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

[Zombie]

Originally Posted by 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.

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:

[Sahara]

Originally Posted by DoubtfulMiracle

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:

It does the heart good to see that even in times like these, the weakest and most vulnerable are not being forgotten

[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.

[Steviefan49]

Originally Posted by GoldDustOrphan

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

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.

[gretchen]

Originally Posted by GoldDustOrphan

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

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

[Zombie]

Originally Posted by gretchen

Oh what a sweet baby he is. Sam has burns on his little paws . 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/...dfires_animals

The bit about the wallaby joey broke my heart:

"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."

[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:8...pper&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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...006785,00.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.