Thoughts are with WA members

[johnro]

The current bushfire situation in WA certainly reminds us that summer is here - after being on the edge of the fires here 2 yrs ago I have some understanding of the horror.  I hope that all family and friends are as safe as possible. 

[achookwoman]

Thoughts also from here, to our WA friends.

[Cuilidh]

Hope you are all safe.  The fire season seems to come around earlier and earlier each year and lost longer.  Wasn't this one started as a controlled burn?  Things change so frighteningly quickly. 

I guess we should all take this as a very strong hint to make sure that everyone in the country are all 'fire ready'.

[Halex]

Yes it eas a "controlled" fire!!  The burn off that was meant to protect them, its shocking.
Why they cant burn off earlier n the year i dont know.
Yesterday was 36 & windy!!!!.....
H

[judydawn]

My love and thoughts are with you all in WA - hope you and your loved ones are safe from the bushfires.

[cookie1]

Thank you all. The fires at Margaret River a horrid. As Hally says it is hot with strong fires. I heard a while ago that 10 homes, 5 cottages and numerous sheds were gone down there. I believe there are also fires north about 200 km away, bad enough to close the schools in the area. I hate fires almost as much as wind. We have so much undergrowth etc from the late rains.

To all those in the South West we are thinking of you.

[auds]

We are 30 mins away from the fires.  It never should have happened.  My husband used to work for DEC for years in the same office as the idiots who planned the "controlled" burn.  A similar thing happened a couple of years ago and some twat in the DEC who had the road blocked off due to the fires let some poor bugger through and he was killed.

They never used to burn off after September.  I dont know what they are thinking. The whole point of safe burns is so that fires like this cant get out of control.

People losing their homes and everything they own.  One of our friends is moving all his stuff into town and has 3 firefighting units on his property just in case.

There will be plenty of people to take DEC to court over this and I am thinking jobs will be lost as well - as it should be.

[fundj&e]

stay safe auds

[Frozzie]

hope everyone stays safe 

[cookie1]

auds that must be horrid for you. I agree with your comments on the back burning. Hopefully heads will roll over this. For those who are truly to blame not their workers.

[Halex]

Yes heads must roll for the decision makers.
Those poor families loosing everything, so close to xmas school holdays etc, its such a tradegy that SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

H

[maddy]

There will be plenty of people to take DEC to court over this and I am thinking jobs will be lost as well - as it should be.

 .....and rightfully so!

From what I gather, even Mr. Bean could have forecast it was not appropriate weather for burning off........unforgivable really, should have had their act together sooner.

[Mary Brown]

Stay safe everyone... and yes terribly sad for everyone who have been affected ...

[nazar]

 the fires are around margaret river and close surrounding areas
 last count 30 homes  and some chalets destroyed  some were hoilday homes
and some well known winerys
 no lives so far lost which is a blessing  . my heart goes out to those who lost homes
 l could see the smoke from augusta and we had ash fall here   
 l was concerned if they could not get it under controll  that the wind would push it down here
as l live 15 mins drive away 
 the wind was terrible and the heat was not helping the firemen too
 thankfully the weather was kinder today
 the firemen and support workers and all the volunteers have done a wonderful job   looking after every one

[Cornish Cream]

This tragedy has hit the news here in the UK today. Take care everyone