Glad your ok, will pray for everyone else!

Even though the weather has cooled down considerably from 117 F on Saturday, the threat to life & townships are far from over yet, but I am glad to hear that there are a lot of firefighters from the US are on their way over here to help as well, fantastic help from our American friends.

Brian

Hi everyone,

I am only about 20 to 30 kilometres from some of the affected areas. It is so tragic! Some of the towns gone are such beautiful small towns in paradise like bushland and forest. The human loss is way beyond imaginable.

Saturday we woke to our hottest day on record since temperature recording began in the 1850's - 47 Degrees C and the winds were high. So a recipe for disaster without idiot arsonists deciding they wanted some attention! Lightning has caused some of the fires which is unavoidable. By all accounts the fires behaved differently to what we have gotten used to and there was no warning at all in most cases.

Fires are still burning and the wind increased this afternoon but at least people in vulnerable areas now are getting better advanced warning and evacuating in plenty of time as necessary. Teams are now doing backburning and putting in containment lines to prevent advance to vulnerable inhabited areas.

We usually have things so good in this country but global warming seems to be taking its toll with drought in the southern (and the cooler parts) of Australia also! The northern areas of Australia (the tropics) are having so much rain they have floods at the moment! We wish we had some of their rain!

Thinking of you Megan.
My heart (and everyone else I know on this earth) is there with you all right now in Victoria. I can't sleep with worry.
Keep safe.

I wish I could send you all some of the rain.

Good to see you post Megan, I hope your in a safe area.

Brian

I've been dropping my son off to work each day in Lilydale (lost his licence - last September - sheesh!!!!) and from the hill as you come down into Lilydale one can still see large smoke plumes across the mountain ranges. It wouldn't take much, if the wind came up, to head towards the suburbs, it's that close!

Predictions are not looking good for this Saturday either with more heat and winds. I so hope not!

I had heard (and saw in the newspaper today) that a person I have known for years is missing, presumed dead. He went to Marysville to check on their family's holiday home and has not come back. His wife is a Paediatrician and he is a phD in education. Such a loss! We are still awaiting news.

So many artists and professional people, as well as, everyday people who have rejected city living, live in those lovely areas.

I think a lot of people are feeling a sense of despondency quite apart from all the fire tragedy! I know I am! With no rain at all now for eight weeks and hot temperatures on the back of another drought year, we are all experiencing the demise of our lovely gardens which are looking brown and wilted and our lawns are like straw. I've NEVER seen it like that before. With water supplies so low of course we have to leave watering our gardens for more important things like living!!

Megan I do know of that hill coming into Lilydale.. I can now well understand how close you are, I haven't worked out that way for a long time but expect it to be a lot more populated these days, for the sake of others who aren't familar with East & north east Victoria, here is an url that shows the fires curently burning now in Victoria -
http://mp3.news.com.au/hwt/Victoria_fire/
[ just click on the ' play interactive button" ]
........ even one of Melbourne's biggest water catchment areas [the Thomson Dam], and the Longford gas plant were threatened by major bushfires burning out of control last night, the Thomson dam only holds about 20 % cent of capacity after a decade-long drought.

Brian

keeping us up to date and informed. This is one huge big and scary event!
But knowing that you are posting, means YOU are well! And a comfort during such disasters. That all of you are OK is a super thing, and one many in the US with our varied own weather disasters can and do appreciate.

Here is hoping that it all ends and soon - the earth will heal in it's own good time. It always does, somehow.

Hugs and hope and less stress! Likely from other quarters, but from any directions! 's - j

Strong smell of smoke this morning at our place as I have woken up. Won't do my Bronchiectasis (2007 diagnosis) very good I don't think!

Obviously the winds are drifting it towards the suburbs. Haven't heard the latest news as to whether there are any fires happening closer that I am unaware of.

Doesn't sound good Megan. If you get a chance could you please check back later so we know that you're safe?

There's still a big, big fire at Yea and surrounds, also biggies near Healsville. Not sure where the other big ones are at the moment, but the Bunyip Ridge fire is now threatening homes on the outskirts of Gembrook.

Also, the communities of Basan Corner, Saint Benedicts, Three Bridges, Gilderoy, Powelltown, Neerim Junction and Nayook have been put on alert as fire activity has increased in theses areas.

There are other areas under threat, but I wasn't quick enough to write down the names of the towns.

Stay safe people, please.