Bush Fires

[Andrew Regens]

Here in Victoria we have just sufferd the worst bush fires recorded in Australia. So far there are 185 recorded deaths with more towns still to be checked , the expected toll will be 200+. We as the M.G.CC Vic seem to be lucky with some members and their familys loosing their houses but as far as we can confirm no loss of life.
The area which still has some 25 fres burning is familier to all our members, as they are on some of the best roads that just suite M.G's in magnificent country side not far from the city. The towns that are no longer there made good stoping places for refreshment after thrashing an F up steep flowing hills with the exhast bouncing of the embankments, it will be some time before anyone will feel like doing that in light of the devestation thats accured.
In the north of Australia there are people who are in a simaler situation, loosing everything they own but caused by flooding, if only we had their water!.

[Kasper]

Hi Andrew,

We have seen the huge fires destroying every thing in their paths on tele. Unbelievable the amount of power in it. Following the news most of the fires are lit by people! I cannot understand why people do so.

Sorry to hear fellow MG drivers lost their properties (and probably their MG as well) due to this. I do hope your's will manage and pass the inferno without further damage.

All the best.

Kasper

[Green Squirrel]

British TV has been covering the inferno quite extensively and I for one find it absolutely heart rendering to see the damage done and to hear the stories from those that survived. If the police can find those that have been accused of starting some of these fires and they are bought to justice then if found guilty they should be locked up and the keys thrown away.

I can only say that we, and I am sure I speak for the majority of Brits, send our condolences to the relatives of those that died, best wished for a speedy recovery for those injured and hope that the homes and businesses can be rebuilt though we do know nothing can replace the personal mementos that have been lost.

Good luck for the future

Ted & Karin Newman

[adrianclifford]

Hi Andrew, on behalf of the MGF Register (and the MG Car Club of course) we send our condolences to any of your members that have suffered losses in the tragic incidents that we see unfurling every day on our TV's (the situation, as Ted says, is extensively covered by the major networks in the UK).

It appears that you have a very sympathetic prime minister in Kevin Rudd and I am sure he will direct aid and assistance as well as anyone can.

Here's hoping it all ends soon, with no more tragedies and your members, in particular, suffer no more.

Best wishes from the MGF Register.

[Andrew Regens]

Thank you every one for your support.
Only people who have been directly effected can have an incling of how bad it has been. I like most of you see it being reported by the media and having a few friends who are in the CFA get to hear of the acts of bravery and luck.
A lot of the fires being so intense hhave been caused by the " green " councils not allowing trees and the bush to be cleared from around the houses. There is going to be a Royal commision in to the fires perhaps some of the laws will be changed for the better. To give an idea of the speed of the fire, Melbourne area is about the same size as the M25 ( with max 5 million people ) so the fires are just on the outskirts of town. From the centre of Melbourne to the edge is about 25Km the fire was travelling that distance in 11 minutes, not many vehicles could out run it, so it was the matter of staying or fleeing and many people perished in there cars.
The weather forecast for the next week is still no rain and the temperture rising again, the fire authoritys are still fighting and clearing fire breaks but some of the area is just so inhospitable, it is just left to burn.

[colintf]

I'm lost for words - nothing I can say can help - it's sad to see what we've seen on the TV

[Andrew Regens]

On Saturday we the F register had our annual Sundowner run, this time to a winery in the Yarra Valley. This event had been organised some five months before.
We try and make our drives interesting by picking great MG roads, nice and twisty. Due to lots of the bush fire area still being closed of to the general public as the forensic people try and recover all human remains our route had to be rearanged .
Well I missed a turn off and travelled along one of the major roads that had been swept by the bush fires, it was a very scarey scene just 30metre tree trunks spaced a metre apart without branches all coverd in alight grey ash either side of the road, it took some 10km before I could find an area that was safe to do a U turn.
We felt a bit guilty about having fun in such a devestated area, but the staff made us so welcome because they are a bussiness and with people staying away all the winery and eateries are going broke, they have had to lay of staff, infact our booking ment for the first time in three weeks they needed all their staff.
So if you are in the area please rember that they need our support, not just by hand outs but in real terms, bussiness, as it's a chain reaction, supppliers, waiting staff, the kitchen and due to the devestation of the vineyards there will not be a vintage for a few years.

[adrianclifford]

Hi Andrew, that's quite a nice view on such a disastrous topic. I can relate to the principle as on a visit to the sw of the USA in 2002 we drove through Arizona during a period of intense heat (40 days in excess of 100 degrees), We actually had to avoid forest fires but the devastation caused left an imprint on our minds for ever, such lovely trees ruined (although they will grow back) but homes do not and many, according to the TV news, did not have or could not get insurance. Is this the same in Victoria ?

If so, are the government helping out ?

[Andrew Regens]

Yes, is the simple answer, local Victorian and the Federal goverments are helping and doing there best, even members of the Royal family have given private donations with Princess Ann visiting the area.
There are some 36 people not accounted for so that means approx 248 dead in total with the destruction of some 2030 homes, some 7000 people homeless. The bush fire appeal has raised some $209million but there is a growing feeling is why should the uninsured benifet by having there homes rebuilt. Insurance premiums will rise and be expensive. If your home is going to be rebuilt why bother with insurance in the future, some of the places were not much more than wooden shacks ( very old wooden shacks 150+ years on average ), that would never be covered by insurance companys anyway, but they did not have any cover for the contents so have in most cases just the clothes they stood in. It is very hard and whole villages have gone, the communities will rebuild and people will return, and the houses will be better built. The greenies will have less say in how the vegitation is managed and common sence will allow greater gaps between houses and trees with better fire breaks.
As you said Adrian everything will rise like the phoenix from the ashes and grow again.

Edit -5/03/09 It has been raining for almost 24hrs, at last the bush fires are out or just smoldering so the threat is over we hope for this year at least.