22 January, 2003 3:39 PM
Fires continue to burn across Australia. Tasmania had over 40 separate fires burning this morning. The north East of Victoria (my state) reported fires 100km in perimeter last night - but there were only 4 houses lost which is quite amazing and illustrates the vastness of the countryside. Unfortunately it is suspected that many of these fires were deliberately lit and that the state government had been warned about the susceptibility of these regions to such an emergency without doing anything to intervene. Its amazing to see the media's reporting of the situation. Some of the TV footage is amazing, people filming at the centre of intense blazes. Its full on stuff!
Heard another amazing story on the radio this morning from one woman in the north east who spent last night sheltering in a mine shaft with her family and a number of animals. It was the only place she could escape to - and even there they had to keep watering down the heshen bags they'd put up at the entrance because they kept catching fire. Scary stuff - enhanced by the immediacy of the reporting. She talked on the radio via satellite phone this morning as she fought the fire around her house. Literally hose in one hand phone in the other - her description of what she saw and felt was amazing.
