaths of human life.I read online today.They think one millions wild animals also have died to.Its all very sad.I am glad some of you Australian Ledgies have checked in and posted so that everyone knows your alive and hopefully not burned out you or your familys.On the 7 Wonders board, there are also some Austalian Mac fans that have checked in and posted.So we know they are alive and not burned out.I hope they will be able to rebuild alot of the homes that were lost.But the human lives and pets and livestock and all the wild animals can't be replaced, including all the tree's and plants etcHopefully some of the tree;s someday can be replanted maybe etc.Your county and all the dead victims and familys etc.Are all in Pagan,Wiccan,Prayers.
Take care of yourself and be good to yourselves.


:wavey::distress:

[gretchen]

Sam - the koala - was treated for burns on his paws.

<a href="http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i156/rickdunn101/?action=view&current=0211_water_koala.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i156/rickdunn101/0211_water_koala.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Oh what a sweet baby he is. Sam has burns on his little paws :distress::distress:. Ijust want to kiss his nose...

[Zombie]

Oh what a sweet baby he is. Sam has burns on his little paws :distress::distress:. Ijust want to kiss his nose...

I hear ya.

This is an article about the animals that have been affected by the fires:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090211/ap_on_re_au_an/as_australia_wildfires_animals

The bit about the wallaby joey broke my heart:

<i>"We've got a wallaby joey at the moment that has crispy fried ears because he stuck his head out of his mum's pouch and lost all his whiskers and cooked up his nose," he said. "They're the ones your hearts really go out to."</i>

[chriskisn]

Actually the animals are often the forgotten ones, everyone has been donating to the Red Cross appeal for the humans...

My wife and I are going to make a donation when we get paid tonight, but have chosen the following:

http://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au:80/cms/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=43

[DavidMn]

I heard today that authorities in Australia have detained 2 suspects. If it proves that they are indeed the ones responsible, may the full fury of the justice system in Australia com down upon them.

[rubytuesday]

I heard today that authorities in Australia have detained 2 suspects. If it proves that they are indeed the ones responsible, may the full fury of the justice system in Australia com down upon them.

And apparrently the former government prevented an early alert system that would have warned people in time

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25048145-5006785,00.html

[Neb-Maat-Re]

I think the early warning system issue is a bit of a furphy (red herring) and just the start of the finger pointing. It will be the former Federal Govt saying it was the State's fault and vice-versa.

The fires 2 weeks ago hit so hard and so fast that all communications, mobile (cell) and land-line, were knocked out. Had a system been in place, very few people would have received it in time and many would not have received it at all.

Bushfires are normally rated in intensity from 0 to 100. The fires 2 weeks ago are thought to have been equivalent to around 300 - 3 times the worst possible scenario anyone had ever planned for.

The fires that hit Kinglake travelled 12 miles as the crow flies through hilly country in about 6 minutes.

There has been one arrest of a man accused of lighting the fires in Churchill which killed 21. Just lighting bushfires can get you 15 years but Arson Causing Death carries a 25 year sentence in Victoria, effectively the same as murder. Other fires are being investigated for arson.

There were 2 people reported as arrested for "acting suspiciously" after the fires, I think these were suspected looters who have since been released - they may have been just idiots looking around.

Other arrests have mainly been of people stealing collection tins and other donations, and one woman who was arrested for falsely claiming her father had died in the fires in order to receive $15,000 compensation.

And on a lighter note, since being named "Sam" the koala has been identified as a female.

[Neb-Maat-Re]

I just though people might be interested in the resources dedicated to the fires still burning 2 weeks later as of today :

State Governement Personnel (fires on public land, forests) - 1,066 plus:
352 tankers
23 bulldozers
28 aircraft

Country Fire Authority (CFA) (fires on private land, mostly volunteers) - 605 plus 91 appliances (tankers and trucks).

Interstate personnel - 1,007 plus 251 appliances

International Contingent (USA, Canada & NZ) - 120

Private Contractors - 84

Breakdown of International Support:

USA 60
Canada 9
New Zealand 51

The Interstate and International support is greatly appreciated by everyone here.

[rubytuesday]

I've been completey consumed by this for a while now. My partners family and property are ok and aren't where the fires were but we had been waiting to hear from his families long time friends and put it down to all the confusion and no communication but we found out from word of mouth that they both died. They were his godparents too so we've been taking some time out. They were one of those who got in there car and got caught without a chance. The images of cars are too horrific to look. We never went to there property so I never actually met them but there's not a lot more to say than its too late now. I guess I won't ever meet them. Dad was so shocked when he found that out that he made a donation of atleast a thousand dollars from scotland (he wouldn't tell me how much cause I think he thinks it looks like he's trying to be a hero). Now the forecast is for more fires and more in the direction of where his parents live but now that we know they'll be safe.

If they find this guy guilty I hope they get him for mass murder not just arson.

[Neb-Maat-Re]

Makes it even more horrific when it's someone you know or know of.

And as if there weren't enough problems in the bush, this was just behind our house in metropolitan Melbourne:

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25125368-2862,00.html

And I do mean just behind us - the Police helicopter was over our house on Friday, obviously looking for the bastard.

Tomorrow is looming as another terrible day for fires across the State.

[rubytuesday]

This is too infuriating for words. I just want to get out of here for a while and go home to scotland but I'm not leaving my partner and his family.