Fires around Sydney

[Stickman1990]

This coverage of yesterdays announcements provides more detail on additional specialist aircraft to be provided to assist 

 

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/pm-calls-up-reservists-for-firefighting-effort-20200104-p53os7.html

[GUT2407]

They also open community halls etc for those needing a cooler place. Gee I can remember heading to the shopping centres ir movies to get some cool back when hardly anyone has air con. One day when the kids were just toddlers drove around all day as the car had air con the house didn’t. Or one year driving in to the office to sleep,  on a Sunday night, four of us, one on the sofa, two on the floor, one in the office chair, why because the office was air conditioned

[MicCanberra]

6 hours ago, NoWhiners said:

I see that a lot happened on this thread after I went to bed last night!

 

I didn't know that the US shared helicopters and firefighters with Australia. I am happy to hear that we are still honoring at least some of our agreements with allies around the world. I read that 12 million plus acres have already burned and that this is more than any one year in the US since Truman.

 

Very pleased to see all the Australians lined up to help their mates, as it should be. I saw that the Australia Zoo is not under any danger and has helped 90,000 animal victims; they have lost quite a few but have some as well.

 

When we were on the Amazon (I added 1 pix because it is my favorite of all we took), we saw smoke from some of their fires. It is crazy what they are doing there, intentionally ruining their environment and air, so they can feed cattle. And their president won't do anything to stop it. The Amazon is a critical ecosystem; I fear that our planet is doomed by human interference.

 

I am hoping for big rain for the affected areas (although I read this isn't likely).  I also hope this comes to an end soon, so much damage already.

lovely shot of the pink dolphin

[Chiliburn]

I\

5 minutes ago, NoWhiners said:

 

Thanks Mr Gut, that did help. It might be that a lot more of these are needed given the number of fires and area that is burning.

I live near the Richmond air base and I counted 8 water bombers.

 I believe we own one and the rest are from America.

[NoWhiners]

4 minutes ago, Stickman1990 said:

This coverage of yesterdays announcements provides more detail on additional specialist aircraft to be provided to assist 

 

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/pm-calls-up-reservists-for-firefighting-effort-20200104-p53os7.html

 

This is excellent news, really stepping up the response to try and get things under control. I bet they can use all the choppers and tankers they can get.

 

Thanks for the link.

[MicCanberra]

53 minutes ago, NoWhiners said:

A quote from that story:

 

"Saturday was one of the worst days yet in a stretch of dangerous fire weather — blazing heat, parched brush and high winds that topped 60 miles per hour. It was the hottest day on record in metropolitan Sydney, with the town of Penrith hitting 120 degrees, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. The national capital, Canberra, set a record high with a temperature of 110 degrees."

 

Wow--that is HOT. Does everyone have A/C in these areas? It has to be hard to find a cool spot.

 

Not everyone has A/C and even of those that do have it, not everyone can run them, as if they are the evaporative type, the smoke is so bad that you cannot run them. And then there are those you just cannot afford to run their A/c.

[NoWhiners]

7 minutes ago, GUT2407 said:

They also open community halls etc for those needing a cooler place. Gee I can remember heading to the shopping centres ir movies to get some cool back when hardly anyone has air con. One day when the kids were just toddlers drove around all day as the car had air con the house didn’t. Or one year driving in to the office to sleep,  on a Sunday night, four of us, one on the sofa, two on the floor, one in the office chair, why because the office was air conditioned

 

Sounds like good times 😀 Do you all still talk about that office stay?

[NoWhiners]

5 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

lovely shot of the pink dolphin

 

Yep. I didn't think they would be so pink. A delightful surprise when I saw my first one swimming alongside the ship. Then we saw a whole flock (herd? gaggle?) of them from our balcony. They really stand out in the brown water!

[MicCanberra]

41 minutes ago, NoWhiners said:

 

Good point, I didn't think of that. we use evaporative cooling in NM and smoke would still get in. The really sad part is that there doesn't appear to be an end in sight. I hope the US can send more resources to help. I read that we are but not a lot of reporting on this.

In terms of sharing aircraft from the US, we loan them for a price. The Government has just commissioned ($3m aud) an additional 4 aircraft for fire fighting. It is good that we can do this but why we don't have our own already is beyond me.

[Chiliburn]

2 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

In terms of sharing aircraft from the US, we loan them for a price. The Government has just commissioned ($3m aud) an additional 4 aircraft for fire fighting. It is good that we can do this but why we don't have our own already is beyond me.

I believe NSW Has a 737 

[NoWhiners]

4 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

It is good that we can do this but why we don't have our own already is beyond me.

 

That is a head-scratcher.  Is it a question of money? Seems like a small fleet held at the national level, that could be deployed where needed, could do the trick. It could be put together over time to distribute costs across a longer time frame??

Edited January 4, 2020 by NoWhiners
typo

[MicCanberra]

18 minutes ago, GUT2407 said:

They also open community halls etc for those needing a cooler place. Gee I can remember heading to the shopping centres ir movies to get some cool back when hardly anyone has air con. One day when the kids were just toddlers drove around all day as the car had air con the house didn’t. Or one year driving in to the office to sleep,  on a Sunday night, four of us, one on the sofa, two on the floor, one in the office chair, why because the office was air conditioned

Our work building has got smoke in it via the A/c.

[Stickman1990]

24 minutes ago, NoWhiners said:

Then we saw a whole flock (herd? gaggle?) of them from our balcony

School

 

Actually I’m wrong - it’s a Pod

Edited January 4, 2020 by Stickman1990

[NoWhiners]

ah yes. You 'schooled' me on that one, mate. (See what I did there?)

[ilikeanswers]

1 hour ago, NoWhiners said:

Wow--that is HOT. Does everyone have A/C in these areas? It has to be hard to find a cool spot.

 

It got up to 47 degrees Celsius where I live and I don't have air conditioning of any sort. Most people in my building don't😓. Nothing you can do but sweat through it. Thankfully it is cooler today. 

[Docker123]

1 minute ago, NoWhiners said:

ah yes. You 'schooled' me on that one, mate. (See what I did there?)

pod

[NoWhiners]

I thought pod was for whales? Dolphins too??

 

I just looked it up. Pod is correct.

Edited January 4, 2020 by NoWhiners
add info

[Stickman1990]

2 minutes ago, NoWhiners said:

I just looked it up. Pod is correct.

Yes - me too - realised the error of my ways soon after posting earlier 

[NoWhiners]

no worries, now we all know!

[MicCanberra]

31 minutes ago, NoWhiners said:

 

That is a head-scratcher.  Is it a question of money? Seems like a small fleet held at the national level, that could be deployed where needed, could do the trick. It could be put together over time to distribute costs across a longer time frame??

Agreed, they do have some but with so many fires all over the place, I recognise it is difficult to have enough and also determine which ones get priority.  All I know, is that we don't have enough at the moment.

[MicCanberra]

41 minutes ago, NoWhiners said:

 

Yep. I didn't think they would be so pink. A delightful surprise when I saw my first one swimming alongside the ship. Then we saw a whole flock (herd? gaggle?) of them from our balcony. They really stand out in the brown water!

 

23 minutes ago, Stickman1990 said:

School

 

Actually I’m wrong - it’s a Pod

Pod is correct.

[NoWhiners]

I meant to ask--are the Blue Mountains on fire?  Such a nice area, with all the trees and natural formations.

 

Mic--how bad is Canberra? Will schools close or emergency procedures in effect? Is drinking water OK?

[possum52]

By the way it's been raining steadily in Melbourne most of the morning. Hope it makes its way into the fire areas. Although I understand if it isn't enough rain it becomes more dangersous for firefighters as the trucks can slip as can they.

 

Leigh

 

 

 

Edited January 4, 2020 by possum52

[Docker123]

2 minutes ago, NoWhiners said:

I meant to ask--are the Blue Mountains on fire?  Such a nice area, with all the trees and natural formations.

 

Mic--how bad is Canberra? Will schools close or emergency procedures in effect? Is drinking water OK?

Schools are closed as it is summer holidays. This is one of the reasons so many tourists are in fire impacted areas.

 

There have been fires in the Blue Mountains, with some still burning, but contained at the moment.

 

[NoWhiners]

Hope it moves to the fires, that would be a big help.