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Post by roscoe on Feb 9, 2009 22:57:09 GMT 12
Though I`m sure we all feel for the loss and suffering in the Victorian bushfires, spare a little extra thought for the Greenies. They fought so hard to keep EVERYONE out of the forests to spare the box trees, the one-legged spangled owl, and the two-headed sugar glider, and they lost the lot.
Just possibly opening the bush to visitors might encourage rural councils and fire boards to actually clear fire trails, do low-fuel burns, etc. At least, travellers can keep an eye on potential trouble-spots. Which is more than you can say for the Greenies.
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Post by Dredger89 on Feb 9, 2009 23:12:39 GMT 12
::)Hi Rob & Roscoe,
As i sit here and type the fire is heading toward the Big River Valley. The fire is at Cumberland Junction plus Rubicon Valley. Marysville was completely flattened yesterday morning. Lack of cool burns over last 15 years has made fires of late much worse.
If you look at whats burnt in 2003, 2006/2007 plus what will go up over the next few weeks there is very little bushland in Victoria that has not been burnt in recent times.
I remember driving thru the Mitta Mitta valley a month after 2003 fires, we called it a nuclear war zone.
The upper Dargo river has been burnt in all 3 recent bad fire seasons.
No Sign of any rain.
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Post by roscoe on Feb 10, 2009 10:41:45 GMT 12
Stay safe, CG. Hope your property escapes the fires.
Best way to make it rain is to lay a concrete slab. You start at 8a.m. with a cloudless sky, pour the slab, by 11, it`s pouring. ;D
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Post by RKC on Feb 10, 2009 12:37:58 GMT 12
G'day Rod and Rosco,
It is only after reading todays NZ newspapers that I realized the extent and seriousness of the current Victorian bush fires ... and what I read of the personal stories of the survivors is truly amazing.
When I first heard of the fires I didn't expect that the high country in the upper Goulburn and Big river catchments would be burnt as fires went through that area only a few years ago. If that area does happen to be burnt in the next few days will you let me know with a post here. When I was dredging on Big river in the mid 80s we only had a few days of total fire bans when we could not dredge ... thankfully that must have been a period of cooler summers in the cycle of changing weather patterns.
Interestingly, in todays NZ newspaper it was written that "The Victorian fires started in remote National Parks and spread toward rural towns". And there were radio reports of Wilson Tucky bravely commenting on the underlying reasons for the fires.
What a contrast New Zealand is to gold-getting in Australia. It was only a few nights ago that I was camped up in the alps and could not get to sleep because it was so cold at night. However, this is about the only time of year on the West Coast when its dry enough so some firewood can be found that can be burnt in a fire at night to keep warm before going to bed.
Regards,
Rob (RKC)
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Post by roscoe on Feb 10, 2009 15:20:58 GMT 12
You won`t have to worry about the cold much longer, Rob. Geologically, Kiwiland is moving closer to Oz. ;D In the heyday of dredging, my mate and I cut over from Wood`s Point, via Frenchman`s Gap to the Big. Halfway there we found the only 45 degree bridge in Australia (tilted sideways). My mate said then how he`d hate to be caught there in a bushfire. If it started behind us, there was no way to get out. That`s when I met Lubo. He and his mate pulled into the Big River camping-ground about an hour behind us. Those were the days.  |
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Post by Dredger89 on Feb 10, 2009 18:16:59 GMT 12
Hi Rob,
Update on fire progress, the fire has well and truly arrived in Big River Valley. Its Up in the headwaters around Stockmans Reward. Also well advanced in the Rubicon valley. The Big River valley missed out last time 2006/07 that year it was the Upper Goulburn Valley that got burnt out.
With no rain in sight i expect the entire Big River valley to be burnt out by the weekend. As its burning thru the Upper Yarra Catchment at the moment.
Thanks Roscoe, my place is safe, closest fire activity was about 10 Min's drive from me.
Good Survival story: A Kinglake couple saved their home by pouring 40 cans of coke on the fire, this was a last result attempt after the power went out, (power lines down) and there electric pump stopped.
Rod
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Post by roscoe on Feb 23, 2009 15:12:52 GMT 12
Hey, CG, you o.k. with today`s outbreaks? Warburton, Enoch`s Point, etc. If you don`t answer, I guess you are out fighting it.
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Post by RKC on Feb 24, 2009 10:37:18 GMT 12
G'day Roscoe, It appears as if the Big river catchment and Enocks Point will escape being burnt. I've been following the fires at mp3.news.com.au/hwt/Victoria_fire/ and I listen to ABC news radio www.abc.net.au/newsradio/audio/streaming.htm when I'm on the Internet. If a fire did go through Big river then I doubt the holiday houses at Enocks Point could avoid being burnt as they are all set in among the trees. Its actually quiet remarkable they have stayed intact for so long and have not been burnt during previous dry periods. When the dredgers were on Big river in the mid 80s it was climatically a very different time ... in the 80s, Lake Eildon was full and rain fell regularly to keep Big river running at good high flows. It seems very different to what is occurring today and except that I know better I might be inclined to think there might actually be some truth to the claims about global warming. Regards, Rob (RKC) |
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Post by Dredger89 on Feb 24, 2009 21:18:11 GMT 12
;)Update on the fires.
Due to temperatures being a little cooler and a lack of hot northerly winds the fires progress has slowed.
Big river valley has fire activity near Stockmans Reward. Yesterday it was thought that Warburton and Enoch's point would be under threat. I think this will occur on Friday as 38 deg with strong northerly winds predicted.
I think most efforts will concentrate on the fires in the Yarra Valley and water catchments, Enoch's will be a low priority, (fishing shacks).
It has been quite amazing that the Big river has not burnt out with all the large fires over the last 10 years?
The closest i have been to the fires was working in Maroondah Dam, big trees were falling without warning, the entire valley was full of smoke. It was like a Vietnam war movie with all the choppers flying around.
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Post by Dredger89 on Mar 2, 2009 22:26:07 GMT 12
The fire has now reached Burnt Bridge on Big River, the fire is burning along the river on the Rubicon side for a few kms upstream. Tuesday 3rd of March has strong northerly winds forecast, plus a temp of 34 Deg C. They are going to hit tomorrow with water bombing Aircraft early in an attempt to stop it burning out almost the entire Big River valley.  |
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