Military on standby as NSW's 300km wall of fire continues its destruction. - Polidicks

[QUOTE][QUOTE][IMG]http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/10/20/1226743/468139-4130bf54-397a-11e3-a826-323d4d841c99.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] NSW Emergency Service Minister Mike Gallacher says northwesterly winds could push the large fire into two others - and towards more populated areas like Katoomba and Leura, and western Sydney. Source: [URL]http://www.news.com.au/national-news/nsw-act/military-on-standby-as-rfs-tells-families-to-be-ready-to-run-as-nsws-300km-wall-of-fire-continues-its-destruction/story-fnii5s3x-1226743469519[/URL][/QUOTE] [QUOTE]A state of emergency is in effect across New South Wales as authorities warn of an unparalleled fire emergency and a potential mega-fire across hundreds of kilometres. As of Monday morning, a total of 56 bushfires were burning across the state and 12 are out of control. The State Mine fire near Lithgow, which has burned nearly 40,000 hectares, is of most concern today and RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says he expects it will connect with the blaze at Mount Victoria. Source: [URL]http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-20/bushfires-state-of-emergency-declared-in-nsw/5034212[/URL][/QUOTE] [QUOTE][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/SEiDpgW.png[/IMG] [URL="https://www.facebook.com/nswrfs/posts/10151939692370552"]Source[/URL][/QUOTE]

And we're not even into fire season yet. Has the potential to be pretty grim this season.

Australians deserve some sort of badass award for living on an island actively trying to kill them all. [QUOTE=MuTAnT;42589622]And we're not even into fire season yet. Has the potential to be pretty grim this season.[/QUOTE]What the fuck

What are they going to do? Shoot the fire out? [sp] goddamn it people. it's a joke. I'm not that dense. [/sp]

[QUOTE=valkery;42589687]What are they going to do? Shoot the fire out?[/QUOTE] Fight fire with fire(arms)

I never experience such great catastrophies here, which I'm really glad of. Although we do get the occaisonal flooding, destroying property all around the country. Even then our governement is pretty bad at dealing with it, also during winter we really lack a large stockpile of salts and everything goes down to shit.

[QUOTE=valkery;42589687]What are they going to do? Shoot the fire out?[/QUOTE] Both the Air Force and the Army have fire fighters, as well as much needed equipment. [URL]http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/airforce/jobs/FireFighter/[/URL] Next to that, they can use troops to help escort people safely out of their homes; they need the numbers if they wish to cover whole neighbourhoods in a short time. They can also setup community centres, and treat anyone who is injured. There is more to the defence force than just guns.

NM, AZ and CA oughta loan some of their more experienced firefighters to help out.

[QUOTE=Psychokitten;42589948]NM, AZ and CA oughta loan some of their more experienced firefighters to help out.[/QUOTE] You do realize this is in Australia, right?

I felt pretty bad when it was raining in Brisbane a few days ago you guys could really use it better than us

wow lol

There's clear skies here but you wouldn't think so , the sky is grey at 11am.

[QUOTE=Psychokitten;42589948]NM, AZ and CA oughta loan some of their more experienced firefighters to help out.[/QUOTE] As long as they don't die.

[QUOTE=valkery;42590038]You do realize this is in Australia, right?[/QUOTE] So fly them in. Government's got a budget again, surely they can afford it.

[QUOTE=valkery;42590038]You do realize this is in Australia, right?[/QUOTE] The US and Australia already loan firefighters and equipment during their fire seasons. No idea if it's a regular thing or for emergencies though.

I don't live in the country but you can tell its terrible out of the central as the city is covered in smoke for the past few days and as an asthmatic and it also being hayfever season it also inadvertently kicking a lot of asthma people in the shin

[QUOTE=Bradyns;42589844]Both the Air Force and the Army have fire fighters, as well as much needed equipment. [URL]http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/airforce/jobs/FireFighter/[/URL] Next to that, they can use troops to help escort people safely out of their homes; they need the numbers if they wish to cover whole neighbourhoods in a short time. They can also setup community centres, and treat anyone who is injured. There is more to the defence force than just guns.[/QUOTE] then why can i hear them training with guns?

[QUOTE=abcpea;42590330]then why can i hear them training with guns?[/QUOTE] Rocks and shit explode and send little shards flying everywhere when they get real hot, you can probably hear that if you are near the fires.

I was in Canberra the last few days and you could even see the smoke there.

Apparently we didn't back burn enough because the conditions to allow it didn't appear enough (they become more strict as well). This fire season is going to be very bad.

Man, Aussies are some tough people Literally everything is constantly trying to kill them

[QUOTE=Sgt Doom;42589661]Australians deserve some sort of badass award for living on an island actively trying to kill them all.[/QUOTE] [quote]Eucalyptus oil is highly flammable (ignited trees have been known to explode);[/quote] You know your country really wants to kill you when the TREES evolve to explode and reproduce with fire.

[QUOTE=mokkan;42590378]Rocks and shit explode and send little shards flying everywhere when they get real hot, you can probably hear that if you are near the fires.[/QUOTE] im not near the fires im near the army and i know the difference. [editline]21st October 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Badballer;42590528]Apparently we didn't back burn enough because the conditions to allow it didn't appear enough (they become more strict as well). This fire season is going to be very bad.[/QUOTE] thats why you dont vote for the fucking greens

Y'know, this probably sounds strange to Australians, but fire weather sounds like both a crazy paradox and an awesome magickal spell. When I think of weather, I think of wind and rain and sun and clouds; never anything as chaotic as fire. But we can at least look on the bright side, in that it could always be worse; there could be a form of weather where certain types of cloud precipitate droplets of fire instead of water. Thank god there's no such thing as phlogiston.

[QUOTE=valkery;42590038]You do realize this is in Australia, right?[/QUOTE] Australia often sends firefighters during the US wildfire season if required, and I'm sure the US would return the favour if required. I think some of CA's heavy firefighting helicopters and other aircraft are already stationed in Australia during our summers / their winters, due to the likelihood of it being required.

[QUOTE=DogGunn;42590629]Australia often sends firefighters during the US wildfire season if required, and I'm sure the US would return the favour if required. I think some of CA's heavy firefighting helicopters and other aircraft are already stationed in Australia during our summers / their winters, due to the likelihood of it being required.[/QUOTE]That's actually pretty smart considering opposite seasons and all. [editline]21st October 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=RenegadeCop;42590628]If people weren't here, would the entire world just catch on fire and die?[/QUOTE] Well a lot of it is started by arson which kinda sucks.

I'm glad I live in a place where the only danger is tornados, which don't happen too often and are spread apart. Oh and the occasional [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Madrid_Seismic_Zone"]gigantic fucking earthquake.[/URL]

Found this on /r/australia [img]http://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/82000/82189/Australia_amo_2013290.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=RenegadeCop;42590628]If people weren't here, would the entire world just catch on fire and die?[/QUOTE] Yes!

All my family and friends live up where this is all happening and unfortunately I cant be there for if the worst does happen because of my chosen career, it is really terrible just watching and not being able to do anything.