Fire Down Under

[jayjay]

You may have seen on the news ver in the US about our wildfires all over the East Coast of Australia. Even down my way ( lower Eyre Peninsular of South Australia ) we had a major fire, and if not for a wind change, our town was directly in the path of the out of control fire.
Anyway, I'm away from home for a few weeks, and when I heard about the fires, rang home, and spoke to my 16yr old son, who assists me prepping. Conversation went somewhat like this ( the power was out too );

Me: Ok boy, what have you done?
Son: Bath full of water, got the candles out, torches, spare batteries, drinking water bottles good to go, gas cooker & cartridges.
Me: Face masks?
Son: Done.
Me: Water jerry cans in the shed-fill them up.
Son: Ok
Me: Anything else?
Son: Yeah, you gotta show me how to run the generator.

The power came on about 2 hrs later.

On Wednesday, we are expecting 43c (110f), and wild winds. I'm about 8 hrs away, but I am confident he has everything under control.

 

[jontte]

G'day,just glad to hear you are still around and kicking

 

[Maverick]

Me and forest, grass fires have a hatred for one another and about the only thing in this world that scares me and the one thing I don't wish on anyone!

 

[GaRp58]

Just like Clyde and others in burning Kommunist Kalifornia, hope ya'll do well down under. Get everything within a rocks throw cleared, wet, burned down or buried in dirt and stop the flames before they can make it to your house! GP

 

[DrHenley]

High winds are a bitch in a wildfire. They can make the fire jump much farther than you would expect. With some of these fires, the only thing you can do is escape. When high winds caused the fire to sweep through Paradise, CA, there was nothing anyone could do but Get The Hell Out Of Dodge.

 

[Proud Prepper]

Stay safe and get out it's way if needed. All ways have a way out.

 

[Arcticdude]

Fire is the main disaster that worries me the most.

 

[tmttactical]

Fire is the main disaster that worries me the most.

Me too. That is the one disaster I can't prevent.

 

[jontte]

feel sad for the animals down there,just hope and pray for rain.

 

[jayjay]

Thanks everyone - we managedto dodge a bullet, only 2 houses and a few sheds lost, no lives lost. Our house was ok.
I'm home now, getting the fire preps into overdrive for a long, hot summer.

 

[BillMasen]

I dont understood why in so many parts of the world in high fire risk areas they built some houses out of timber or timber cladding and shingle roofs??

 

[jontte]

people build houses on flood plains too,heck if,so build it on stilts.
but keep us up-to date jayjay,

 

[Brent S]

I dont understood why in so many parts of the world in high fire risk areas they built some houses out of timber or timber cladding and shingle roofs??

Agreed, there are many things you can do to help resist fire. No landscaping next to the structure, metal roof, cement siding etc. these and other things help but when there’s 65mph winds fanning flames I’d rather err on the side of caution and get the hell out!

 

[Brent S]

feel sad for the animals down there,just hope and pray for rain.

Just saw on the news the koalas habitat has been hit really bad. I wasn’t aware they were allready endangered, but this moved them way up that list. It was really tough watching one little guy trying to lift his burned feet off the ground. I’m glad there’s a lot of people down there trying to help them and other animals out.

 

[Maverick]

I dont understood why in so many parts of the world in high fire risk areas they built some houses out of timber or timber cladding and shingle roofs??

Cost, accessibility and weather would be the primary reasons. At the time I built my place you couldn't get a concrete truck up here. With a wooden frame house the weather wouldn't be much of a factor in construction unlike concrete, me and my brother built this place in good weather and bad weather including winter.

 

[GaRp58]

I dont understood why in so many parts of the world in high fire risk areas they built some houses out of timber or timber cladding and shingle roofs??

That is the material available, at the price affordable and buildable in the time according to the amount of help provided. Sometimes you just do what you can with that which you get where you have. Mud hut in Africa, ice igloo in Alaska, concrete blocks in Germany and log cabins in Sweden. My house in Hungary is made on a wooden frame, filled with rock and covered with cob. Very warm in winter and cool in summer. Only cost $ 6000,00 instead of 10 times the amount in brick or concrete and much more of a friendly material. It breathes and keeps the humidity at a constant. Love it. GP

 

[jayjay]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12...back-burning-around-sydney-mega-fire/11777102

A number of fires have merged to create a megafire, with a front 60km long. Still mostly out of control.

 

[DrHenley]

Sorry to hear that. I hope everyone gets to safety.

 

[jontte]

Frak-Shyt-Frak....sry to hear that, are you and your loved ones ok???

 

[GaRp58]

Almost wants to make you start your own fire around your house and burn it down in a controlled manner to reduce the risk!!! Stay alive and well down there. GP