Australian Bushfires

We've just had a day of wild weather, with the temperature here up to 34C and howling gales feeding new bushfires (with thick dust haze in the morning). An afternoon cool change cleared the dust and gave a view of the smoke from a large fire only 20km away and out of control in rugged country. It will be interesting to see how things develop over coming days until it can be controlled. UPDATE: I've now added 2 PiPs, taken on the morning of 28 Nov, when the smoke drifted our way. Late PM 29/11 - The fire is now about 4800 Ha and seems to be contained. Unfortunately a much worse fire has developed about 70km away, covers over 19000 Ha, is out of control and threatening residential areas.

A convoy of fire fighting trucks arriving today from interstate Victoria, to assist with the large (UPDATED AM 4/12 no-w >47,000 ha) bush fire, currently out of control, just 10 km or so from our residence. At a public briefing today, the Rural Fire Service speaker said “We can’t stop this fire. It is so dry out in the bush, it will keep jumping over our control lines.” He added that only good rain (we're in a drought) can stop it totally. Meanwhile, there also are many aircraft assisting with control. (see PiPs for more images). The official Rural Fire Service site, showing this and other fires is tinyurl.com/y9ox63jq . My lovely wife Pauline has resumed oncology treatment this week, following an operation several weeks ago. With that and the fire (and the possibility that we may have to move away for safety), it seems probable that I shall be a very irregular visitor to ipernity for a while. [UPDATE AM 4/12 We are packing and shall be leaving later today, hopefully to make a return soon]

Taken near our home. The foreground lighting from the street lamp behind me, the red glow from the nearby bushfire (at this stage about 8km away and being held back by fire crews). The morning after this image, as suggested by the Rural Fire Brigade, we left with some of our possessions as there is a risk the only access road could be cut by fire. We are now safe, but over the next few days are hoping to make a quick return visit to retrieve more items to safety in case the fire should come through - it is still out of control and over 73,000 ha at present (see PiP). I shall be very infrequent on ipernity, but would like to extend my very real appreciation to all who have sent their messages of support for me and my wife. In these worrying times, believe me it does help. :-)

Summer brings the beautiful Jacaranda flowers, seen here with a haze of bushfire smoke. In the PiPs, a close-up of the flowers, also some of the beautiful carpet they create. We returned home yesterday as the fires now are being controlled, but they will continue burning until there is good rain - not expected before February. For now, it's a matter of remaining watchful as high temperatures and winds will create more problems and probably spread the fires (the "local" fire is about 90,000ha at present). Explored.

Best viewed large on black, the fires burning in the distance here were "controlled burns" - low intensity fires intentionally lit (usually alongside a road) to burn back toward the bushfire, with the intention of depriving the main fire of combustible material. In the PiPs 1/ a road block because of fires across the road further on 2/ bushfire smoke seen behind the "not very bustling" main street of our local township and 3/ suburban houses separated by forest from the fires. At this point I cannot refrain from a dishonourable mention for our current Australian government, which was complicit in derailing the recent UN climate meeting in Madrid from taking strong action on climate change, which is exacerbating these weather-driven problems. Equally, for our glorious Prime Minister who has been near silent about the raging fires burning across our country and now has gone on holidays in Hawaii. (Look up #wherethebloodyhellareyou ). Explored.

We can only hope that 2020 will bring better days in many ways. Not least an end to the huge fires that are causing so much damage at present in Australia - the smoke in this image is from a large one nearby. Best wishes for 2020, everyone. Footnote AM 31/12. The fires have spread enormously overnight and this one now is classified as an "Emergency" level threat to local communities.

These people (in their thousands) are the real heroes of the current fires - they are volunteer fire fighters, some of whom now have been going for over 100 days and with no real end in sight. These two fire trucks stopped for a breather near our place late in the day, after having started at 6AM. The locals provided them with tea, coffee and food.

Looking back on 2020, which began for us with raging bushfires covering huge areas nearby, it wasn't a great start - and the year didn't improve. I wandered down to the beach on 31 December 2019, when the main part of the smoke and fires had cleared us and could hardly believe seeing this elderly couple sitting on the beach contemplating the distance (or the coming year?) through the smoke! Best contemplated large. In the PiPs: * people watching the smoke on 30 December 2019 * smoke rising behind neighbouring houses on 31 December 2019 * light through the smoke when the wind changed direction and blew it our way. Wishing everyone (and ipernity) all the best for 2021. Let's all hope for good health and for better things in the New Year.

This is one of the main problems with bushfires - they generate enough heat and convection to carry half burnt or even burning leaves, twigs and bark for considerable distances. This leads to "spot fires" which, depending on the conditions, can begin quite a few kilometers beyond the fire front.