Friday, December 08, 2006

Another BLACK FRIDAY?

This map was issued this afternoon and shows where fires are burning in the State of Victoria. There are at least 70 fires burning, many of them out of control, and with the worsening weather conditions - very high temperatures and strong northerly winds - forecast for the weekend, it is feared that several of these fires will join up creating a massive 600,000 hectare (1.5 million acre) fire on a 100 klm front. Several towns are being threatened and at least 24 schools have closed.




Many thousands of firefighters from all over Australia and New Zealand are racing against time and the elements to contain these fires ahead of the deteriorating weather conditions. The situation is so bad that it may replicate Friday 13 January 1939 - now known as Black Friday - when millions of hectares of bushland were burned, whole towns destroyed and 71 people died.

God forbid that this should happen again. Please, please pray for everyone in Victoria, especially the firefighters and those whose homes are in danger, and those who have already lost so much in the way of livelihood.

Although I left Victoria more 33 years ago, it's still my home State in my heart.

10 comments:

Meow (aka Connie) said...

I have the same map on my blog today, too, Alice. We have been experiencing major smoke haze all day today, here in Wantirna (30-odd kms from Melbourne). I have been in touch with friends at Bonnie Doon ... the smoke is so bad it is stinging their eyes. Although the fire is on the other side of the ranges, so they are currently safe. It is terrible, all those fires, and the land they are burning in is very inaccessible in parts. Makes it very difficult. We all need to pray for some major rain, and soon, to help put it all out. I heard that some of the fires could burn all through summer ... that would be terrible.
Take care, Meow

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh, I hope you are out of range of the fire.....I had a nightmare right after 9/11 and right in my neighborhood, there was a fire that started at the refinery, which was a couple miles away, I remember the feeling of watching the fire jump from one rooftop to another, and trying to make sure my kids were ok....and running and running.....I can't imagine if it were real.....I pray for those firefighters, like I do the ones in the USA.....in the forests of CA....and anywhere else that is burning......

Anonymous said...

I'll be praying. How ironic that I'm still worried about flooding here. Wish we could send it where it's needed.

meggie said...

It is a terrifying thing. I just hope everyone is safe, & we get some relief from rain, or at least the wind dies down.

tlawwife said...

Prayers are being offered up here.

Kerri said...

Oh Alice, how terrible! It must be so frightening for the poor people who are being threatened by all those fires.
I will be fervently praying for control of the fires and especially for rain, the firefighters and the people who are affected by this dreadful distaster.
Thanks for sharing this and please keep us posted on the situation.

LindaD said...

This makes me so sad - just like the fires out west here... things get so dry and its so hard to control the fires.. I'll certainly add my prayers to the many who are already praying.. When we were married only a year or two our apartment burned down.. the fire came from a neighboring property and the wind was so fierce, it had burned the inside before fire trucks could even get there... you never forget. The threat to others always touches my heart.

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh that's a huge area! We've been hearing about the fires on the news here in Canada. I hope that they are able to get them under control soon.

HORIZON said...

Praying for rain Alice- this is shocking news. l do not think our TV is giving it enough air time. l had no idea it was so bad. Thanks for the update.
Take care
xx

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...

Alice, I hope that by now the fires have either been extinguished or contained. My home state of California has had several devastating fires of late and it also saddens my heart to see so many people lose their homes and their lives. My grandson is a firefighter, so I am always praying for firefighters and their safety.