Saturday 7th February fires outside of Lilydale, Victoria, Australia

[scooterh123]

i live there were that fire was it came to our fecing line so hmm preety scary.

[mattyoataway]

I live in Yarra Glen also part of the CFA.......i think that that grey colum of smoke is coming from either coldstream or Christmas Hills........With the video it makes the darkness look like its gona poor down with rain

[urameshiyaaa]

The media focus on supposed arsonists but very few criticise the role of the state and federal governments. The Kennet government privatised the State Electricity Commission in '95 and rolling brownouts hit the state as the heatwave picked up. It now transpires that many fires (Kinglake included) were started by fallen power lines. Furthermore, the 'stay-&-fight-or-leave-early' policy of the government is shameful. To leave it up to civilians to defend their properties? What is government for?

[nickc0586]

your right about privatisation, time we went back to public/government-owned utilities.

as for the stay or leave early policy, it works brilliantly provided the residents are educated about what to do and can adequately prepare themselves as best they can.

all this in mind, ultimately there's not much we can do to prevent or fight a major firestorm such as black friday in 39', ash wed in 83' and black saturday in 09', bushfires are a part of life here and we've got to be aware & educated

[urameshiyaaa]

The only way an average civilian will be adequately educated and prepared to defend property would be through training as part of the bush-fire brigade and thus not an averae civllian.

All firefighting should be coordinated across the fire front.

Technology allows our government to provide bombing targets to military operatives in Afghanistan! How can they argue that this is too expensive to deploy to protect peoples lives here. Bushfires ARE a fact of life but they could be managed much better.

[J3sst44]

You can't deny residents the right to stay and attempt to defend their home. On any other day than black Saturday, it's not the hardest of tasks, while you do need to know what's going on, and have the right equipment, you definitely don't need firefighter training.

[yyosavich]

urameshiyaaa, do u want the goverment to wipe ur ass for u too, are you so weak that u cant protect urself.

If anyone looked out the window they would know that it was a shit day for fires.

Your better off in a house than in a car trying to evacuate, the resedents who lived in these areas should have knowen about the fire risk and left before it started.

The stay and defend policy works, but those conditions were so bad that nothing could stop it and no one could prepare for it.

[micromused]

Point the finger after the fires are out. Shouldnt we concentrate on the fires and those who have lost thier homes and loved ones? GROW UP

[khfdez]

FRIDAY 13th February.

The Healesville area fires keep on causing concern.

There is currently an Urgent Threat Message for residents in the vicinity of St Leonards Road, Trench Farm Road, Myers Creek Road, Valley Farm Road, Lowes Road, Warringah Drive, Arlunya Road, Kay Road, Fairview Road, Blackwoods Road, and the section of Healesville

You can check your Google Earth to see where the threats are. We are about 14 miles from the fires. We are quite safe at the moment.

Paul

[paulcopeland]

Wednesday 11th February 9.15 pm. There is concern that another monster fire is building in Victoria as two major blazes burning close together threaten to merge about 15 miles from where we live. At the moment the temperatures are not that high, but the temperatures will rise very early next week. We are okay where we are.

[wxyz2009]

thanks for sharing that footage

[Bodirogaj]

Today afternoon i was in lilydale and saw some smoke around healesville.

[paulcopeland]

Tuesday 10th February 10.38 pm. The death toll is now over 180, with over 750 houses destroyed :( One of the biggest fires is in the Healesville area which is about 35 minutes drive from where we live. We are okay.

[fiddletownjoel]

a punishment to individuals whose race happens to be Australian? these people had nothing to do with Cronulla, they live in another state, and I don't believe in punishing people because they are of the same race as some other people that did a bad thing, thats called racism and thats exactly what happened at Cronulla, a whole bunch of ethnic people were punished because some lebanese people bashed a lifeguard so all lebanese were punished. 181+ peple died in these fires, grow up

[fiddletownjoel]

And I'm speaking from experience. I open my arms to immigrants of any race to Australia, In 2002 we had to shoot our dieing horse during the 2002 fires, we saved our house but the bobcat burnt so we couldnt bury the horse for 2 weeks until we bought another earthmover. You should be ashamed of yourself for being so Ignorant. I can't believe while Australians have come together and raised millions upon millions for charity for the disaster all you can do is say these people deserve it.

[newyorkvsarmy]

I bet arsonists are neo-Nazis like u

[fiddletownjoel]

Ha! haven't been doing too well in psychic class I see. I work In one of the most multicultural areas of Australia (Auburn in Sydney) and love it. I'm friends with Indians, Pakistanis, Serbians, Croatians, Ukranians, Koreans, Chinese, Vietnamese, South Americans, Lebbonese, Irish, English, Scottish, Sudanese, Italian, South African, and more. I've had a Japanese and African-American exchange student stay at my house, and I am part Aboriginal. whats your beef with me anyway?

[AussieBassist]

Who is meant to be punishing who for what? Lets punish a bunch of people by starting fires in a bushy area, because of some race riots/silly teen fights that happened in another state, in 2005? I understand your just being a troll and find it funny when everyone gets pissed off, but your comment doen't even make sense...

[thesurfsflat]

Mate, ive never seen such an extremist comment on a matter thats not related to these fires. Maybe you need to take your head out of the sand and take note. Dont try to incite your ideals here. There a million others like you and its getting boring. And to 'matter of factly' speak, I'd be expecting someone like yourself to have started a fire like this....you sound mighty angry for a "powderpuff".

[juzzi07]

Wrong state. If that was the case...then New South Wales would have burned. No Victorians were involved in the Cronulla riot. It was a crew of Sydneysiders vs Sydneysiders with Kebabs in hand.

You just wrote this to stir us up. I choose to not be stirred - i just think you're geographically retarded.

You're clearly not an Australian.

[juzzi07]

The Gippsland Arsonist was charged - and he posessed child pornography.

Oh wait...you're just some dumb New Yorker from Obama's ideal world. You wouldn't know where the Gippland reigon was.

Why am i not surprised.

So...if you are championing the arsonist...then you too are a kiddie fucker.

[jnb4566]

Please stay safe

[paulcopeland]

Tuesday 10th February. There are many fires still burning :( The death toll has risen to 170 and is still rising :( We are okay where we are. Twenty four bushfires are still raging out of control.

[jemsmom93]

Paul,

Glad to see you posted on Feb 9 - didn't see a post from you today (8 am EST-USA) so I was worried. Hope you are still safe.

-Deborah

[paulcopeland]

Mopnday 9th February 11.48 pm. There are still many fires. There are urgent threats for residents of Healesville, Yarra Glen and Chum Creek. This area is about 12 miles from where we live.

[MRMILO57]

If people want to rebuild in fire prone area's. Government law should make it compulsory for them to have underground bunkers, with fire proof metal doors.

So many people would be alive if only they had bunkers.

[bahamut6667]

but the bunkers would heat up like a oven im not shure how to stop it actually

[MRMILO57]

Aye mate, something interesting, just heard on the news, some guy and his family down near Churchhill, had a concrete shed out in there back yard. They some how sealed the door and survive, they survived because of that concrete above ground shed:-) The bunkers/fire shelters could be build above or below grown, wombats and many other animals go underground if they get a chance in dangerous fire situations.

You understand what I am say?

[WeedCokeCrack]

these fires are so bad!

i can't believe this is happening not even an hour from my house, its so overwheelming, i still cant get my mind around the now, 130 confirmed deaths. its so horrible. thoughts and prayers go out to all the family's and friends affected by the fires! xxxxxxxxxxxxx

[paulcopeland]

Please do be very careful.

[sochisochi]

Why are you still there , I think you should escape .

[paulcopeland]

This was filmed from the Gateway Estate in Lilydale near the factories. I understand that the fire was the Ingram Road fire near the Coldstream tip. The fire is out now, but there are fires and a warning for folk in Toolangi.

[turbobitch11]

friends of ours lost everything,i feel so bad for them

[paulcopeland]

I am so sorry. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them

[paulcopeland]

The death toll is now over 100 hundred, but there will be more :( There are still somebush fires of deep concern.

[MRMILO57]

It's so sad, some people had to leave there animals in the padocks, Pony's, horses, cows, sheep, then there was house pets......Some poeple even tryed to escape in there cars, families with pets died in there cars.

That's real bad!!

[sureimnotblonde]

Its so awful, my Uncle and family live in Melbourne! I think thats about an hour away from the fires? Be safe!

[AccordionManiac]

Just horrible.

Thanks for filming mate

[MamikoChanie]

No its now 84 not good Im afriad and they think its gonna get worse, damn is that seriously lilydale, I hope they dont come in but Its smoky were Im at. I think theres also another one in Healsvile. Its is worse than ash wednesday. Its so scary to think you might be next or a close friend or a family member.

[paulcopeland]

I hope the smoke goes away. There are still some fires in Healsville. Best wishes for safety for you and your family.

[MamikoChanie]

I think its safe here now Im more worried for the others who are in threat . I can see white smoke (or somehow it could be clouds, but you cant be too careful) I can see while coming home, just over the hills. A student from my school said that her uncle iis a fire fighter and thinks the fire is going to head back to Healsvile, and I also know a person who saw the fires luckily it didnt get her house but which part of Lilydale was this filmed, just for concern.

[keeleeng]

76 now most likely there will be more im sorry to say

[paulcopeland]

The official death toll is now over 65 and tragically there will be many more :(

[ethicomm]

Every time I check the news more people have died. Those firemen wearing those uniforms in 46 degree celsius temperatures, hats off to them.

[paulcopeland]

This fire which was in Ingram's road near the tip is now well under control. Tragically at least 24 people have died in the State, but the number could be much higher.

[paulcopeland]

Although the temperature has come down, there are some gusts of winds occurring. Also there is a possibility of thunder and lightning, which is very worrying.

[paulcopeland]

At the moment at least 14 lives have been lost.

[paulcopeland]

There have been well over a hundred homes burnt to the ground. It is 12.55 am, so the real devastation and loss of houses and lives won't be known for a while yet. The situation is still extremely serious in some areas.

[paulcopeland]

Sorry, yes it was over 46 Celsius.

It tragically looks as though it will be worse than ash Wednesday :(

[samantharox1327]

I thought it got to 46oC?

It didnt in Melbourne

Very scary fires!

I heard it worst then ash wednesday

I hope everyone is ok

[samantharox1327]

I meant it did in Melbourne