Victorian Bushfires

Diary Entry 1

February 6th 2009

Dear Diary,

Finally Friday night!! No more school for 2 days! YES!! It has been so hot lately I have been dying at school; the temperatures are hitting the highest on record on some days. I can’t wait for this weekend. I’m playing sport on Saturday and going to my friend’s house on Sunday. It’s going to be so much fun! I will report to you tomorrow night about my game!

Talk then J

Heatwave

Diary Entry 2

February 7th 2009

Dear Diary

I woke up to the sound of my mum barging into my room. I was in a sweat from overnight; I could have sworn the temperature had jumped to 100 degrees when I woke up.  Mum had a look panic spread across her face. She frantically shook me awake yelling at me to get up and find the emergency pack. We always had a pre packed bag of clothes, food and essentials that we would need in the event an emergency. That way we could grab our packs and leave ASAP, but I never thought I was going to need to use mine. I jumped out of bed immediately searching for my pack. Once retrieved I desperately ran into the living room where my mum was packing anything she ccould into bags. I yell at mum asking her what is going on but I get no reply. I see dad outside on the lawn turning on the sprinklers. I suddenly see a black smoke in the distance out the window. That’s when I hear the warning sign on the television.

“Anyone in the St Andrews area to evacuate and brace for what is supposed to be the worst fire day on record in Victoria. Weather forecasts of record temperatures of 46 degrees as well as gale force winds of up to 90km/hr. The fires and the winds are becoming too big and powerful to keep under control. I have just been told there are numerous fires now starting up in different areas such as Kinglake, Marysville and Humevale.”

That’s when the whole situation hit me there was a fire and this fire was heading for us. This was REAL not one of mum and dads practice tests it was all real. My younger brother at that moment walked into the room still unaware of what was going on. As he tried to ask mum she shrugged him off still running around packing things. I pulled my brother aside and explained what was going on. He understood what he had to do and that he needed to help. He went out to help dad with the sprinklers, clean the gutters on the roof and most importantly help with the farm animals as I stayed with mum to help get inside ready.

Diary Entry 3

We ran around the house like headless chooks getting everything done. We put wet cloths around every window and door. Just as we were finishing up dad and James came back inside to help us. Dad, James and I ran the rest of our stuff over to the bunker in the back yard. As I sprinted back to help mum with some bags she was struggling with. All of a sudden she stopped in her tracks and stared into the distance. I stood wondering what she was looking at until I saw it for myself. It was like a giant see of red smoke. You could see how far the fire stretched across and there was no mistaking it was coming towards us. I ran straight for mum grabbing the bags of her and pushing her towards the bunker. It was so hot it was burning. We ran for what seemed like an eternity. I could hear dad screaming at us to hurry. We reached the bunker in a matter of seconds as dad slammed the bunker door shut. We had made it just in time.

Diary Entry 4

Dear Diary

It is around midday and we haven’t been giving the all clear to come out yet. The temperature is outrageously hot and I can barely breathe. My brother on the other hand is worse. He has asthma and is taking puffs every 4 minutes to help his breathing. We have eaten a bit of food but I don’t think any of us have the appetite to eat anything. All four of us are sitting in silence hoping to hear something on the tiny radio we have. Mum sits there asking herself how this happened and going on about how she doesn’t understand. When I know exactly how it happened. You learn about it all in school natural disaster and hazards but you never think one will actually occur where you are. It makes sense though, we have experienced the worst drought on record this last month, the temperatures have been extremely high and the wind this last few days must have just given it that last kick to start a fire.

Areas Affected

The photo above shows all the fires occured in Victoria since 2000.

The red coloured areas is where Black Saturday occured.

Diary Entry 5

Dear Diary,

We still haven’t been notified of any safety guarantee of our area yet. The temperatures are still at a peak though and there is no mistaking the roaring sounds outside this hard structure. The radio people are going on telling us how far the fires are stretching, the conditions in areas hit; they already have a death toll starting to rise. But all we can do is sit there and listen hoping to hear good news.  We have been drinking water like crazy and are starting to get low on supplies. Then we hear what we had only dreamed of hearing today.

“Anyone in northern part above Melbourne Kinglake and St Andrew areas, firemen have confirmed these areas SAFE. If anyone is hearing this in that area please contact the SES line over radio if no access is present then hang on tight and helicopters will be sent around to check all the areas affected. We have also been notified that a shelter has already been set up with supplies on their way. This shelter is at St Andrews Collage.”

Mum jumps up and pulls us all in for a hug. Both mum and I have a small tear of joy knowing that we are going to be okay. As we opened the bunker door a mountain of ash and puff rushed in. Not only was that but a giant heat wave quickly hit us. We slowly climbed out of the bunker to the realisation of our home burnt to the ground. Everything I had owed, or had worked for, my life practically burnt to the crisp scattered in front of me.

Satellite

A satillite photo of the smoke and fog over Victoria that day.

Diary Entry 6

Dear Diary

All four of us have made it to the shelter/school safely. I have seen a few of my friends and many I haven’t seen. I prayer that tonight they are all okay. We have been provided with food and clothes tonight. But the real struggle will be tomorrow when all of this sinks in. All the homes, friends, family and animals. You see people panicking over the realisation of what has just happened. People are gathered around sharing their stories and their devastation. I guess it’s better to have a number of people who have been through the same thing to talk to over keeping it to yourself. They have the radio and TV on all the time for annual updates. I am avoiding listening to them, I can’t stand to see the photos/videos or neither the destruction nor the amount of lives lost already. I can’t stand the thought to know.

Night Diary, I want to get to bed early so I can wake up early and help with the clean-up process tomorrow.

Clean Up

Diary Entry 7

February 8^th 2009

Dear Diary,     

Today was a lot of mixed emotions. The destruction among all the houses and buildings, the loss of friends and family, but the worst of all was when what has happened finally sunk in for some people.  The thing that got me through the day was knowing the good I was doing for others in the community because I know if I help others and we come together as one everything will get better sooner. I heard someone on the radio announce a list of figures today:

“A total of 173 human lives lost, 500 people injured, more then 2,000 homes were destroyed, fires burnt over 4,500 square kilometres of land and countless numbers of animals and wildlife affected”

This put a lot of people into a stance. 173 was a big number and to think how many people and families would be hurting was hard to comprehend.  I think this disaster will affect many people in different ways and people respond and react differently. I think it will take people a while to bounce back from this.

Temperatures Following After

Diary Entry 8

February 22^th 2009

Dear Diary,

Over the passing two weeks we have accomplished so much.  We have helped clean-up and start rebuilding in some areas. Many people have joined in to help. People have been flying over to see loved ones and lend a hand where possible. The support from everyone has been amazing. People from all over Australia are sending food, clothes, and supplies. It has been incredible the response we have received. Not only have we grown closer and stronger in our community but also as a country. The government is helping in any way possible, giving assistance with mortgages and grown up stuff like that. I am so thankful to everyone who has helped but also to realise how lucky I was. Many people got it worse then me that day and I am grateful for how lucky I was.