Why you need to take note of the Victoria Fires.
Even in the UK, you will probably have seen the harrowing images of the bushfires in Australia. I wonder though how any people really take too much notice. You see, I remember seeing the news reports about wildfires in Australia and California when I lived in the UK, and it all seemed so – well – distant.
This week – not so much. Because at the end of that day – it could happen here. We too carry the risk of losing our homes to bushfires. On my Facebook page – there are a number of friends, including me – who are glad to see it rain. Given that a lot of us come from a very rainy UK – you could be forgiven for thinking we have indeed gone barmy. But we need rain. The ground in the Wairarapa, and all over New Zealand is tinder dry. Our gardens are dry and brown, the paddocks are straw, and the wheat has the lovely golden colour. And it will go up in flames instantly is some twat lights a fire for “fun”.
There have already been 2 serious fires in New Zealand over the past month, as the temperatures soar: one near Nelson, and one in Hawkes Bay.
If that wasn’t close to home enough: we had two fires on the same day, just miles from our house, a while ago. One was contained fairly quickly. The other was a Scrub Fire on the hill in front of our house. Thankfully for us – there is a river in a ravine between us and the hill – but it was a bit too close for comfort. The fire was lit by the farmer who owned the land: he had been stripping back the trees and vegetation on the hill, I presume ready to plant something else. The fires were apparently lit to clear the rubbish, and then all of a sudden – the wind changed direction. What was a legitimate and controlled fire, became a fire that got into the woods and undergrowth, and took over 8 hours to get under control.
Fire teams from all over the area came out, and yes – we did have the Helicopter with the buckets flying down into the river (thankfully there was water in it at the time – not so much now). The fire crews (volunteers) work for free – the farmer pays for the helicopter! We spoke to one of the Firefighters afterwards; he told us that there were a huge number of problems they had in fighting the fire. The main one being lack of water and there is no mains access up on the hill. Water had to be tankered in – in exactly the same way as we do if we run of rainwater in our tanks here.
Coming to New Zealand for a new life is a fantastic idea, and I encourage anyone even vaguely thinking about it to give it go. Just be aware that while on the surface, life might be quite similar; sometimes it’s very different. Simply understanding that you cannot just light a bonfire when you want to; and that fire-bans can be put in place. Be aware of the rules, and don’t end up losing everything. And get your house and contents insured. Just in case.
No insurance company can replace what the people of Victoria have lost. It will, however give them something to start again with.
We need to get our butts off the couch (or from in front of the Laptops) and get ourselves a pump for the pool. Our best access to water is to get it out of the swimming pool: but buckets just wont do it. We have been meaning to do this since we came here – and just haven’t got round to it.
This month has been a bit of a wake-up call.
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2 Comments on Why you need to take note of the Victoria Fires.
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Hubby on
Sat, 21st Feb 2009 6:46 pm
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Hubby on
Sat, 21st Feb 2009 6:48 pm
With thanks to one of our friends, who is in the local volunteer firebrigade, we have some recommendations for a suitable pump. So, with some financial juggling, we’ll be off to Coopers in Carterton to buy a pump in the near future. Is it worth it?
~$2,000 pump vs. ~$800,000 house + our lives.
No brainer really.
At 400litres per minute, it’ll take us the best part of two hours to empty the water tanks and swimming pool. More than enough time for Jim & friends to arrive.
Next, time for some fun learning how to use the latest power toy! 
Anyone for a water pistol fight?
Sorry, should say, it’s a Davey Firefighter+ 5 Series.
Check out Davey.com.au
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