In what is being described as the worst ever fire conditions much of the state is either ablaze or nervously waiting for their turn in the crucible.
As I write this the horrendous news that 14 are confirmed dead due to the Kinglake fires with the number likely to rise to 40+ has come in.
In South-Eastern Australia and Victoria specifically there are two dates that strike fear into the heart and both of these are related to wildfire. The one most are familiar with is Ash Wednesday in 1983 which for many is the worst fire season in living memory. However there was one further back that was even worse, and whose conditions today's weather has rivaled for the worst on record, and that is Black Friday in 1939. And that leaves me with a question. What will we call today, Saturday the 7th February 2009.
This might seem a flippant question in the circumstances, but I assure you it isn't. We measure our tragedies, and our ability to cope, with the names we give them. It is interesting that both the previous names have religious connotations, at least in that part of the world that has followed Christianity. I've been racking my brain but I can't think of a Saturday connection. Perhaps other religions have an alternative.
Today we were far from the fire front, yet at one point the wind brought us news of the fires to the west in the form of the strong smell of smoke. Let me put that into perspective. The nearest fire to the west was around Horsham, some 150km (almost 100 mile) away. That is how strong the wind was and how fierce the fires are. To the northeast, Bendigo was under siege with the outskirts being given up. The fire fighters were no longer even attempting to save homes (asset protection in their guarded lingo) and were into evacuations only. It would appear that more than 30 houses are gone in that fire alone. To the east people are confirmed dead in Kinglake. Further to the southeast, it seems like the whole of Gippsland is on fire, and with it some of our major power feeds from the LaTrobe Valley having to be shut down due to the fires.
No matter how you look at it it is a dark day for Victoria. And maybe the search for a name is meaningless amongst the carnage, but at least for me it keeps me sane and out there patrolling the boundaries hoping that tomorrow will be a better day.
One bitter quirk to all this was the litany of towns being reported, many of which Karen and I had seriously contemplated as our new home before finally deciding on Redbank. It makes this all so much more personal and there is even a touch of guilt in there, even though there is nothing to be guilty for.
If any of you out there are far from the fires and have either the time, the space, or the money, please consider helping out with your time, or open your house to the newly homeless, or when the CFA come jingling their cans at you, dig deep and add to their coffers. I can assure you it is money well spent.
If you are affected by the fires and need some assistance, or even someone to talk to, please drop me a line. I'm not sure how I can help, as the drought hasn't left us with a lot of feed at the moment, so if nothing else it may be just moral support.
