Tag: Firefighters

Towards the Final Curtain I

by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

The heatwave continues with temperature soaring to 49c in some parts of the  regions around here. At the moment we have touched 46.5c and that is expected to get even hotter today and tomorrow. Port Augusta recorded 50.1c but the “Official Temperature” was only 44c.  I have problems with this “Official Temperature” guff and I see it the temperature is what that big bright orange ball in the sky beats down on your wee head – that’s the temperature – not some reading on a thermometer, protected from direct sunlight, protected from rain and protected from wind. It may well be “Official”but that doesn’t make it real.

Government: The fires are getting worse and now the outer suburbs of Sydney are at risk

Prime Minister: Yes I know

Government: The temperatures  will soar into the high 40s this entire week and break records across the whole nation

Prime Minister: Yes I know

Government: The Drought is spreading and cattle are dying  and farmers are in desperate straights

Prime Minister: Yes I know.

Prime Minister: Address your concerns to the Deputy Prime Minister, I am going on holiday

Oh I agree, everyone deserves a holiday, but when your house is threatened by fire, it  is not perhaps the best time to take said holiday. At this time the Prime Minister should be here – taking happy family photographs in a warm sunny place while firefightere have died at home, and an area, bigger than Wales is burning , is not a good look.

A temperature reading at Waikerie in South Australia  was 51c and my  thermometer  was reading 50c – which is as high as it can go but the “Official” temperature is 44.3c.    Well, yes, it’s still hot but  6 degrees

Wonder what the “Official”temperature is.

lower than what it really is. Tomorrow (Friday) is going to be the hottest day of the heatwave with Saturday predicted to be thunderstorms – which should be interesting since I have a fundraising day for the RFDS. Fortunately the one that the Council was trying to organise for Saturday evening, has been cancelled. We really needed more than two people although John and I would have managed, we have done it before,  but certainly under less stressful weather conditions. Just had a look at the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) site and it says 45c with overnight  at 28c – another uncomfortable night.  Tomorrow we are looking at about 46+c before the cool change sweeps through, bringing much welcome and needed relief.

Friday and the temperature did indeed reach 45c but in some parts of the state it went higher and a fire started. It is now burning out of control and heading towards the town of Lobethal in the Adelaide Hills.  Everything was thrown at this fire but the high heat, the difficulty of the terrain and the changing winds just blew it out of control. Despite all they have on their hands, New South Wales sent some of their firefighters down to help us. There have been reported injuries to firefighters and police and 28 people have been taken to hospital. The wind whipped up dust storms for a while – which really didn’t help matters. We just have to pray that nothing happened here because our firefighters and units have gone to help fight the fires in the Adelaide Hills.

The fundraising  for the RFDS that was supposed to happen today – didn’t. What with all the heat and the problems thoughout the week dates were mixed up. Well yes, we do have a fundraising

Part of the fire area in South Australia.

event and it is on 22nd December but somehow days got mixed up and it was believed that the 22nd was today (Saturday) – it”s tomorrow (Sunday) and I’m not down to do it – it being Sunday. Anyway, we have put it down as a heat related  mix-up. The fires here in South Australia have claimed two lives and injured 28 – many of those injured are firefighters and the present outlook is not  good.

The sands of time are sinking.

by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs
The town from The Hill
The town from The Hill

One of the things I am happy about it that I don’t have to be responsible for the minutes of anything now. I have the luxury  of being able to  do things because I want to, not because I have to. I’m not running about the place as I was last year – well last month was exceptional.   I have started reading again now that I can sit down for a bit. I also have a new camera, which I  have difficulty using, so I have decided to join the local photography club. I like taking photographs and I am reasonable when it comes to editing, but  would like to get better. I went there for the first time and had to do a “show and tell”and put a couple of my photographs on the big screen. On a scale on 1 – 10 with 10 being the highest,  I scored 5.6, which I suppose for a rank armature, is not three bad

I have no idea what to do in the garden, short of hiring a flame thrower to get rid of the weeds. With all this rain

No - not part of a river - our new wetlands
No – not part of a river – our new wetlands

they have taken off something fierce and weed killer is about as effective as using a water pistol to put out a house fire. When things settle down and the weather is a bit less inclement , I might get a backhoe to take off the surface. Once I get that done I will lay down weed matting and decide what to do after that.  Probably turn it into an gravel garden with a round house in the center (Hexagonal Gazebo)

Over 70 firefighters from Australia and New Zealand flew out to the USA to help  with fighting the fires in the  Western States,  particularly California I believe. I think it is brilliant that  countries with  forest fire problems  work together to assist each other when the need arises – such as now in the USA. A few years ago there were firefighters from the USA, Canada and New Zealand came to help in Australia.

I spent a good hour at the wetlands taking photographs. The wetlands looks a bit rough at the moment but new paths  have been put in, a new parking area with the possibility of a tea-room shortly,  restrooms, including a disabled restroom, ramps for wheelchair access and a barbecue area.  New fencing installed, a bike track round the entire area, new trees and shrubs planted, so, when everything grows and starts to get a bit of greenery around the place it should be really nice. An excellent area for a picnic. When I was down there, there were walkers  and mums with babies in prams getting ready to go for a stroll. Never really looked at the rules so I’m not sure if dogs are allowed – even on a leash.  The total area is 24.6 hectares with over 8 hectares of artificial lakes. One of the  better projects of a Council that is out of favour with a lot of residents.

Five months – that’s what I have left on my current site, then I have to renew with WordPress. If it were now – this week – I  think  I would be doing a MASH = Goodbye, Farewell and Amen. However, as it is I have from now until January to decide – renewal is in February.

A lot has happened since Christmas. I look out of the window and get depressed looking at the sea of weeds and I definitely think hiring a backhoe and driver is the answer. With regards to weeds, I am no orphan around the town in that regard – many people have been complaining about the massive growth of weeds. Then the weather people tell us that we have had our average rainfall for the year. What they don’t say is that we had a long dry

Weeds - I hates them precious!!
Weeds – I hates ’em precious!!

spell then the average for the year over a few months, hence the  huge amount of water in the wetlands (storm water runoff)  and the  massive spurt of weeds. Even in the church grounds it’s a fight to keep them under control at the moment.

Fires, Dogs and Thank you.

by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs
winmalee
Winmalee after the fire had passed

The situation in NSW is not getting any better. This morning a further 70 firefighters left South Australia to head to the  crisis center. There are additional fire units coming from as far away as Western Australia. We are fire free but we are back to Severe Wind Warnings again and at the moment it is blowing pretty bad – just keeping an eye on that other gum tree.

The military are believed to have been responsible for starting of  one of the larger fires through “live-fire” exercises. They are being very cagey at the moment. However – as I have said we are not really in a fire area but I also said that the military have taken over several stations (ranches)  – not too far from here  our emergency services were called out to assist in fighting a bush fire in one of the “training” areas. Anyway, that was put out.

Since starting this the fire situation has improved and the firefighters are starting to get things under control, but it is a concern that we have this kind of crisis and the fire season has not really begun. There is a very strong indication that the military were responsible for the  fires at Lithgow.

The dogs have been good. The Man sleeps a lot but  he seems to make up for it in bouts of high activity. He’s eating better since I gave up the chicken and rice and 20130723_114204started him on “puppy food” on the understanding that this should help to bring his weight back up again. I gave up on the chicken and rice because he just wouldn’t eat it – Strange dog!!  He uses a lot of energy during the high activity periods, then he sleeps. I also feed him treats and because I have two dogs and not one, Chienne also has to have a treat – can’t give to one and not the other. They have walks twice a day – morning and evening.

I am  humbled by the fact that a number of people thought of us during the height of the fires in NSW. We are  one thousand miles away from the fire front ( about 1700 kilometres) but as a friend said, all the rest of the world hears is that Australia is burning. Thank you for your concern – Herself, the Dogs and Me are fairly safe.

Bit of a respite for others – but we are still ok.

by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

This is My Futon.Outback town swelters through week of 45+C

It’s been an interesting week and there is every indication that it is not over yet. South Australia has been spared much of the fire crisis and only one major fire and that is now under control. There are reports of a fire to the west of us but  nothing  definite yet. Our firefighters are still on standby and we are sending relief fire crews and some fire machines across the border into Victoria to assist and give some welcome  rest and relief to the crews over there. The hardest hit state is New South Wales with over 100 fires burning and fighters stretched to the limit.  Not a lot being done in the garden and the dogs are just flat out inside.

Police have arrested three arsonists who they believe are responsible for starting one of the  bush fires. I personally  think this should be classed as domestic terrorism, but I  have no doubt that there are those who have softer hearts ” they are ill people who need attention, not punishment – I mean they didn’t mean to kill 4000 cattle, 7 dogs and 32 people”. –  Sorry, I just don’t buy that!  Yes, by all means give them medical attention – but in the prison hospital over the next 15 years.

Since I started writing this the temperature here has gone down to 28c but it will go back to 37c tomorrow and building up over the next few days. There are over 130 homes destroyed in Tasmania and 100 people still unaccounted for.  Hopefully alive and well, somewhere, but unaccounted for at the moment. The dogs have enjoyed walks in the cool of the evening and in the early morning. Much of the day they have been inside, but as the temperature cooled they spent more time outside. They like to wander through the back yard and find places to hide as well as shade under the trees. I have two dogs, three dog houses,  three raised beds and six  padded  beds. I have a dog house in the garage and when I am working in there the little man generally takes up residence in that one. Also the door does not close properly so he can squeeze through and go into that bed when he just wants peace and quiet away from everyone – but  then, isn’t that what a garage/workshop is for??