Fires in Victoria

For the last two weeks, Chris and I have driven through some of the driest areas we've ever seen.  Paddocks, which had the remnants of their last crops, were gold or brown, and even in some cases, grey.  There was nothing green except for the grape vines on some properties.  EVERYTHING was gold or brown. Trees were losing their leaves, like Autumn had arrived early and some had already died.   Little or no stock in the paddocks.  Many lakes that we TRIED to find were bone dry.  And during the whole trip, Chris exclaiming '' I can't believe how DRY everything is".

And then Friday came and we landed in Melbourne.  The weather was warm and they were expecting a hot and windy day on Saturday.  So we prepared for the extreme temperatures once again.

But nothing prepared us for the hot searing winds that met us later in the morning.  The day got to 45C/112F and the wind gusts were up to 100kph/60mph.  And as I walked through this heat, I could feel that my eyes were trying to dry out.  And when I breathed, I took shallow breaths so my mouth and lungs wouldn't dry out.  It was hard to believe that the wind could cause such dehydration so quickly.  And with that kind of dry wind... It only took one or two firebugs and the fires were off!  And the devastation continues as I write.

Chris and I were catching up with some friends as we listened to snippets of the news.  Whole towns consumed by fire.  All those gold paddocks, now black or grey ash.  Quaint old homes now a smouldering mess with only their chimneys standing and tin roofs buckled, on the ground.  Livestock,..the farmer's livelihood, burnt.  Cars melted on the roads as people tried to escape at the last minute when the wall of fire was too intense.

Many of these people had no clue that the fires would be as intense as they were.  I'm sure many had already been through spot fires before and thought they would be able to handle these.  But because of the drought and the dryness of the crops and the trees around them, it proved too much.

Many firefighters  have come from far and wide to lend a helping hand.  The government also has stepped in to lend support.  This is one of the reasons I love Australia.  We all rally around together to help support those in a crisis.  Our thoughts and prayers are for those who are going through this hell and for those who are in the path of the fires.  God Bless.