# Australian Bushfires **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 20, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-bushfires/671759 "2013-10-20T22:34:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-bushfires/671759/1 "2013-10-20T22:34:32Z")
I don’t know how much it’s being reported overseas but a [large part of the New South Wales eastern sea-board is currently on fire.](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-20/bushfires-state-of-emergency-declared-in-nsw/5034212) The map [here](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-08/live-map-nsw-fire-warnings/4456338) gives a good idea of what’s going on. I know we a have a few other Aussie dopers. If any of you are in the area: get clear early & stay safe. Anyone out with the SES/RFS crews - good luck and come home in one piece. This is shaping up to be one of the worst fire seasons in a long time, lots of late winter rain and now very hot conditions. I certainly don’t remember ever having bushfires like this so early in spring. We had bad fire in 2003 here and the city has been covers in a smoke haze for the past few days - a few people I know are getting jumpy and stressed ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-bushfires/671759/2 "2013-10-21T01:17:13Z")
I’m in an affected area–it’s really touch-and-go at times. I may yet have to leave again today. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-bushfires/671759/3 "2013-10-21T01:58:18Z")
Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-bushfires/671759/4 "2013-10-21T05:07:57Z")
Yeah, I went away over the weekend, came back last night and if anything the smoke and the situation is worse - and will be worse still later in the week with higher heat, lower humidity, and stronger winds. Good going nature! And what a great time to be planning to undo the carbon tax, which has been shown to actually work … ! ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-bushfires/671759/5 "2013-10-21T05:17:10Z")
[Helmet cam](http://kotaku.com/first-person-firefighting-looks-intense-1448802527) one of the firefighters ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-bushfires/671759/6 "2013-10-21T06:04:15Z")
I live in central Victoria - quite far away. We had our killer fires a few years ago, but it doesn’t look like that was anywhere near as big as the ones in NSW. I hope they stay separate, and don’t join up as some fear. ---
**Author:** ![Essured](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Essured](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Essured)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-bushfires/671759/7 "2013-10-21T06:24:56Z")
I’m not affected, but am close enough to one of the affected areas that I re-packed the escape bag, practiced the roof sprinkler drill and am monitoring the local rfs comms. My partner was out doing 12 hour shifts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, fighting the fires. At the moment, my only plan is to grab the bag and the dogs and go. I’m not currently in a position to stay and defend the property, though that may change later in the season ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-bushfires/671759/8 "2013-10-21T07:26:31Z")
Good luck to all our New South Welsh dopers. I’m thinking of you. This is awfully early in the season to be having such a bad one ☹