Bloody fools starting fires

[richardphillips6208]

Well we missed the cyclonic winds down here, but now some damn fool has started a fire in the Roleystone hills east of Perth. My sister-in-law and niece are unable to leave as the roads have all been closed or blocked and they are currently about 1km away from the fire. My nephew can't get home either.
My poor brother is stuck on a mine up north and we are now REAL worried about them.
Just the thing we need in the height of summer in Western Australia...someone starting fires.
Oh, just heard there may be one just up the road from me too.

Joy.

[RichBaker]

Damned idiots!!  Good luck to your brother and his family, hope they come thru OK!

[roverfj1200]

I will be thinking of you and yours. I hope it all turns out good for you.

[richardphillips6208]

Thanks.
At present they are ok. Packed and ready to go apparently, though there is now only one road out and that's away from Perth.
The wind has moved the fire away for now, but it's changed direction again. That's the problem with living in the hills surrounded by dry trees and bush. Pretty in winter, a firetrap in summer.
Not sure if my nephew managed to get back from the cricket. He'd have had a hell of a drive around if he did. There are only two access roads to Roleystone and they were both closed.
4 fires in Perth now.
Someone obviously lit some north of them as well.

[Harvy]

Richard......got my fingers crossed for your family mate....... My sisters place south of Mandurah came close a couple of weeks back when someone was doing the same thing there...... hope they catch the bastard!

Harvy

[billwest]

40+ homes lost in that fire so far.

[Harvy]

Bill..... I just heard its up around the 60 mark now.......hope it doesn't get any worse mate.

Harvy

[billwest]

Well Harvy, the fire is still not under control.  However, opinions have it that it was not deliberately lit.

[oldktmdude]

  One of the news reports I heard this afternoon, said that it was started by someone using an angle-grinder. Probably not a very bright thing to be doing, considering how hot and dry it's been over there. Hope they get it under control before any more poor buggers get burnt out.  Pete.

[Arnie]

Hey!  All you'se Westeners stay safe.
And if you've got to fight to save yourself and your home, wear cotton or wool LONG pants, Long sleeve shirts, and solid shoes!  None of this singlet, shorts and thongs shit I've been seeing on TV.

Arnie

[billwest]

Fires are now under control, no fatalities.  74 homes destroyed, quite a few damaged.

Dunno about this long underwear, mate - a bit hot! (I know what you mean, though).

[richardphillips6208]

Thankfully my sister and niece are safe. Many of their friends lost everything though. A close run thing.  Yes, an angle grinder apparently. Ok, not the brightest thing to use without someone standing by with a hose or fire extinguisher, but at least it was not deliberate. It would have been outrageous had it been one of the many morons who light fires for "fun".
Heart goes out to all those who lost homes.

[Arnie]

I've suggested to my CFA brigade that if we catch an arsonist we tie him up with a length (30M approx 100ft) of hose and drag him back to the 2nd closest police station.

Arnie

[richardphillips6208]

Arnie,

Let us all know where that station is and we will drag any of our firebugs there as well. May as well keep them all in one place.

[Arnie]

Arnie,

Let us all know where that station is and we will drag any of our firebugs there as well. May as well keep them all in one place.

Richard,

I doubt you'll have to trek all this way for the proper outcome to result. :-)  I'd think that by Port Lincoln you could probably turn around and go back home not having to worry about that &*^%bug again. :-)

Arnie