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Original poster

Melbourne Mumsnetters

40 replies

sandcastles · 07/02/2009 10:17

Hope you are all OK wrt the bush fires.

I know that some people on my other forum have been advised to prepare for evacuation, some of them have already left!

Thinking of you all, keep safe!

OP posts:
lulalullabye · 08/02/2009 01:28

We are bayside so all ok with us thank goodness . It does make you realise how near it all is though

mymama · 08/02/2009 02:08

I am not in Melbourne but am to see the news about the bushfires.

Thinking of you all. Fingers crossed it is all under control soon.

flummery · 08/02/2009 04:21

It's so awful out there. There are many members of another site I visit who are affected by the fires, some have lost everything, a few have lost family members. Horrible, horrible day.

superloopy · 08/02/2009 04:22

We are fine. We are on the western side of the city and away from it all.

I can't believe how many towns have been totally destroyed. We went to Marysville last year and I have just seen on the news that the entire town has burnt to the ground. Unbelievable!

It is really quite shocking that people who live less than 2hrs away from us have lost everything.

The weather was horrific yesterday - just like Ash Wednesday. The hottest day ever recorded in Melbourne - 46c!

Today on the other hand is a cool 19c with rain...

DCsnatch · 08/02/2009 04:58

Things have been dicey over on the Eastern side. The Bunyip National Park fires are just 25 mins away from us, but are blowing in a NE direction. That's great for us, but all of those families that the fire is heading towards must be scared shitless.

The fire in Narre Warren (five mins away from us) last night was frightening! It was a spot fire...came out of nowhere, simply a back garden caught alight. The heat was intense and the whole suburbian street was razed in around 20 mins flat. Terrifying. They have lost everything and just have the clothes that were on their backs when they fleed the houses.

The fire across from us in Harkaway is still burning and we are keeping a big eye on the Bunyip ones. Elvis - the fire helicopter - was seen taking water out of our neighbours swimming pool to help with the job.

flummery · 08/02/2009 05:04

Hope you're ok, DCsnatch. I can't imagine how awful it must be to be so close.

DCsnatch · 08/02/2009 06:22

Thanks Flummery. We are in a very built up area and had considered ourselves untouchable for some reason...however, having seen on the TV how quickly the fire moves has given me a better realisation of bushfires. I would feel safer if those Bunyip ones were under control.

The Narre warren one is proof that suburbia is not immune.

Have just watched the reports about Marysville. I am amazed at how emotional and wretched I feel.

Original poster
sandcastles · 08/02/2009 08:10

I'm just watching the news & saw Marysville, or what is left of it...

It is awful, just terrible!

No words really!

OP posts:
smugaboo · 08/02/2009 08:38

Oh My God, the death toll has risen to 65 and it is expected to rise more. 100 homes have been lost.

No words ...

lulalullabye · 08/02/2009 09:17

So scary, I think that all us british people don't realise that the houses are made of wood mostly and that they will burn. I know what you mean DC about being untouchable !

flummery · 08/02/2009 09:24

lulalullabye, full brick houses and tin sheds have also burned to the ground. It's the ferocity of the fires that is the problem. There are photographs of cars that have melted onto the road it's so fierce.

Sadly they think the death toll will rise from the 66 confirmed. The fire also claimed huge numbers of animals - native animals, livestock, horses and family pets.

Some those who died did so while trying to save their animals.

flummery · 08/02/2009 09:30

These photos give some idea of the scale of one bushfire, and there are around a dozen on the go right now.

bushfire photos

Original poster
sandcastles · 08/02/2009 11:37

Death toll at 85 now, including Ch 9 news presenter Brian Naylor & his wife.

lulalullabye, some residents that got out said that the fire roared down the street more akin to an explosion than a fire. Explains why the houses just disintigtated!

I need some more posters to come on, I am sure we have more in Melbourne...I need to know they are all OK!

OP posts:
thritbies · 08/02/2009 11:40

Can someone explain to me wherabouts the fires are? I have a very old, infirm aunty in Sunbury...

superloopy · 08/02/2009 12:28

The main big fires are all north/east of Melbourne.

thritbies I've just checked where Sunbury is and I'm pretty sure there are no fires there.

I know a few other Mners here, they all live in Melb and would have been unaffected if they were at home. Saturday was such a horrid day I am sure no one would have been in any of the fire affected areas.

I still cannot believe the utter devastation that has been left behind. So many people have been left with nothing but what they are standing in. The most upsetting thing is that some of these fires have been deliberately lit...

Ledodgy · 08/02/2009 12:41

This is terrible. Thinking of you all, Keep safe everyone. x

diatribe · 08/02/2009 12:44

hello please tell me how things are in east bentleigh as i have family there? it is a suburb of melbourne

ninedragons · 08/02/2009 12:51

The Age will have all the latest, including the numbers you can ring if you're concerned about relatives or friends you have been unable to contact.

The cool change seems to have come through but it's still horrific by all accounts. Hope to fuck it rains tonight or tomorrow.

superloopy · 08/02/2009 13:15

East Bentleigh is fine diatribe.

thritbies · 08/02/2009 13:16

Thanks superloopy. Thinking of everyone involved...

superloopy · 08/02/2009 14:02

Here is an update of where the fires are now

diatribe · 08/02/2009 15:32

thankyou superloopy hope all ok for you all

Buda · 08/02/2009 15:49

Hope all Ok. It is shocking.

Themasterandmargaritas · 08/02/2009 15:49

It all sounds so dreadful. Thinking of you all.

MmeLindt · 08/02/2009 22:06

Thinking of all Australian MNetters and their families, I hope you are all safe.

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