#VICTORIAN BLACK SATURDAY BUSHFIRE 07-02-09

◘ Fires Detail
◘ Breaking Artworld News
◘ Marysville – tribute
◘ Bruno Update
◘ Sound Relief—

◘ DAY 4 – 10-02-09

There is a photo on the front page of the Melbourne Herald Sun this morning and you could think it was doctored up.

But appart from the fact that these guys wouldn’t have time to do something like this, my radio station Vega 91.5 is interviewing the man in the shot right now [8:50am10-02-09]

He is a CFA Firey David Tree, he said as he and his team were cruising across a burnt out area looking for flareups when this Koala came strolling across the burnt land. They stopped and David strolled slowly towards the poor girl. He had a bottle of water with him and squatted down to offer it to the dehydrated animal. His mates took the photo of the koala drinking from his bottle and then she put her claw out to hold his hand …..

She is now also in care for all she has gone through.
I have been told that the Healseville Sanctuary have a brilliant fire plan
1 they evacuate their animals to the Melbourne & Werribee Zoos
2 they secure the perimiters with water drenching & constant surveytlance
3 they keep open the Vet Hospital [as long as possible] to receive the wild life needing sanctuary

They had no idea that the media would get hold of it and it will be one of the iconic shots to be used in the face of this tradgedy They took the shot just cos it was a good feeling to help this animal after all she was a survivor of the worst Firestorm in Australian recorded History

Yes this photo will beam all over the world

I just thought you’d like to know the story that goes with it!

NB UPDATE: If you would like a copy of this shot, Rosepepper posted This Shot so that the proceeds go to the care of the Wildlife Survivors

STATISTICS:
The deaths have reached 173 and still rising
the property loss still cannot be calculated [how do you replace whole towns?]

24 fires still going
Beechworth & Healesville are under threat again & Bunyip is still threatening towns

SUPER FIRES
Moondarah / Yarra Super Fire = Toolangi / Healesville / Yarra Glen / Chum Creek

Beechworth Super Fire = Dederang / Gundowring / Gundowring Upper / Glen Creek / Kergunyah South / Mudgeegonga / Running Creek

100,000 hectares – Threatening Thornton / Snobs Creek / Eildon

Bunyip Ridge Super Fire = The Bunyip Ridge fire, burning 5 kilometres north/north east of Tonimbuk, near Pakenham
25,000 hectares – Threatening Powelltown, Gilderoy, Three Bridges, Basan Corner and Saint Benedicts

Churchill / Jeeralang Super Fire [deliberately set]

Grass
Kilmore East, Dixon Creek, Toolungi, Flowerdale, Wilson Promontory, Humevale, Christmas Hills, Horsham, Licola, Whitelsea, Yaram Jindyvick, Redesdale, Yinnar, Arthur’s Creek, Murmungee, Labertouche, Sunday Creek, Gormandale, Willung South, Wandong,

Forrest
Shelley, Koetong and Darbyshire

Rescue
Mt Duneed [No I dont know who of or how/ why]

CFA CORE ADVICE

Residents in this area may experience smoke and burning embers reaching their properties, and are advised to patrol their houses to find and put out any burning embers that may be landing.
Protect yourself from radiant heat by wearing correct protective clothing consisting of long-sleeved shirts, long pants, sturdy boots and a broad brimmed hat. On no account should synthetic material be worn.
As the fire front approaches, it will be unsafe to be either on foot or in a car as the heat radiating from the fire will be intense. Buildings will offer the best protection during the passage of a fire front. Close all doors and windows and stay inside the house while the fire passes. Remain alert, extinguish any small fires and if necessary, move outside to burnt ground once the fire has passed.
If you are caught on the road, don’t get out and run.
Pull to the side, preferably in an area clear of tall trees and long grass.
Put your hazard lights on and close the windows and vents.
Cover any exposed areas of skin with a woollen blanket and get down as low as possible.
Only when the fire has passed do you get out and move to safety.
Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
Residents away from home should not try to return to the area as access is limited and the roads may not be safe.
Continue to listen to ABC or local radio for updates on this fire

[A Royal Commission into the reasons so many died will review these proceedures]

HELP:
the current toll is $20 million raised to help [5 million added in the preceedure of writing this this morning] we may need three times this to get our world back to even kilter

There will be a huge TV appeal this Thursday night on Channel Nine

The Aussie cricket team are donating their next match payments and there is a $100 for each run & $500 for each six hit pledged.
Other big events are donating their proceedes

The Blood Banks are asking for people to wait a week now so that there will be fresh donations next week – we can’t give for a period of time after having given and so if we all give Now, there will be none for the interum before we can give again

PHOENIX APPEAL
200% proceeds to the Red Cross Fire collection

☼ MY OTHER UPDATE REPORTS

◘ DAY 5 11/02/09
◘ DAY 6 12/02/09
◘ DAY 7 13/02/09
◘ DAY 9 15/02/09
◘ Bushfire’s Map

☼ MY BUSHFIRE WRITINGS

◘ Watercolour Hue
◘ Dear CFA Firey Mine
◘ Face the Beast
◘ To Stand Up and Live
◘ Aftermath Hush
◘ WHY?
◘ Until We Hear the Bush Birds Sing