How about some real heat! Frosty is nowhere to be seen!

[crazycanuck]

Can someone please send some good thoughts down to Victoria? The death toll is at 35 as of today but it's likely to rise. What really gets my goat is that many of the fires are work of arsonists

http://www.watoday.com.au/national/w...0208-80om.html

http://www.watoday.com.au/national/v...0208-80os.html

A good friend has family in Horsham and have heard good news that they've not lost any posessions. So far..

Rain please...!!!

[jaydee]

I am in a complete state of shock with the fires in Victoria. 66 dead and over 600 homes lost -but emergency services can't get into some townships to even see what the damage is.

We have a huge pall of smoke right across the sky to the south and while I know it is blowing up here with the southerly change and there are no fires around Canberra, it still makes you feel really nervous.

It is still awfully hot with erratic winds. A cool change is forecast but for many down south it is simply too late.

A horrendous day for people in the fire zones and their friends and families scattered all over the world. Our prayers and thoughts are with you. It really puts things into perspective and makes you appreciate all you have!

[crazycanuck]

I don't know how to describe how I felt last night when I watched the reports about the Vic bushfires. It's overwhelming to know that whole communities have been wiped out. The stories i'm reading today are both amazing & sad.

Aussies are normally well prepared for bushfire season but from what i've heard, the fires were just too ferocious for most to even try and contain.

Jaydee, Trekhawk & other aussie ladies-do you remember " Black friday http://www.abc.net.au/blackfriday/home/default.htm" and " ash wednesday http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_Wednesday_fires"??

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/

*sigh*

[sundial]

CC, are you alright over there?? Your family and friends?? I am just sick at what's happening. The death toll is unbelievable!

[Trekhawk]

I don't know how to describe how I felt last night when I watched the reports about the Vic bushfires. It's overwhelming to know that whole communities have been wiped out. The stories i'm reading today are both amazing & sad.

Aussies are normally well prepared for bushfire season but from what i've heard, the fires were just too ferocious for most to even try and contain.

Jaydee, Trekhawk & other aussie ladies-do you remember " Black friday http://www.abc.net.au/blackfriday/home/default.htm" and " ash wednesday http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_Wednesday_fires"??

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/

*sigh*

No words for this - just overwhelming sadness.

[crazycanuck]

Sundial, we're ok out west.

[Ninabike]

Hello all of you TEr's down under. Our news media has been giving a lot of coverage to the Victoria fires. It is so sad. Those of us here in Southern California can identify. We have had massive fires over the past couple of years with tremendous losses, although not the loss of life you are experiencing. Take care and stay safe!!

[sundial]

Sundial, we're ok out west.

Stay safe, CC. And to our TE'ers down under, my prayers are with you.