BF2S Forums Insaaaaaaaane heat strikes Australia

Spark wrote:

If it doesn't rain, then this is a big problem. Established fires aren't put out by cold.

Last edited by TheAussieReaper (2009-02-11 01:00:42)

venom6 wrote:

Can somebody send me some heat in an e-mail from Australia? Or in a bottle?
We even had snow yesterday and cold wind

About one week after western suburbs endured its hottest four-day heatwave in 37 years; Sydney is likely to be heading for it coolest February period in more than 50 years.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/02/2505422.htm wrote:

Vic ready for extreme fire threat, Brumby says
Mr Brumby says strong winds will make conditions far more dangerous.

 
As Victorians are being told to activate their fire plans, Premier John Brumby says the current threat is extreme in fire-prone areas but crews are ready.

Fire authorities say conditions over the next 48 hours will be as bad as those experienced on Ash Wednesday.

    * Victorian Bushfire Hotline: 1800 240 667
    * Country Fire Authority updates
    * More ABC coverage
    * 313 government schools, 255 child care providers and 25 independent schools closed
    * 30 national parks closed
    * Text messages sent to five million mobile phones by every network

Mr Brumby says emergency services are prepared for the worst.

"We've got more people on the ground, more tankers, more resources, more people from interstate, more aerial appliances than we've ever had in the history of this state," he said.

Winds of up to 150 kilometres an hour are expected to fan extreme fire risks throughout the state from this evening.

Mr Brumby says the strong winds are of major concern.

"If these fires get away tomorrow, you will see them race up hills at literally 50 to 100 kilometres an hour and that's why it's such a dangerous, dangerous day," he said.

Terry Ryan of the weather bureau says the winds will hit the state's west around one o'clock in the morning.

"By 3.00am or 4.00am, they should be around 40 kilometres [per hour] and a bit after that picking up to around 60 [kilometres] and we could have 60 to 80 kilometres come in to the west of the state by 4.00am or 5.00am," he said.

"We're potentially getting gusts to 100 around the higher areas."

About 5,000 firefighters are on high alert across the state, as the 150kph wind gusts are expected to accompany temperatures in the high 30.

The Country Fire Authority (CFA) says the extreme conditions will continue on Tuesday and into Wednesday, with the onset of high winds as part of a south-easterly weather change.

The CFA says this weather change will cause additional threats for the fire services and the public.

Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron says any new outbreaks must be quickly dealt with.

"If they are unable to be quickly pounced upon, those fires will rapidly spread and obviously wind is the great enemy in that case," he said.

More than 300 government schools and 250 childcare centres are closed tomorrow, as well as 30 national parks.

Victoria Police has sent an SMS to about 5 million people warning them of the fire threat.

Fire zones

About 2,200 firefighters are continuing to battle four fires - in Bunyip State Park and Wilsons Promontory, and two in Kilmore East-Murrindindi.

Communities in the areas surrounding the fires have been told to activate their bushfire survival plans.

This includes residents in the Yarra Valley, including communities in the vicinity of Toolangi, Castella, Fernshaw, Healesville, Don Valley, Mount Toolebewong, Badger Creek, Woori Yallock, Seville, Wandin, Coldstream, Yarra Glen, Yeringberg, Gruyere, Dixons Creek, Steels Creek and Chum Creek. No properties in the Yarra Valley are under threat at this time.

In the Warburton Valley, communities include the vicinity of Launching Place, Yarra Junction, Wesburn, Millgrove, Warburton, Warburton East, McMahons Creek, Reefton, Gladysdale, Hoddles Creek, Yellingbo and Big Pats Creek. No properties in the Warburton Valley are under threat at this time.

The Kilmore East-Murrindindifire may affect communities along the north-eastern side of this fire including: Jamieson to Woods Point areas, Howqua / Macs Cove and Goughs Bay. Residents in the Eildon to Mansfield area may experience smoke from backburning, while significant smoke and some flame may be visible from the Eildon, Goughs Bay, Jamieson and Mansfield areas. These communities are not presently under any direct threat.

The Bunyip Ridge fire is burning in the Bunyip State Park and State Forest areas between Gembrook, Powelltown, Neerim Junction and Tonimbuk and is estimated to be approximately 26,200 hectares in size. The fire is not currently posing a threat to communities.

    * Activate fire plans as soon as possible, do not leave it until Tuesday morning.
    * If leaving, tell the Red Cross so they can update their database.
    * If leaving, stay with friends or relatives, not in a tent.
    * Travel only if necessary.
    * Ring 000 only if life or property is at threat.
    * Ensure you have mobile phone coverage and your phone is charged.
    * Secure loose objects.
    * Be prepared for power outages: have a torch, batteries, radio, water, and power company phone number to report faults.

some_random_panda wrote:

Got one of the warning text messages.

Cheez wrote:

~FuzZz~ wrote:

some_random_panda wrote:

Got one of the warning text messages.

I do not understand this warning. Today is mild compared to the shit days the bushfires were on.