Search and Recovery

37 still missing as more soldiers join bushfire search (The Age, today)

"Ninety reservists from interstate flew into Melbourne today to join the search and recovery effort as authorities warned of another severe fire threat with extreme weather conditions early next week.

...[Police, soldiers and other official personnel] will go right through the 1,300 or so sites that were affected by the fire to confirm that there are no more human remains.

"It's not an easy task. We know that there are 37 missing persons still, the odds are we will come across human remains during this search.''"

Jesus. Thank fuck someone has got what it takes to do that job. Dunno if I could.


National Day of Mourning

Watched the broadcast of the service at the arena in Melbourne. It was very well done. I sniffled through the entire thing.

If you missed the broadcast, go to ABC iView or YouTube.


Not over yet

"As well as predictions of increasing temperatures, the Department of Sustainability and Environment's chief fire officer Ewan Waller said winds would average between 60 to 80km/h with gusts of up to 140km/h in some areas on Tuesday.

"Tuesday's severe weather day will significantly increase risks for firefighters," Mr Waller said. "The threat of falling trees and limbs will increase in these conditions."

"There has been a fantastic team effort by all agencies, including our interstate and international colleagues, in working to contain fire lines.

"However, we remain vulnerable to breakaways as well as new outbreaks, particularly as weather conditions once again deteriorate this week.''

Fire crews have made the most of a cool change that swept through key areas late yesterday to continue containment work on the main fires, including the Kilmore East-Murrindindi complexes, to reduce further risk of flare-ups and breakouts.

By 4pm today [Saturday 28th Feb], the 623 fires listed by the DSE had burnt up to 400,000 hectares, with four major fires still burning out of control." (The Age, same article as above)


Donate

Blood donation sign-up or ring 13 14 95.

Give money online to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal or at 1800 811 700.

Give at the Salvation Army 137 258 or go to salvos.org.au.

Thank you to all who clicked through from this blog to donation sites.


(I'll be back next Saturday. Sign up in the right-hand sidebar and I'll ping yer inbox. I fixed the feed that was buggered.)