Here is a link that shows the destruction from the fires that have hit Victoria, Australia, (where i am from).. sadly around 200+ lives were lost and over 700 homes destroyed 
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/02/bushfires_in_victoria_australi.html

OMG, that's terrible  .

Sorry to hear that this is happening... 

I used to live in Arizona and we had wildfires every year usually 2-5 of them. But ummm 200+ people died? I cant count how many times we were threatened with evacuation and how many towns have been completely wiped out and we never lost anywhere near that amount. (never more than 5 or so) Are wildfires not normal in Australia or is the preparation just not so great?

Damn. I feel your pain Waffles.

Quote from: Stumpy on February 14, 2009, 04:20:13 AM
I used to live in Arizona and we had wildfires every year usually 2-5 of them. But ummm 200+ people died? I cant count how many times we were threatened with evacuation and how many towns have been completely wiped out and we never lost anywhere near that amount. (never more than 5 or so) Are wildfires not normal in Australia or is the preparation just not so great?

Wild Fires are normal, tho someone lit some of these.. which is terrible and with the wind behind the fire it sweeps threw towns and houses at more than 50km/h.

When you are warned about fires you have a choice.. leave or protect your house.. most people leave but some people stay. Sometimes when leaving roads are blocked by fallen trees or the smoke is so thick they no one can see anything. So then people crash and get trapped in cars and die. Usually the preparation is good.

Quote from: Waffles on February 14, 2009, 02:20:41 PM

Quote from: Stumpy on February 14, 2009, 04:20:13 AM
I used to live in Arizona and we had wildfires every year usually 2-5 of them. But ummm 200+ people died? I cant count how many times we were threatened with evacuation and how many towns have been completely wiped out and we never lost anywhere near that amount. (never more than 5 or so) Are wildfires not normal in Australia or is the preparation just not so great?

Wild Fires are normal, tho someone lit some of these.. which is terrible and with the wind behind the fire it sweeps threw towns and houses at more than 50km/h.

When you are warned about fires you have a choice.. leave or protect your house.. most people leave but some people stay. Sometimes when leaving roads are blocked by fallen trees or the smoke is so thick they no one can see anything. So then people crash and get trapped in cars and die. Usually the preparation is good.

Ahh ok.

once the guys name who lit the fires is known, some1 is going to kill him somehow