Best wishes to DUers in the path of fires

[canetoad]

Can't believe it's nearly 3 years since the tragic bushfires raged through Victoria, Australia, killing 179 people and burning withing 15 km of my home.

Our community still feels the effects; most of us lost at least someone we knew, a friend or family member.

Texas DUers, the warmest thoughts are with you. That which does not kill you makes you stronger.

[mahina]

1. For real.

Some of the post have been so heartbreaking. I hope the horses got out ok.
People and all others too of course.

Canetoad! Have you seen the movie 'He Died with a Felafel in his Hand'? Is that a canetoad, in the opening sequence?

May all be safe, canetoads too

[canetoad]

2. My understanding is

That at this point no lives have been lost. I can't bear to think about animals in the fire zones; from reading DU it seems there are plenty of places of refuge. Fingers crossed.

No, I haven't seen that movie which is unusual as I see most Aussie movies. Noah Taylor is a favourite of mine so I will find it.

[kentauros]

4. The death toll is now at four.

Emergency personnel have done a fine job at evacuating people, so that's probably why the number of deaths is so low.

Here are a couple of news stories on the fires:

Crews making headway on Bastrop fire; victim ID'd as Austin city worker
By Andrea Ball and Ciara O'Rourke

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Updated: 5:38 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011
Published: 11:28 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011

BASTROP — Bastrop wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of houses and thousands of acres continued to burn Wednesday, but firefighters say they are making progress battling the blaze.

Officials said Wednesday that they have contained 30 percent of the larger Bastrop fire, which has so far annihilated about 800 houses and 34,000 acres, according to the Texas Forest Service.

Rescuers have begun conducting house-by-house searches for potential fire victims, but so far, the death toll remains at two.

Authorities identified one of the two victims as Michael Troy Farr, a 48-year-old City of Austin employee who was found Tuesday at his home on Hudson Drive near Smithville. Farr, an electrician who had worked for the city since 2003, worked in the building services division.

(more at link)

Texas wildfires scorch homes; death toll climbs to 4

September 06, 2011|By the CNN Wire Staff

A raging wildfire near Austin, Texas, killed two people, officials said Tuesday, as firefighters fought to gain the upper hand against flames, wind and fatigue.

The deaths raise the overall toll from the outbreak of fires to four lives lost. A wildfire killed a woman and her 18-month-old child Sunday when flames engulfed their home near Gladewater, officials said.

"Texas is in a difficult situation right now, and our priorities are pretty simple. No. 1 is to protect life at all costs," said Nim Kidd, chief of the state Division of Emergency Management.

The Texas Forest Service said it has responded to 181 fires that have burned more than 118,400 acres over the last week.

(more at link)

I've thought about how this all might have compared with the Australian fires. There are even similarities between the eucalyptus trees and the invasive Ashe Juniper (also called Mountain Cedar) trees here. Both are full of volatile oils that turn into firebombs.

I found a website about them and detailing how much of a fire hazard they are:
http://www.peopleagainstcedars.com/html/fire_hazard.html

[JDPriestly]

3. +1 from Southern California.

We know what wildfires can do.