SB: Re: Aussie Christmas in Sydney off topic.

["Huff 'n' Puff Constructions" <huffnpuff@shoal.net.au>]

G ' day Balers

On the road again, in Sydney with the children.  Some
recollections of Christmas 2001.

Black Christmas 2001.

Christmas Eve 2001, Hot day strong winds from the North,
looks like a day that could turn nasty.  Radio says 50 fires
out of control around Sydney.

Christmas Day 2001, Presents, grandchildren, laughter,
sirens lots of sirens.

Radio; fires raging in a huge fire storm all round Sydney
and the greater Sydney basin.  Fires jumping 6 lane freeways
over wide rivers and valleys huge balls of fires jumping
from tree to tree a fire storm.  Smell of burning eucalyptus
oil soot all round.  Smoke so much smoke.

80% of the Royal National Park South of Sydney destroyed.

Boxing Day smoke filled sky and soot, difficult to breathe,
150+ homes destroyed 100 fires burning out of control in New
South Wales.  Visibility down to 100 yards on some roads.
Roads into Wollongong closed.

Radio says 40 out of the 100 fires raging are suspicious and
could have been deliberately lit, such madness.  Total Fire
ban across the State of NSW.  300,000 acres burnt, 15,000
fire fighters from all over Australia fighting the bush
fires.  USA sends $50,000 and offer of help, thank you
America.

Finding it hard to breathe today smoke every where forecast
today 40 C and hot winds.  So many thousands of animals have
died some rare.  The bush will regenerate and this has been
going on for thousands of years EXCEPT that this time humans
as it was in '94 the last time also had a big part to play
in the disaster

It is now five days since the fires got going and there are
still roads closed.  However all major roads are open.  Off
to Queensland today Christmas 2001 just like all Aussie
Christmass hot, bush fires and cricket situation normal but
this fire storm was not normal.

Sirens still going this morning this has been a Black
Christmas, so far no lives lost human, that is and no
reports of any straw bale homes being burnt but the fire
near Falls Creek South of Nowra claimed a lot of homes and I
know of one SB home there however the Blue Mountains have
had a lot of fires and there are several SB homes in the
Blue Moutains must call and see if they are all well.

Anyone interested in our news:

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

All for now balers but so many questions need answering.

The Straw Wolf


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