Death Toll In Australian Wildfires Climbs To 200

[Moonrakers]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a Pollie? I am guessing at Police???

[neverdie]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a Pollie? I am guessing at Police???

Sorry Moonrakers, a pollie is a Politician.

[sassienie]

Some panicked residents try to flee the inferno in their cars, but crashed into trees, embankments and other vehicles amid the thick smoke. Police said a number of people died trying to outrun the blaze, including six people found burned to death in a single car.

Surely a scene from hel_l. My deepest sympathies.

I received the following sad message today from a family member:

Whilst trying to keep you in touch with good family news I have some very sad family news to impart.

My cousin John Barnett (who is also a Sassienie) and his wife Jenny were killed over the weekend trying to escape the bush fires.

When I hear the awful news of tragedies on the radio I am extremely sad for everyone involved, but this has knocked us all sideways and it affects us first hand.

I send my love and hope all is well with you. Gillian.

A LONG-TIME and tireless campaigner for Victoria's forests and national parks has fallen victim to the bush she loved.

Victorian National Parks Association researcher Jenny Barnett and her husband, Melbourne academic John Barnett, were found dead in an incinerated car at Steels Creek in the Yarra Ranges.

For more than 25 years, Ms Barnett represented the parks group on just about every major issue and challenge faced by the environmental and national parks movement in this state.

A shattered association executive director Matt Ruchel said Ms Barnett, believed to be in her 60s, would be sorely missed both within the association and far beyond it.

"She was a passionate supporter of Victoria's natural environment," he said.

"Certainly her contribution to the protection of the environment and conservation is huge."

Ms Barnett played important roles in countless campaigns as well as contributing and commenting on government environment and parks policy, including the ecological implications of fire and fire planning

Association colleague Phil Ingamells stressed that Ms Barnett was known for her thorough and grounded approach to often complex issues.

"If Jenny told you something, you would be brave to question her," he joked.

"She had her feet on the ground. She contributed very productively including on (fire) fuel reduction plans."

Ms Barnett also spent a good deal of her own time in the bush as a volunteer, surveying Victoria's native mammals.

"She was very focused; a tireless worker for conservation," said Mr Ingamells.

Associate professor John Barnett was principal research fellow in animal welfare at Melbourne University.

Among his research interests were animal welfare standards on long-distance transport and in the chicken meat industry.

Edited February 10, 2009 by sassienie

[neverdie]

Sorry for your loss sassienie, deepest sympathies, my thoughts are with you and your family at this time.

[samran]

Frankly I find it appaling that at such an horrific time like this we have someone fishing for a foreign government to to make tokenistic and empty gestures...exactly what people don't need. I mean really, what use is it?

I really don't understand the logic here: "Oh I'll come and help....ah, not really...."

What a load of poo this thread is...

Condolences to the affected. Contact the Australian Red Cross to make monetary donations. That is what they need now to help re-build.

Edited February 10, 2009 by samran

[jayjayjayjay]

sassienie, very sorry to here of you loss, these were folk that commited themselves to flora and fauna and the forrest they lived in. RIP.

[MiG16]

sassienie

very sorry to hear about your loss. please share our condolences and best wishes with the family.

also please let them know that all of us here in Aus are doing what ever little we can to help in our own small ways.

as said earlier, at my work we are collecting donations of clean clothing. they are starting to pile up in my office as I type and we will be sending the load down to Victoria early coming week. its not much, but hopefully it will offer a tiny bit of comfort.

[bkkjames]

I am not missing the point. But let me provide you with some final thoughts. The kind of aid that NZ UK and USA offered is not for labourers to go build fire breaks and give your boys a rest. Needless to say, Thailand (can't speak for ASEAN) is not overloaded with high tech fire fighting equipment that would be of use to AUS.

Now, if you are looking for 100 skilled labourers to manage a shovel (you cant fit anymore on a C130), does it not make more sense to get this from your immediate neighbors, ie New Zealand, Indo? Or do you expect Thailand to fly its soldiers down to Victoria?

I am sure Thailand would offer aid if it felt that it had sufficient expertise to help out. We don't have fire-fighting planes and choppers laying around. But building fire breaks doesn't require engineers - it requires labour - so if our response has not met your expectations, we are sorry.

Anyways, let's hope you guys get it under control as soon as possible.

/quote]

Fine call them "construction troops" any trained soldiers will help. Many Australian soldiers that helped out after the Tsunami where just regular soldiers. No one would be expecting "high tech gear" to be available from ASEAN. The RAAF has several C130 flights per week shuttling between Australia and the Mid East so no problem about picking them up. Once again it is not the size of the effort given but the willingness to help out a nieghbour even if you have little to give that truly matters.

Perhaps if you take a moment to read the papers, you will see that Thailand and other countries in ASEAN have offered help.

[MiG16]

Im merging this thread with the on-going discussion in the news section

very sorry to hear about your loss Fred. our thoughts are with you. and whatever little else we can do, please be assured that we are doing it.

[Mosha]

Another forum I visit has a few Aussie members. One of the guys has said in Southern Australia, they are taking pro-active measures. On high risk ays suspected arsonists are being contacted at home and warned to stay home. The warning apparently is, you are of particular interest to the police at this time.

[Artisi]

Latest news report saying over 180 now confirmed deaths and expected to approach 300 - an unbelievable disaster.

[DanaDeLuxe]

This is what I can't understand. I read that during the last night some fires might have been reignited - by arsonists again! Why are people doing that??

[kaz49]

Currently as reported, the death toll in this terrible tragedy is 181 and over 80 people missing. The fires still continue to burn in areas in the state of Victoria and expecting more hot weather through the week.

My heart and thoughts go out to members in Thailand who have lost friends and loved ones in this terrible tragedy. Nature can be so cruel at times.

The Red Cross are taking donations online (credit card), if anyone would like to make a donation. The website is slow presently as the response to this crisis has been overwhelming.

Keep safe all.

www.redcross.org.au/Donations

[MiG16]

Ive merged another thread into this one to combine all discussions and update on the issue.

the major donations are being channeled through the Red cross, and also the Salvation Army in Australia.

Red cross I believe you can use for donations from overseas as well. Contact your local office and ask for details.

[newtronbom]

My thoughts are for all those who have suffered. I am still trying to find out if I lost any of my mates there. But the "lads from down under" have to face this every year. Surely with the technology we have today, a stationary satellite with a well programed routine, would give advanced warning? Even if it saved only one life, it would be worth it! From the NASA shot, it is obvious that a sat can see the zones. My condolences to all of you who have suffered.

[sbk]

National Day of Mourning to be set:

Service, national day of mourning for Victorian bushfires

February 12, 2009

Article from: Australian Associated Press

THERE will be a national service and day of mourning to remember the victims of the Victorian bushfires.

Kevin Rudd made the announcement in federal parliament today after discussions with Victorian Premier John Brumby and Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull.

The announcement comes as investigators focus on how many of the devastating Victorian bushfires from last weekend were deliberately lit, including the possibility the deadly Marysville fires were a result of arson.

The Victorian Government is consulting with the Council of Churches on the details of the national service.

Mr Rudd said Canberra would provide support to the Victorian Government to assist with organising both the national day of mourning and the remembrance service.

Further details will be announced soon, he said.

“It is important, it is very important that the nation grieves,” Mr Rudd said.

Mr Rudd said the Government was in regular contact with the Australian Insurance Council to ensure all claims made by bushfire victims were processed quickly.

At least 5000 people are expected to make claims, Mr Rudd said.

So far, 3124 emergency cash payments - totalling $3.7 million - had been made by Centrelink to more than 4,500 people.

More than 320 staff members were working in relief centres, to process claims as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, at a briefing in Melbourne, Emergency Services Commissioner Bruce Esplin said the death toll remained at 181.

But this was expected to rise as police gained access to more communities destroyed by the fires.

So far, more than 400,000 hectares had been burnt and 1069 homes lost, he said.

And the battle continues, with more than 3000 firefighters battling 21 ongoing blazes.

Details of buildings lost during the bushfires were released and the communities of Kinglake and Marysville featured prominently.

In Kinglake, the fires have claimed its police station, a water treatment plant, its State Emergency Services depot, a power substation, a church, five shops, a timber mill, football club, sports centre, kindergarten and primary school.

Marysville - which has virtually been wiped out - lost its police station, a primary school, kindergarten and 43 shops.

Department of Sustainability and Environment fire chief Ewan Waller said that with the cooler weather providing some respite for firefighters, its energies would be directed towards protecting the state's water catchments.

Source: The Australian

[Artisi]

Newspapers are now saying that "2 persons are assisting police with their enquiries" regarding a couple of the fires.

[sassienie]

Some panicked residents try to flee the inferno in their cars, but crashed into trees, embankments and other vehicles amid the thick smoke. Police said a number of people died trying to outrun the blaze, including six people found burned to death in a single car.

Surely a scene from hel_l. My deepest sympathies.

I received the following sad message today from a family member:

Whilst trying to keep you in touch with good family news I have some very sad family news to impart.

My cousin John Barnett (who is also a Sassienie) and his wife Jenny were killed over the weekend trying to escape the bush fires.

When I hear the awful news of tragedies on the radio I am extremely sad for everyone involved, but this has knocked us all sideways and it affects us first hand.

I send my love and hope all is well with you. Gillian.

A LONG-TIME and tireless campaigner for Victoria's forests and national parks has fallen victim to the bush she loved.

Victorian National Parks Association researcher Jenny Barnett and her husband, Melbourne academic John Barnett, were found dead in an incinerated car at Steels Creek in the Yarra Ranges.

For more than 25 years, Ms Barnett represented the parks group on just about every major issue and challenge faced by the environmental and national parks movement in this state.

A shattered association executive director Matt Ruchel said Ms Barnett, believed to be in her 60s, would be sorely missed both within the association and far beyond it.

"She was a passionate supporter of Victoria's natural environment," he said.

"Certainly her contribution to the protection of the environment and conservation is huge."

Ms Barnett played important roles in countless campaigns as well as contributing and commenting on government environment and parks policy, including the ecological implications of fire and fire planning

Association colleague Phil Ingamells stressed that Ms Barnett was known for her thorough and grounded approach to often complex issues.

"If Jenny told you something, you would be brave to question her," he joked.

"She had her feet on the ground. She contributed very productively including on (fire) fuel reduction plans."

Ms Barnett also spent a good deal of her own time in the bush as a volunteer, surveying Victoria's native mammals.

"She was very focused; a tireless worker for conservation," said Mr Ingamells.

Associate professor John Barnett was principal research fellow in animal welfare at Melbourne University.

Among his research interests were animal welfare standards on long-distance transport and in the chicken meat industry.

UPDATE:

Hi friends and family

Please excuse this general e-mail update.

I arrived in Melbourne this morning (Thursday 12 February) at 7.15 a.m. after a great flight. The lady next to me also had lost a relative in the bush fires, her sister-in-law and her brother is in intensive care......and she was a teacher! Fortunately, when her son collected her from the airport, he was able to tell her that her brother is out of intensive care - a great relief for all her family.

As the plane flew over Australia and neared Melbourne, we could see the clear morning sky and below some of the still raging fires. I actually got some photos.

Mum and dad are as well as can be expected. Cousin Peter has been a great comfort to them in the past few days. He is staying until Sunday and hopefully will return before I fly back - not totally sure of the date yet.

We visited the funeral parlour today and arranged a joint funeral for whenever it can take place. It could be in a couple of months time or a year's time. It is unlikely to be while I am still here but who knows, as there is a lot of uncertainty about at the moment. The area around where John and Jenny lived is being treated as a crime scene according to the newspapers. It is not known if that is the case. (If anyone wants to, you can Google "The Age" or "Sydney Morning Herald" and type in Jenny Barnett and/or John Barnett, there are some articles).

Melbourne University has received messages from all round the world as John was particularly known in his scientific field. Jenny is very well known nationally as an environmental lobbyist so there has been media interest in both, as well as in the many other victims. Melbourne University is going to do a memorial service for both John and Jenny. We don't know when as yet.

The phone has not stopped ringing at mum and dad's and it has been like that since Monday.

It is pleasantly warm in Melbourne and I am in my shorts. How weird is that considering the weather in the UK?

I am fighting sleep but trying to stay awake until bed time. Now what are the odds on that actually happening?

Thank you for all the good wishes of support and although I am glad I am here in Melbourne, I will be even more glad to return home.

Love Mark

[Nienke]

My thoughts are with all those involved in this tragedy.

And my condolences to those who have lost loved ones.

May they Rest in Peace.

Edited February 12, 2009 by Nienke

[Old Croc]

Churchill arson suspect arrested

February 13, 2009 - 2:23PM

Police have made a breakthrough in Victoria's massive arson investigation today, charging a man over the Churchill fires that killed at least 10 people.

The man was arrested by members of police taskforce Ignis, which has been investigating the cause of the fires.

He has been charged with one count of arson causing death, one count of intentionally lighting a bushfire and one count of possessing child pornography.

He was arrested at 2pm yesterday.

He has been remanded to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday.

His lawyer said the man was in a fragile mental state and he did not appear in court.

The maximum penalty for arson causing death is 25 years.

At least 10 people died as a result of the Churchill blaze and police expect the toll to rise.

(The Age)

[samuibeachcomber]

the report also said the alleged suspect was going for a psychiatric test.Now i suppose they have to do this from a legal perspective,but who can tell me who in their right mind would do such a thing(ignite a blaze)so will this mean he will be found unfit to stand trial?will just have to wait and see.

[sbk]

Australian bushfires death toll reaches 200

The death toll from Australia's bushfires has reached 200 and is likely to rise further as officials say some bodies would never be identified.

Investigators today confirmed 11 more people had died in one of more than 400 fires across southern Victoria state, destroying more than 1,800 homes and scorching more than 1,500 sq miles (3,900 sq km) of farms, forests and towns.

In a statement, Victoria police said the latest confirmed deaths occurred in a fire that destroyed the town of Kinglake and surrounding areas. The police spokesman Marty Beveridge said he expected the death toll to rise.

Ten days after the disaster, police said they had not been able to give a definitive death toll because of the difficulty in finding and identifying remains.

In some cases, all that remained of the victims was ash, said police deputy commissioner, Kieran Walshe.

"Fire does terrible damage to bodies and the identification process is going to be a lengthy process and it's going to require scientific examination," Walshe said. "In some cases it will be within a few weeks, in other cases it may well be we're unable to be definitive about the identity."

Where there was only ash, victim identification crews relied on other clues, such as jewellery found in the ruins, to help identify the remains, Walshe said.

He refused to say how many bodies might still be in the disaster zone, but said police believed they had cleared all bodies from burned open areas, and were now sifting through ruined homes.

A royal commission into the fires is to start within the next few weeks.

Police suspect at least two of the fires were deliberately set, and have charged one man with arson causing death and lighting a wildfire. Brendan Sokaluk, 39, faces a maximum sentence of 25 years on the first charge and 15 years on the second. He is being held in protective custody to prevent revenge attacks against him.

The social networking website Facebook has begun removing postings and groups that threaten violence and torture against Sokaluk. His MySpace page has been suspended at the request of Victoria police. Lawyers warned that people responsible for the postings could face criminal charges.

A week after the fires, parts of Australia were now facing the threat of another disaster in the form of floods. Authorities put helicopters on standby as they evacuated residents from homes north of Sydney inundated by floodwaters.

The Bourke region, in the north-west of New South Wales state, was declared a natural disaster area today after 20 homes and several government buildings were flooded when the Bellinger river burst its banks. The floodwater has left 5,000 people stranded.

To the north, most of Queensland state has been submerged for weeks by the worst flooding in three decades, with more rain expected during the tropical monsoon season.

Source: The Guardian

[photojourn]

National day of mourning and memorial service streaming live Sunday starting 7.00am at:

National day of mourning and memorial service live feed

[photojourn]

Here we go again. Another bad day looming for Victoria.

WARBURTON residents have mostly fled the town this morning, with the town facing serious bushfire threats.

The owner of Warburton newsagency Lindsay Jahn said he believed up to 60 pr 70 per cent of Warburton residents had already fled.

Residents have been forced to evacuate as as strong winds fan bushfire down into Warburton valley.

Shops have signs in the windows saying they are closed due to fires, while traffic out of the town is building.

Fire authorities said severe fire weather was predicted for today and people in the Warburton/Yarra Valley area and near Enoch Point should be prepared.

Towns evacuate as new fire warnings issued