Alan Taylor's The Big Picture blog at Boston Globe has another amazing post: this time, the Brushfire in Victoria, Australia:
The state of Victoria in southern Australia has recently been hit with hundreds of bush fires during a record-breaking heatwave - temperatures well above 38°C (100°F). Unfortunately, these fires have proved to be the deadliest in Australian history, with at least 166 deaths reported so far. The fires mostly appear to have been started by lightning - however a few appear to have been arson, and are under investigation - entire towns being declared crime scenes. Twenty-four fires are still burning, and authorities warn that the death toll will likely rise.
Living in the dry Southern California, where brushfire is an ever-present danger, I truly sympathize with the victims of this deadly fire. I sincerely hope none of you are affected.
It is such a horrible thing to happen, it's at the stage that people from further north in the country are being devastated by floods yet are readily handing over thier aid money to the victims of the bushfires.
I'm donating all my un-needed clothes and food and hope that other australians can further help out these poor victims.
I'd also like to give a BIG thanks to the dedicated emergency workers, without your help it would be so very much work.
Such a beautiful beautiful place.
It leaves me in tears to see the suffering loss and death there. I can not really look at the pictures anymore. Everytime I see any coverage I can put places back together in my head, there's somebody's Dad's car, the commodore, the son's old Kingswood and Mum's barina all parked tidily in a row as burnt out shells in the shadow of the chimney stack and the warped tin roofs remains.
It looks like tunguska now.
If I believed in god I'd pray. But I don't, I do believe however in the amazingly big hearts of Australians. SO I know that the survivors will be looked after.
Thanks to all of the CFA crews who have come from all across the state, indeed the country to help.
To the cops for moving so fast on the murder investigation, to Kevin Rudd for getting soem money moving that swiftly and to the people of KIngslake Maryville and to all the Aussies who were lost,who were hurt,who were burnt out, who helped their fellows.
Sorry to ramble but it is horribly upsetting.
It's so unfortunate that the death toll keeps rising and that people have lost everything they have worked towards and it disgusts me that some of the fires were deiliberately lit. However, I think a tragedy like this demonstrates the strength and compassion that people often hide.