Victorian Fires

I left Melbourne late January for a conference in QLD, and returned on Saturday around 7pm. It was cool leaving the airport building, almost chilly. Only when I got into the taxi and heard the radio did I realise the hell that Victoria was enduring.

Growing up in country QLD, I was never comfortable living in a land so prone to bushfires with their mercurial nature and eerie ability to destroy life. Still, I stand completely speechless.

Countless articles, photos and stories. Too many, too depressing:

General article by The Economist.

First hand account.

Those who stayed to fight the fire.

Opinion piece by The Australian journalist Gary Huges who was almost caught in the fire.

Story of survival.

The US sending fire experts.

Two articles blaming green policies

Times like this, I'm glad I don't have a TV. I don't think I could handle watching anymore of this. I've read enough articles, seen enough photos.

I tried to donate blood yesterday, but apparently they've been swamped with offers (that in itself, is telling of the situation). However, donations are still needed.