I sure hope Booyah is okay!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Wildfires rage across Australia amid searing heat

OOMA, Australia — Firefighters battled scores of wildfires Tuesday in southeastern Australia as authorities evacuated national parks and warned that hot, dry and windy conditions were combining to raise the threat to its highest alert level.

Temperatures soared to 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas.

No deaths have been reported, although officials in Tasmania were still trying to find about 100 people who have been missing since last week when a fire tore through the small town of Dunalley, east of the state capital of Hobart, destroying around 90 homes. On Tuesday, police found no bodies during preliminary checks of the ruined houses.

"You don't get conditions worse than this," New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said. "We are at the catastrophic level and clearly in those areas leaving early is your safest option."

Catastrophic threat level is the most severe rating.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20130108/AS.Australia.Wildfires/

[Ontarkie 13,915]

~~~~Moved To Off Topics as this is not a Politics or Religion thread~~~~

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I thought things like this didn't happen in Australia. We need BY to set the record straight.

[^_^ 5,021]

Fires in the desert. Will wonders never cease?

Next: Tidal surge in coastal areas and heavy snow in the mountains. OMG the world is ending!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Please be considerate of the fact that people are missing and feared dead from the bushfires. They are extremely dangerous. The forecast shows record highs are expected in some areas of 50C+ (122F+). I shouldn't be surprised that some of you are using a deadly situation to laugh at or about people but remember there are people on this forum who have friends and family at risk.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

(F)

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I am from country Victoria. Here are 2 stories I was reading today:

http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/1226574/numb-shock-at-the-devastation/?cs=62

http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/1226576/ellen-family-tells-of-escape-from-firestorm/?cs=62

Luckily in both of those the people survived. More high heat days (dry heat) are expected as summer progresses.

[MyLittlePony 340]

No more shrimp on the barbie.

Edited January 9, 2013 by big dog

[hikergirl 277]

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/tasmania-police-allay-fears-100-missing-20130108-2cetu.html

A little bit of good news at least:

A forensic search has so far covered more than 730 properties around the fire zone east of Hobart without finding any dead, police said on Tuesday. No serious injuries have yet been reported either.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

No more shrimp on the barbie.

Edited January 10, 2013 by Vanessa&Tony