Two of the classiest guys on the web, Neville Franks, of Surfulater, www.surfulater.com, and Darren Rowse, of www.problogger.com are in Victoria, the Australian state where bushfires are now running out of control.

So far 96 have died, according to the BBC.

The Australian prime minister has told the nation to be prepared for the news to get worse.

Please join me in keeping Neville and Darren, and their families, in your thoughts and prayers this morning.

To make matters worse, a mate on Twitter has said that Melbourne and Sydney are threatened by the fires. Winds are continually shifting direction in the area, and at this stage may be driven as much by the heat of the flames as they are by normal causes.

Calming of the winds and immediate rain are what would make a difference in this already disastrous situation.

Daly

Daly, many thanks for your outlook. Coming from a country that is threatened by wildfire every year, my thoughts and wishes go to the people of Victoria.

Alexander

Daly & Alex

Thanks for the message and good wishes

I also live in Melbourne Victoria, not far from Neville's business. We are in all a state of shock at what happened after temperatures of 46.4 C. (115.5 F) on Sat. We haven't had any rain for about 6 weeks and the place is tinder dry. We had temperatures of 45 + the week before. In a country notorious for bushfires, these are the worst fires in Australian history in terms of loss of life because of their proximity to human settlement.

Urban Melbourne itself is not under threat. The fires are north & east of Melb 40km + in outer urban/semi rural and forest country. The weather is much kinder now and crews are gradually cleaning up and finding people. Several small towns have been completely obliterated and turned to ash. There are still some dangerous fires around especially in the NE of Victoria. Many people are destitute.

I'm sure that many people here and overseas have family and friends who are affected. I personally knew of a young man aged 22 who tragically died inside a house while on the phone to his mother.

Regular participants in this online refuge of common sense and intelligence can assist by donating at the Australian Red Cross site www.redcross.org.au/default.asp

Best wishes

Jack

Alexander, that's right. I had forgot that Greece has its own busfire problems. I imagine that's an annual cause for worry for those folks living in affected areas. I hope this year there's no threat.

Daly

Jack, I didn't realize you were in the Melbourne area.

I'm glad that you're safe.

Plus 45 temps is beyond normal for there isn't it? I know up in Queensland the temps get close to that, but didn't realize as far south as you are it would be so hot.

The fire situation seems horrendous, to say the least. I've been twittering with ppl in Australia, and retweeting Red Cross info.

What's especially upsetting is that some of the fires may have been started by arson.

There was a report I saw yesterday that people who had lost their belongs in the fire were being given a $1,000 for a change of clothes and immediate expenses, with a larger compensation package to be announced soon.

I'd emailed Neville yesterday, but haven't heard from him. If you're in touch with him, let him know I've been in touch. Do you guys know each other personally?

Wishing you all the best,

Daly

Jack Crawford wrote:

Daly & Alex

Thanks for the message and good wishes

I also live in Melbourne
Victoria, not far from Neville's business. We are in all a state of shock at what
happened after temperatures of 46.4 C. (115.5 F) on Sat. We haven't had any rain for
about 6 weeks and the place is tinder dry. We had temperatures of 45 + the week before. In
a country notorious for bushfires, these are the worst fires in Australian history in
terms of loss of life because of their proximity to human settlement.

Urban
Melbourne itself is not under threat. The fires are north & east of Melb 40km + in outer
urban/semi rural and forest country. The weather is much kinder now and crews are
gradually cleaning up and finding people. Several small towns have been completely
obliterated and turned to ash. There are still some dangerous fires around
especially in the NE of Victoria. Many people are destitute.

I'm sure that many
people here and overseas have family and friends who are affected. I personally knew
of a young man aged 22 who tragically died inside a house while on the phone to his
mother.

Regular participants in this online refuge of common sense and
intelligence can assist by donating at the Australian Red Cross site
www.redcross.org.au/default.asp

Best wishes

Jack

Hello again Daly

Thanks for the comments

Daly de Gagne wrote:

Plus 45 temps is beyond normal for there isn't it? I know up in Queensland the
temps get close to that, but didn't realize as far south as you are it would be so
hot.

It's one of the peculiarities of the Australian climate that the populated centres that get the hottest extremes are the southern capitals (Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne). This is because in summer we often get hot north winds blowing out of the interior. Queensland is hotter on average as its sub-tropical but doesn't get the extremes.

Summer temperatures in Melbourne, Adelaide etc in excess of 40 deg are common but 45+ is not. You would usually only experience such temperatures well inland where the population is much lower.

What's especially upsetting
is that some of the fires may have been started by arson.

Yes it's a problem all around the world where there are severe bushfires. The Californian fires come to mind.

There was a report I saw
yesterday that people who had lost their belongs in the fire were being given a $1,000
for a change of clothes and immediate expenses, with a larger compensation package to
be announced soon.

The charity and government response has been overwhelming and will grow further. A radio station raised in excess of $500K in 2 hours this morning. Australians are good at supporting each other in times of crisis.

I'd emailed Neville yesterday, but haven't heard from him. If
you're in touch with him, let him know I've been in touch. Do you guys know each other
personally?

No I don't know Neville personally. His business is in a neighbouring suburb to where I live in eastern Melbourne. Talking about Surfulater online is a bit like travelling overseas, meeting someone and then finding that they are a neighbour.

Wishing you all the best,

Daly

Thanks again

Jack