Wildfires in Australia

[magnumfan]

For any who have not seen it

http://www.theage.com.au/

overnight some 96 folks burnt to death, hundreds of thousands of hectares of bush land burnt, some of the best and prettiest bush off roading country in Australia turned to ash and the little hamlet I used to live in 20 odd years ago, is gone

just sad

 

[techno]

Yeah, its terrible. I lived there 3 years ago and used to wheel all through Toolangi and Mt Dissa, now its all torched, including all the surrounding towns. Several friends have lost their houses. Sadly, the deaths are at nearly 200. Worst fires in Australia's history.

 

[magnumfan]

Mount Dissapointment State Forest

Yeah, its terrible. I lived there 3 years ago and used to wheel all through Toolangi and Mt Dissa, now its all torched, including all the surrounding towns. Several friends have lost their houses. Sadly, the deaths are at nearly 200. Worst fires in Australia's history.

Yes Mt Dissapointment was one of my favorite play grounds, good rabbit, fox, hog, goat and Elk hunting there, or used to be. I even got a wild cow in there once

the towns of flowerdale and hazeldine are both totaly gone. if you remember the flowerdale hotel, is still standing on the kinglake - yea road. its a good watering hole.

 

[techno]

We used to hang out near No.1 Camp and Strath Ck Falls mostly, we would often see feral goats there and the occasional Sambar. Hardly any bunnies anymore.
Have spent many hours in the Flowerdale Hotel, but learned very early on not to challenge the locals at a game of pool, they lie in wait for amateurs like me! Glad to hear it was saved.
Here's pic 4wding on Burnt Break Tk in my old G60, I wish the place was still wet like it was back then.

 

[magnumfan]

Techno, I would bet we both know the same folks

We used to hang out near No.1 Camp and Strath Ck Falls mostly, we would often see feral goats there and the occasional Sambar. Hardly any bunnies anymore.
Have spent many hours in the Flowerdale Hotel, but learned very early on not to challenge the locals at a game of pool, they lie in wait for amateurs like me! Glad to hear it was saved.
Here's pic 4wding on Burnt Break Tk in my old G60, I wish the place was still wet like it was back then.

Hey Techno, this is bizzare! from your time at the Flowerdale hotel, do you know alan and brenda (he had a GQ Patrol - red color), do you know an aboriginal guy named harry

Do you know Maz, who used to own the strath creek hotel? he was hooked into the hells angeles biker club in Melbourne.

I know camp 1 well and the strath falls - but its been 15 odd years since I used to frequent the area. I used to have a patrol, it was a Blue over silver GQ wagon, diesel. I am stunned by what you said, just stunned

 

[Fumbler]

I'm a forester/ranger/wildland firefighter and have to say that it's really no big deal that all those acres burned. That brush type evolved around fire and needs fire to maintain itself.

Now, I do feel horrible about the loss of lives

Australia has a lot to think about concerning their wildland/urban interface and their policies on evacuations...

 

[techno]

I'm a forester/ranger/wildland firefighter and have to say that it's really no big deal that all those acres burned. That brush type evolved around fire and needs fire to maintain itself.

You are right, however these fires were not the usual bushfires. The conditions were extreme by any standard, 118

 

[techno]

Re: Techno, I would bet we both know the same folks

Hey Techno, this is bizzare! from your time at the Flowerdale hotel, do you know alan and brenda (he had a GQ Patrol - red color), do you know an aboriginal guy named harry

Small world isn't it!! I don't remember any names by I do remember an aboriginal guy who seems to always be there...
I wish they had Patrols over here!

 

[Lowpro]

 

[magnumfan]

Koala's

Short of the little bear pic here in northern cal that was taken last year in the NorCal fires, that pic of the Koala is the best darn thing I think I have seen

For What Its Worth, they are not cute and cuddly, they smell like Eucalyptus and pee, and they are flea bitten critters and you can only get near them when they are well fed (aka high as a kite) the species of Eucalyptus they eat is a narcotic (to them)

Koala's dont get called 'Drop Bears' in Australia without reason. They get high and fall out of the tree

Great pic

 

[magnumfan]

techno, great pic of a butterbox

We used to hang out near No.1 Camp and Strath Ck Falls mostly, we would often see feral goats there and the occasional Sambar. Hardly any bunnies anymore.
Have spent many hours in the Flowerdale Hotel, but learned very early on not to challenge the locals at a game of pool, they lie in wait for amateurs like me! Glad to hear it was saved.
Here's pic 4wding on Burnt Break Tk in my old G60, I wish the place was still wet like it was back then.

I dont know why, but those old patrol's were called 'butterbox's'

they were originally designed for the Indian army by Nissan

Great truck but I now think the Toyota product is better. The problem with the old G60 was its low gearing was a tad too high, compared to the old Toyota's

Also, I think Infinity is the upmarket brand from Nissan - so in effect the Patrol is here..

Small world I was in Pittsburg back in Oct

all the best Techno. Great to meet u dude

j

 

[magnumfan]

video of the Koala and the CFA guy with water

CFA = Country Fire Authority

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=11994263&ch=4226714&src=news

quote "how much can a koala bear?"

 

[4runr30]

I have been living under a rock and hadnt heard about this. Wildland fires are a bad deal. I cant belive the death toll. My hat is off to Wildland Firefighters, it is far more dangerous than the structural firefighting I do.