Fire Bugs!!!!

[DVSFPV]

honestly what goes on through these ppls heads that makes them want to light fires..... potentionally putting ppls lives at risk??? they caught a bloke the other day out my way a 19yr CFA volunteer lighting fires in the hope his crew would get turned out... i was a member of my local cfa but seeing ppl so eager to turn out to fires is just rediculous i no we want to help by putting out fires but being so excited like its ur first i mean seriously... my mate was in a another cfa and sai one day when there was a turn out he got the station only to see a car still running in the parking lot door open.. goes inside and sees this bloke half in his overalls helmet on backwards in the drivers seat of one of their trucks saying "im driving im driving" WTF?.... wat im trying to work out is why would ppl do such a stupid dangerous thing lighting fires... right now the fire that started in kilmore/ mount disapointment today is burning basically at my back door and im in WA and cant do anything about it.... i cant help but feel sorry for all the other ppl who have lost their houses and other precious items.... if they find this fire was deliberately lit by god the fire bug better hope the police get him before me/my old man or anyone else does.... :
i just dont understand..... :


brent

[BlackBa]

Hope all goes well for you. The wind has changed at the moment so we can only hope things may ease. Im in Yarrambat so not all that far from your place.

[Blue Ice]

Fires in Churchill are only 5-10 minutes away from my house. Fairly safe here in the town, its up in the hills at the moment. Wind isn't helping, more swirly gusts than anything.

[aye you]

and its about to get alot worse. i'm at the latrobe airfield with the bomber crews. we have everything thats not tied or bolted to the ground in hangers as a major front is moving through with some serious winds...

[Redrum]

Just watched the carnage on the 9 news report and really feel for those that have lost homes etc. The low life scum who light these fires should be lynched.

It may have got worse

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...22-661,00.html

UPDATE 9.00pm THERE are unconfirmed reports that several people have lost their lives in fires sweeping Victoria.

At 9.40pm, Victoria Police will hold a press conference to confirm the tragic losses in the devastating blazes across the state.

[FPV8U]

Will the press confrence be televised live?

[joolz]

IMO at the very least no matter what the age if there is any life lost from a direct result of a fire thats started on purpose by a fire bug they should be charged with minimum manslaughter. The penalties are too light and there is no deterant for future fire starters. I mean a 19 yr old girl just got 3 months jail for graphiti and that posed no threat to life at all. Im born in Melbourne but raised in Western Vic since 1 and still can remember the smell of smoke from Ash Wednesday.

[Rob's 76 Effy]

They caught the aleadged fire bug up at peats Ridge fire on the Central coast NSW late this arvo, This guy if found guilty might get the full penalty as laid down by the NSW Gov a few days ago regarding anybody caught and found guilty of starting a fire

[aye you]

the people of gippsland may not get the news as the TV towers are located on Mt Tassie, which is no more.....



oh, channel 10 works....

[galaxy xr8]

I have just come home from fighting a fire at the centre of Bendigo, it was bearring down on the rear of my old's house, lucky for us the wind changed right at the last minute and their house was saved but the other's around us were not so lucky, a few have vanished, the flames and heat and wind was intense, I have never been in this sitution before and hope to never have to be in it again, the flames just took hold oh the tree's and that was that, it happen's all so fast. I feel for those that have lost everything.

[DVSFPV]

##UPDATE###
just spoke to my olds in melb... wind has changed direction heading back over kinglake... 4 of my mates have lost their houses in kinglake... and apparently a couple of bodies have been found..... which is a real tradgedy cause i knew nearly all the ppl in the area.... the fire approx 4000 hectares.. if anyone wants to see updates and ground operation photos check out


brent

[belvo]

there has alredy been 14 confirmed death and they said it could go as high as 40 deaths

[FPV8U]

It's just disgusting to think someone intended to do this..

[Daymoe]

Originally Posted by belvo

there has alredy been 14 confirmed death and they said it could go as high as 40 deaths

Was just about to say that.

[Redrum]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...22-661,00.html

BREAKING NEWS BUSHFIRES have killed at least 14 and many more are feared dead as Victoria reels from the worst fires since Ash Wednesday.

A few moments ago, deputy piolice commissioner Kieran Walsh told a press conference up to 40 could have perished.

The toll includes six dead at Kinglake, four dead at Wandong and three dead at Strathewen and one dead at Clonbinane.

There are unconfirmed reports tyhat the six victims at Kinglake were all in one vehicle.

Anyone concerned about family or friends in affectyed areas should call the CFA on 1800 240 667.

Do you know more? Contact us at 9292-2963. Send your photos to tandyc@heraldsun.com.au

The toll may rival the 47 killed on Ash Wednesday in 1983.

Firefights say dozens of homes have been destroyed by bushfires as the state is under siege from nine major blazes.

In Bendigo, there are unconfirmed reports that fires have destroyed 50 houses and a sports stadium.

Among infrastructure decimated, a golf club is gone and a fire truck has been destroyed.

One man is in critical condition after suffering burns to 50 per cent of his body when he tried to move stock in the Coleraine area in the state's west and will soon be flown to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne.

Thousands of firefighters and residents battle major fronts at Horsham, Coleraine, Weerite, Kilmore East, Bunyip, Churchill, Dargo, Murrindindi and Redesdale in all corners of the scorched state.

The 2500 ha fire at Horsham is the largest in the state while another at the Bunyip State Park has reached 2400 ha and one at Kilmore has burned 2000 hectares.

The Churchill fire in Gippsland is bearing down on coastal towns including Yarram, Langsbrough and Manns Beach.

Residents are on high alert near the Bunyip State Park, Yarra Glen, Churchill, Kilmore, Horsham, Weerite, Redesdale, Maiden Gully and Ferntree Gully and Coleraine.

See the map of where fires are burning in Victoria

As the cool change fans fires in new directions across the state, a man is his 40s is in a serious condition after 50 per cent of his body was burned while helping a neighbour fight a fire near Coleraine.

A Hamilton Base Hospital spokesman said it was expected the man would be airlifted to a Melbourne hospital tonight.

The Coleraine blaze is one of nine major bushfires burning across Victoria, fuelled by a 45-plus degree heatwave throughout the day and strong winds.

Three houses have been destroyed by a fire near Wandong, in the Kilmore district. The fire has burned 1400 ha and is heading south towards the community of Hidden Valley.

Three houses have been burned at Horsham in Victoria's west, along with the city's golf club. A firetruck was also destroyed, but the firefighters escaped uninjured.

At least one home was believed to have been lost on the Longwarry Rd, near Longwarry, after the Bunyip State Forest blaze jumped the Princes Highway and rail line, two of the main transport links into Gippsland.

The wind change is threatening to turn a narrow bushfire head into a devastating fire front 20km wide Bunyip Ridge.

The fire jumped control lines overnight, and around lunchtime the fire on the hill near the Tonimbuk township literally exploded to more than 10 times its earlier size.

Such was the concern after it broke control lines that ground attack firefighters were forced back, ordered to retreat by incident commanders because of the extreme danger, before the blaze incinerated everything in its path.

Police, fire and VicRoads officials also set up several roadblocks - including on the Princes Highway near Pakenham - and stopping all non-essential traffic and residents from going anywhere near the ever-expanding fireground.

Julie Venrooy said she had been forced to stay on the Princes Highway south of Tonimbuk by police, unable to return to her home at Shady Creek on the other side of the fire front.

"I've been able to contact my husband once," she said.

"He's had ember attack, that was about an hour ago but I don't know what's happened since."

Farmer Graham Kinross, whose home and farm buildings were just a few hundred metres from the nearest flames, said the choice to stay and defend his property was easy, adding the wind direction had helped.

"It's blowing past here and if the wind keeps going that way, I should be right, but I don't know about my neighbour,'' he said, pointing to a farm less than 1km along an adjoining dirt track.

Two hours later, Mr Kinross said he felt his property had escaped the worst, but the news was not so good for his neighbour.

"He lost all his silage, I think they saved his hay, and they saved his sheds and the house, but everything else is pretty well burnt out,'' Mr Kinross added.

One of two high voltage power transmission lines supplying Melbourne was knocked out at 4.30pm by smoke and ash from a fire at the Bunyip State Forest.

"We have no immediate issues, but if the second line goes down it could affect some customers,'' said Paul Bird, a spokesman for the power wholesaler, National Electricity Market Management Company.

A fire at Churchill, south of Morwell, was "making a run" south-east with fears it would cross the Princes Highway.

Emergency centres have been set up at Warrigul Leisure Centre and Cardinia Cultural centre for people fleeing the Bunyip fires.

Labertouche and Labertouche North near the Bunyip State Park, along with towns near Horsham and Coleraine are on high alert with residents urged to leave their homes or prepare to stay and fight the fires.

"They are going to be experiencing ember attacks and smoke imminently if not already,'' a CFA spokesman said.

The Hume Highway has been closed between Wallan and Broadford due to fears fires in the Kilmore area could jump the fire and spread.

The CFA has also warned residents of Pomborneit North, Scollers Road, Caters Roads Settlement and Swan Marsh.

This fire has crossed the Princes Highway heading east towards Pomborneit North.

Another fire west of Coleraine has jumped the Glenelg Highway and is burning in a easterly direction, posing a threat to the towns of Muntham, Coleraine and Hilgay.

And a third fire is burning west of Horsham along Remlaw Road, heading south.

The communities of Haven, McKenzie Creek and Wonwondah may be directly impacted upon by this fire.

Towns near the Bunyip State Forest fire have been warned they are likely to lose power this afternoon.

Power lines that connect Melbourne and other parts of Victoria are also under threat as the blaze in the Bunyip State Park gathers momentum.

Bunyip State Park has been closed to all vehicles except emergency services as more than 100 firefighters battle the blaze.

Today's horror fire weather has the potential to kill and Victorians should be on alert for arsonists, Premier John Brumby has warned.

Searing temperatures and strong winds are expected to present some of the worst bushfire conditions in state history, like those seen in 1983 when 75 people died in the Ash Wednesday fires.

"It's the sort of day when a fire that gets away won't just damage property, it may well cost lives, as Black Friday and Ash Wednesday have done before," Mr Brumby said.

"So I don't exaggerate when I say we need to be on alert."

The warning comes as it has been revealed the state is struggling to cope with the deaths linked to last week's heatwave.

Funerals and coronial investigations have been thrown into turmoil because forensic investigators cannot keep up with the number of bodies sent to the state's mortuary.

Sources within Victoria's Coronial Services Centre have told the Herald Sun families face waits of more than 10 days for bodies to be returned after autopsies, delaying funerals and adding to their grief.

They said the state's mortuary could cope with about 100 bodies, but there are closer to 130 waiting for autopsies by just 10 pathologists.

State Coroner judge Jennifer Coate yesterday refused to disclose the extent of the backlog, or the number of deaths. But she admitted the service was forced to send bodies to funeral parlours and hospitals for storage.

"We have had an unprecedented demand on our services, all of our facilities, including the mortuary, in the wake of the extreme heat," Judge Coate said.

After deliberately lit bushfires destroyed 30 homes last week, authorities have urged all Victorians to be on alert.

Emergency services urged people to avoid travelling to fire-prone areas.

These include coastal strips such as the Mornington Peninsula, Great Ocean Rd and the Otways; mountain areas such as the High Country, Dandenongs and Yarra Ranges; and forested areas such as Macedon Ranges.

In Melbourne, a grassfire has forced the closure of East Link between the Dandenong bypass and Cheltenham Road.

V/Line was forced to shut down three of its five lines - Gippsland, Seymour and Warrnambool -because of fires at 1.30pm.

The worst affected train line was Gippsland where one train was stopped at Pakenham and another at Warragul.

V/Line spokesman Daniel Maloney said a few hundred travellers were stranded because police road blocks on the Princes Hwy meant buses could not be sent.

He said V/Line feared there would be infrastructure damage on the Gippsland line which could knock out services for days.

A large fire between Wandong and Kilmore had closed the Seymour line and a grassfire at Colac had closed the Warrnambool line, but buses were being sent to move passengers, he said.

He said sleepers had been burnt between Colac and Camperdown which would affect the Warrnambool line until at least tomorrow (Sunday).

The Ballarat and Bendigo lines were not affected.

[pertuan]

I really do feel for all those who have lost their houses/belongings in these fires. It's unfortunate.

Firebugs though really get my goat. I reckon they should be dragged to within 2 metres of the fire front with nothing on (I mean in the nude). If they like fires so much, they can stand there and face the fire they so love.

[Redrum]

http://player.video.news.com.au/hera..._fysmxJCcTdP8g nuts!

[FPV8U]

Originally Posted by aye you

the people of gippsland may not get the news as the TV towers are located on Mt Tassie, which is no more.....



oh, channel 10 works....

Yep.. no many channels left for updates :togo:

[Daymoe]

Originally Posted by Redrum

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...22-661,00.html

BREAKING NEWS BUSHFIRES have killed at least 14 and many more are feared dead as Victoria reels from the worst fires since Ash Wednesday.

A few moments ago, deputy piolice commissioner Kieran Walsh told a press conference up to 40 could have perished.

The toll includes six dead at Kinglake, four dead at Wandong and three dead at Strathewen and one dead at Clonbinane.

There are unconfirmed reports tyhat the six victims at Kinglake were all in one vehicle.

Anyone concerned about family or friends in affectyed areas should call the CFA on 1800 240 667.

Do you know more? Contact us at 9292-2963. Send your photos to tandyc@heraldsun.com.au

The toll may rival the 47 killed on Ash Wednesday in 1983.

Firefights say dozens of homes have been destroyed by bushfires as the state is under siege from nine major blazes.

In Bendigo, there are unconfirmed reports that fires have destroyed 50 houses and a sports stadium.

Among infrastructure decimated, a golf club is gone and a fire truck has been destroyed.

One man is in critical condition after suffering burns to 50 per cent of his body when he tried to move stock in the Coleraine area in the state's west and will soon be flown to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne.

Thousands of firefighters and residents battle major fronts at Horsham, Coleraine, Weerite, Kilmore East, Bunyip, Churchill, Dargo, Murrindindi and Redesdale in all corners of the scorched state.

The 2500 ha fire at Horsham is the largest in the state while another at the Bunyip State Park has reached 2400 ha and one at Kilmore has burned 2000 hectares.

The Churchill fire in Gippsland is bearing down on coastal towns including Yarram, Langsbrough and Manns Beach.

Residents are on high alert near the Bunyip State Park, Yarra Glen, Churchill, Kilmore, Horsham, Weerite, Redesdale, Maiden Gully and Ferntree Gully and Coleraine.

See the map of where fires are burning in Victoria

As the cool change fans fires in new directions across the state, a man is his 40s is in a serious condition after 50 per cent of his body was burned while helping a neighbour fight a fire near Coleraine.

A Hamilton Base Hospital spokesman said it was expected the man would be airlifted to a Melbourne hospital tonight.

The Coleraine blaze is one of nine major bushfires burning across Victoria, fuelled by a 45-plus degree heatwave throughout the day and strong winds.

Three houses have been destroyed by a fire near Wandong, in the Kilmore district. The fire has burned 1400 ha and is heading south towards the community of Hidden Valley.

Three houses have been burned at Horsham in Victoria's west, along with the city's golf club. A firetruck was also destroyed, but the firefighters escaped uninjured.

At least one home was believed to have been lost on the Longwarry Rd, near Longwarry, after the Bunyip State Forest blaze jumped the Princes Highway and rail line, two of the main transport links into Gippsland.

The wind change is threatening to turn a narrow bushfire head into a devastating fire front 20km wide Bunyip Ridge.

The fire jumped control lines overnight, and around lunchtime the fire on the hill near the Tonimbuk township literally exploded to more than 10 times its earlier size.

Such was the concern after it broke control lines that ground attack firefighters were forced back, ordered to retreat by incident commanders because of the extreme danger, before the blaze incinerated everything in its path.

Police, fire and VicRoads officials also set up several roadblocks - including on the Princes Highway near Pakenham - and stopping all non-essential traffic and residents from going anywhere near the ever-expanding fireground.

Julie Venrooy said she had been forced to stay on the Princes Highway south of Tonimbuk by police, unable to return to her home at Shady Creek on the other side of the fire front.

"I've been able to contact my husband once," she said.

"He's had ember attack, that was about an hour ago but I don't know what's happened since."

Farmer Graham Kinross, whose home and farm buildings were just a few hundred metres from the nearest flames, said the choice to stay and defend his property was easy, adding the wind direction had helped.

"It's blowing past here and if the wind keeps going that way, I should be right, but I don't know about my neighbour,'' he said, pointing to a farm less than 1km along an adjoining dirt track.

Two hours later, Mr Kinross said he felt his property had escaped the worst, but the news was not so good for his neighbour.

"He lost all his silage, I think they saved his hay, and they saved his sheds and the house, but everything else is pretty well burnt out,'' Mr Kinross added.

One of two high voltage power transmission lines supplying Melbourne was knocked out at 4.30pm by smoke and ash from a fire at the Bunyip State Forest.

"We have no immediate issues, but if the second line goes down it could affect some customers,'' said Paul Bird, a spokesman for the power wholesaler, National Electricity Market Management Company.

A fire at Churchill, south of Morwell, was "making a run" south-east with fears it would cross the Princes Highway.

Emergency centres have been set up at Warrigul Leisure Centre and Cardinia Cultural centre for people fleeing the Bunyip fires.

Labertouche and Labertouche North near the Bunyip State Park, along with towns near Horsham and Coleraine are on high alert with residents urged to leave their homes or prepare to stay and fight the fires.

"They are going to be experiencing ember attacks and smoke imminently if not already,'' a CFA spokesman said.

The Hume Highway has been closed between Wallan and Broadford due to fears fires in the Kilmore area could jump the fire and spread.

The CFA has also warned residents of Pomborneit North, Scollers Road, Caters Roads Settlement and Swan Marsh.

This fire has crossed the Princes Highway heading east towards Pomborneit North.

Another fire west of Coleraine has jumped the Glenelg Highway and is burning in a easterly direction, posing a threat to the towns of Muntham, Coleraine and Hilgay.

And a third fire is burning west of Horsham along Remlaw Road, heading south.

The communities of Haven, McKenzie Creek and Wonwondah may be directly impacted upon by this fire.

Towns near the Bunyip State Forest fire have been warned they are likely to lose power this afternoon.

Power lines that connect Melbourne and other parts of Victoria are also under threat as the blaze in the Bunyip State Park gathers momentum.

Bunyip State Park has been closed to all vehicles except emergency services as more than 100 firefighters battle the blaze.

Today's horror fire weather has the potential to kill and Victorians should be on alert for arsonists, Premier John Brumby has warned.

Searing temperatures and strong winds are expected to present some of the worst bushfire conditions in state history, like those seen in 1983 when 75 people died in the Ash Wednesday fires.

"It's the sort of day when a fire that gets away won't just damage property, it may well cost lives, as Black Friday and Ash Wednesday have done before," Mr Brumby said.

"So I don't exaggerate when I say we need to be on alert."

The warning comes as it has been revealed the state is struggling to cope with the deaths linked to last week's heatwave.

Funerals and coronial investigations have been thrown into turmoil because forensic investigators cannot keep up with the number of bodies sent to the state's mortuary.

Sources within Victoria's Coronial Services Centre have told the Herald Sun families face waits of more than 10 days for bodies to be returned after autopsies, delaying funerals and adding to their grief.

They said the state's mortuary could cope with about 100 bodies, but there are closer to 130 waiting for autopsies by just 10 pathologists.

State Coroner judge Jennifer Coate yesterday refused to disclose the extent of the backlog, or the number of deaths. But she admitted the service was forced to send bodies to funeral parlours and hospitals for storage.

"We have had an unprecedented demand on our services, all of our facilities, including the mortuary, in the wake of the extreme heat," Judge Coate said.

After deliberately lit bushfires destroyed 30 homes last week, authorities have urged all Victorians to be on alert.

Emergency services urged people to avoid travelling to fire-prone areas.

These include coastal strips such as the Mornington Peninsula, Great Ocean Rd and the Otways; mountain areas such as the High Country, Dandenongs and Yarra Ranges; and forested areas such as Macedon Ranges.

In Melbourne, a grassfire has forced the closure of East Link between the Dandenong bypass and Cheltenham Road.

V/Line was forced to shut down three of its five lines - Gippsland, Seymour and Warrnambool -because of fires at 1.30pm.

The worst affected train line was Gippsland where one train was stopped at Pakenham and another at Warragul.

V/Line spokesman Daniel Maloney said a few hundred travellers were stranded because police road blocks on the Princes Hwy meant buses could not be sent.

He said V/Line feared there would be infrastructure damage on the Gippsland line which could knock out services for days.

A large fire between Wandong and Kilmore had closed the Seymour line and a grassfire at Colac had closed the Warrnambool line, but buses were being sent to move passengers, he said.

He said sleepers had been burnt between Colac and Camperdown which would affect the Warrnambool line until at least tomorrow (Sunday).

The Ballarat and Bendigo lines were not affected.

Going by the CFA website, the Kilmore fire is 6000 hectares now. Its getting too close to home for comfort.

[aye you]

FPV8U where bouts in Traralgon are ya? im down in the broome estate. im at the airport helping with the fire bombers where we can when I'm not studying or out observing

[aye you]

Edited**is another one, gives a picture of all current contained fires

[JACK250]

I find it surprising that on the news they had been talking about how intense the heat is and how any little thing could start a fire and how once a fire started it would be near impossible to stop... I know it's not their responsibility to stop firebugs but you can't think that would help

[Falcon Coupe]

I'm removing all CFA website links, apparently the extra traffic online is slowing the site for people who really need it.

Please do not post any more.

[DVSFPV]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

I'm removing all CFA website links, apparently the extra traffic online is slowing the site for people who really need it.

Please do not post any more.

sorry should have thought of that first....
aparently kilmore fire has spread to 30,000 hectares now... this is getting beyond the joke

[Falcon4L]

yeah its massive at the moment. The recent wind change has turned the fire back towards whittlesea and humevale. As far as I know Broadford is very close if not in the fires. Wandong and heathcote junction are gone already, not much is left up there.