North Australian FISH FINDER TM forums

Fireworks are planned for Sydney's New Year's eve when the city is surrounded by fire and people have been breathing thick smoke for weeks ... https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-ac ... 224549e2b7

Separately, 40C is forecast for Hobart, with lightning this arvo, over tinder dry forests. Might get some fireworks in Tasmania too.

Time to grab a six pack and go sit in the river.

They have cancelled Canberra’s fireworks.

They probably won't be able to see the fireworks if the wind blows the bushfire smoke in.

We had a bushfire west of us yesterday that grew exponentially with the gales that came behind the 40C weather and subsequent cold front, the smoke was getting worse fast to the point where I started packing the car, then the wind changed and rain put the fire out, or at least damped it right down.

Most of the damage from the 1967 fires happened in just a couple of hours of crazy weather.

You realise how nutty the fireworks decision is when you go through these posts ... https://twitter.com/search?q=%23nswfire ... yped_query

People currently sheltering on beaches as towns are threatened.

Every dollar should be spent fighting the fires and helping people affected.

All the money will have already be spent on the fire works. I understand cancelling some of the ones near scrub land. But I can’t see how cancelling Sydney’s ones will achieve anything.
It’s just more virtue signalling. It’s the same as the blow up about the pm being on holidays. What did he achieve by coming home. He did a heap of interviews with fill in tv and radio personality’s who ironically wanted to make a big deal about how no one should be on holidays at such an important time.

Yes they need to sort out how to manage the vollies better. They have put a bandaid on with the 6k grants, which was the right thing to do in the short term. But long term there needs to be reform. I quite like the suggestion of treating them like reservist. They should get all the gear they need. Maybe one less sub and 12 more sky cranes flying around would serve out country better.

Maybe one less sub and 12 more sky cranes flying around would serve out country better.

Those big planes dropping retardants are the only thing likely to make a substantial difference. They did a ridge near us and the fire never came over, maybe we were lucky, or maybe it worked.

Hate to think what is going into the catchments tho.

Meanwhile, in Mallacoota ... https://twitter.com/i/status/1211799527834783744

The irony of it....

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-01/ ... s/11835480

Agree with Mickkk

Don't agree with donating money to the bushfire volunteers.

Might sound harsh (but its not intended to demean what they do or why they do it) and people should be grateful for their presence and the work that they do.

Why not donate?

I had 2 crews of volunteer firies from Mackay (350km away) in my yard twice during our fire emergency battles here in early November. Did a great job. They had a temp fireground h/qrtrs set up in our suburb.

They were looked after by locals and red cross/ses etc at their fireground base who clearly understood and were immensely grateful for the effort that these guys were putting in. Many residents were taking food, cold water, dry towels etc to these guys for days while they were here.

They don't want donations and consider the suggestion as demeaning.

Rural fire brigades are funded by state govts and have been under-funded by their state govts for years.

Rural Firies are not considered "professional" fire fighters by the metro brigades AND the unions representing them. They are simply classed as "poor cousins" who aren't "one of WE professionals".

They are mainly starved of resources but there's no shortage of willing workers.

The State Govts in every state should hang their heads in shame over resource funding for rural fire-fighters.

Give donations to organisations that provide support to communities AND the volunteer firies in emergencies (eg Red Cross etc).

But each and every one of us should be out hitting our state pollies over the heads about the lack of funding.

Other volunteer rescue organisations are in the same boat (so to speak). Coast Guard, Marine Rescue, SES etc) are ALL underfunded.

However, fires have everybody's attention at the moment and rightly so.

So go out and thump a pollie over the head and DEMAND sufficient funding for the rural brigades.

Donate to the Red Cross, Salvos and whoever else helps support affected communities while you're doing it.

Donating to rural firies is simply donating money to your state govt who have been shortchanging these fellas with our money anyway for years.

There's going to be a lot stuff looked at when the fires settle down a bit and this subject will only be one of them.