Bushfire Update!

Tuesday 10th February 2009

It’s the one thing I have noticed in particular, not only from kind emails from friends, but here, on the fire front line, people who are total strangers are banding together to help each other and offer support on many levels.

The update is grim.

The death toll has now risen from last nights 131 to 181 confirmed dead. They said on the news tonight they suspect it to rise to over 300. It is hard to comprehend, 181 lives lost to fire. This is not a war or terrorist attack. We have such a big land, so much space. It is nature burning, and the scenario was ideal. So much heat for the weeks before and such high winds.

The inconceivable truth is that a few of these fires are due to arson.

88 people are in hospital with critical burns. 35 in intensive care.
Burnt houses are now up to 750. Nothing remains.

In the news tonight they showed a new phenomenon – 100’s of animals are coming out of the burnt bush needing help. Horses with singed manes and burnt hoofs, cows searching for shelter, dogs with burnt paws who managed to run and run from the inferno and koalas with very burnt noses and blackened paws. So many who fended for themselves and survived. It is so heart rendering! They have set up temporary vet clinics and are treating them. It doesn’t bear to think about the ones who didn’t………

The toll rises and our hearts are heavy!