This Is A Sad Loss

[kgg]

Bert51 if humans don't cleanup the dead fuel / brush / over growth, nature will through other means like what you are experiencing. The Greenies / Tree Huggers / Climate Activists whatever label you want to use don't get it no matter what county they are in. There needs to be a practical, sensible, cost effective approach.

Prayers are with you and those affected.

kgg

[Bert51]

I wish i could save thank you to the good people in this forum for their prayers, kind thoughts and wishes, sadly I can only speak on my behalf and for that, I thank you from my heart.

I pray the cool change we are look for on Sunday give these hard working fire fighter and support people a break and some hard earned rest and most of all family time.

And maybe, lessons learnt will will be better plans, so this does not happen in the future.

But I doubt it.

Bert.

[chuck123wapati]

2 hours ago, kgg said:

Bert51 if humans don't cleanup the dead fuel / brush / over growth, nature will through other means like what you are experiencing. The Greenies / Tree Huggers / Climate Activists whatever label you want to use don't get it no matter what county they are in. There needs to be a practical, sensible, cost effective approach.

Prayers are with you and those affected.

kgg

true words there friend the forest here has so much deadfall due to the pine beetle infestation a couple decade ago that its just a matter of time, then adding to that the development of wilderness areas has stalled any vehicle access for fighting fire crews. Last year we had one and the fire crews just had to watch it burn, they had no safe way to get in or out. The deadfall is sometimes 6 to 8 feet high with downed trees and impossible to navigate. Good luck and god bless to the folks down under!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[toxo]

This might be pie in the sky and the first part needs a post all of it's own but what if these drone were armed with the kind of explosive that starved the fire of oxygen? A bit like Red Adair putting out an oil fire. I know there's the updraught and smoke to think about but might be feasable in the future.

 

[Handstitched]

@Rockoboy Your are exactly  right. Fire breaks are compulsory in the Wheatbelt( and many other places)  for those that have acreage . They have to be 1.5 mtrs wide, but that varies from one council to another. But I make them 2-3 times that width. Also slashing is compulsory  for 5 acres & under. We have much more than that, and although its not compulsory  for me to slash, I do it anyway for my own peace of mind,  we also burn off & prune branches etc.  during cooler months,    and spray, but thats still no guarantee that we'll be safe, its just reduces the risk.  But one '" saving grace'", perhaps,  is that we don't have tall  gum trees anywhere near  the house, where so many owners do. 

HS

[Handstitched]

I keep looking  at those photos of the leather goods business.

So, where do you start the recovery? Well,   after a damn good cry, , firstly I would try save the tools, a very long painful and arduous task of picking through the wreckage to find them . Hopefully, the stamping tools, 3D's etc.  survived, they can be restored .  The tools with wood handles, the wood handles can be replaced. The sewing machines? We've seen ' boat anchors' restored before, so there is hope, hoping the casings aren't warped or cracked, same goes for any manual presses etc. 

Theres always hope.

HS

[Sam I Am]

Prayers for all of you down under - thinking of you from Pennsylvania, USA

[Handstitched]

G'Day, heres a bit of an update.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-10/couple-who-lost-everything-shocked-at-recovery-grant-rejection/12038166

Not only did they suffer the loss of their leathergoods business due to the bush fires, but then it rained so much  they were  flooded out. 

God knows rain is a precious drop down under, but.......

I've just seen a report on the ABC ( Australia) in regards to the financial fall-out from the bush fires.  This business, like so many,  had to go through a lot of governmental red tape  just to get access to  financial assistance & grants. During the  registration process, the 'powers that be'  said that their leathergoods business was listed as ' untouched' ( as in, it didn't burn down) so they had to prove that it did FFS !!!  Now that process is to be ' simplified' ....apparently.  How much hardship do businesses have to go through just to get help? 

Also according to the report, people( fellow leather crafters)  kindly donated leather & tools to help them get back on their feet.  Thats some saving grace  

HS

Edited March 10, 2020 by Handstitched

[Tugadude]

17 minutes ago, Handstitched said:

G'Day, heres a bit of an update.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-10/couple-who-lost-everything-shocked-at-recovery-grant-rejection/12038166

Not only did they suffer the loss of their leathergoods business due to the bush fires, but then it rained so much  they were  flooded out. 

God knows rain is a precious drop down under, but.......

I've just seen a report on the ABC ( Australia) in regards to the financial fall-out from the bush fires.  This business, like so many,  had to go through a lot of governmental red tape  just to get access to  financial assistance & grants. During the  registration process, the 'powers that be'  said that their leathergoods business was listed as ' untouched' ( as in, it didn't burn down) so they had to prove that it did FFS !!!  Now that process is to be ' simplified' ....apparently.  How much hardship do businesses have to go through just to get help? 

Also according to the report, people( fellow leather crafters)  kindly donated leather & tools to help them get back on their feet.  Thats some saving grace  

HS

Thank you so much for the update.  I'm still praying for everyone down there just as I am for those in Tennessee that recently suffered a disastrous tornado.  Friends of mine have a daughter down there and she is a school teacher.  Her entire school was destroyed.  They are still trying to figure out what to do.  Fortunately this week is their spring break, so they have a little extra time to work on a plan.

When I hear of tragedies, I'm reminded of something I heard on the radio.  A pastor was talking about hardships and he used the phrase, "Good people happen to bad things".  We all suffer, nobody gets a pass.  But it is those times that we connect with good people and are reminded how good that feels.  

I pray that lots of good people descend on both Australia and Tennessee and anywhere else they are needed.

[toxo]

27 minutes ago, Handstitched said:

G'Day, heres a bit of an update.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-10/couple-who-lost-everything-shocked-at-recovery-grant-rejection/12038166

Not only did they suffer the loss of their leathergoods business due to the bush fires, but then it rained so much  they were  flooded out. 

God knows rain is a precious drop down under, but.......

I've just seen a report on the ABC ( Australia) in regards to the financial fall-out from the bush fires.  This business, like so many,  had to go through a lot of governmental red tape  just to get access to  financial assistance & grants. During the  registration process, the 'powers that be'  said that their leathergoods business was listed as ' untouched' ( as in, it didn't burn down) so they had to prove that it did FFS !!!  Now that process is to be ' simplified' ....apparently.  How much hardship do businesses have to go through just to get help? 

Also according to the report, people( fellow leather crafters)  kindly donated leather & tools to help them get back on their feet.  Thats some saving grace  

HS

Absolutely heartbreaking. For some the ultimate price is/was paid. I just don't get it. In a place where these things are a common occurence Surely it's time for mandatory half mile/mile/2 mile fire breaks around every residential area. I know there's been some political wrangling over firebreaks but come on.