Thread: Fire

Originally Posted by sharptonn

GTFO! ........................

I've got an exit route planned... I'm able bodied, I'm not going to leave and let the volunteers do it on their own... Listening to the emergency services scanner on the 'net. Hope the power stays on...

I'm a firefighter and we fight a LOT of brush/grass fires, but not that many wildfires. Thing about them to keep them and grass fires under control is get the fuel away and down if you are trying to fight ahead of it. Keep your grass short (especially acreage). If you have tree's near the house and the fire is imminent, you may consider cutting/sacrificing them for your home. I've seen a lot of fire run tree to tree, without even touching the ground. We use what we call back fires to cut off wildfires, we start smaller fires that we can control to burn the fuel ahead of the fires. There is a danger to this though, if it gets out of hand...you just added to the problem. Hopefully the wind will die down so you and the firefighters can get things under control. God Bless you and yours. No home is worth your life brother, if you are in doubt...LEAVE & let the professionals do their thing. They have the training and the gear to take care of things.

If this one leaves you alone Carl, it gives you the experience to review what happened & how to better prepare for the next one.

Best wishes & stay away from it, till its over.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

If this one leaves you alone Carl, it gives you the experience to review what happened & how to better prepare for the next one.

Best wishes & stay away from it, till its over.

Yeah, was thinking that. I'll definitely invest in a petrol operated pump and keep the rainwater tank full in the future. Also it's interesting watching what the wind does. It's about 3ks away, but the wind is pushing it away from me. Tell you what, great bonding experience for the community...

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Yeah, was thinking that. I'll definitely invest in a petrol operated pump and keep the rainwater tank full in the future. Also it's interesting watching what the wind does. It's about 3ks away, but the wind is pushing it away from me. Tell you what, great bonding experience for the community...

glad to hear it is getting pushed away and you guys are safer !! hopefully it can be contained before it puts others in harms way .. best of luck !

If you have not already, consider going digital with all your important documents, family photos & videos,,,,then placing them in a small firesafe for when your not at home & taking them with you when you have to evacuate.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

If you have not already, consider going digital with all your important documents, family photos & videos,,,,then placing them in a small firesafe for when your not at home & taking them with you when you have to evacuate.

Those are good for only so long. My huge gun safe is only good for 90 minutes IIRC, most fire boxes aren't rated that well. Pay attention...you get what you pay for in a lot of cases.

I'd take the photos and computer with me... I know you guys in the US are used to hurricanes and what-not but this is as close to an emergency situation as I've come. The wife was all teary and panicky... She keeps telling me to leave but I keep telling her I'm able bodied and can assist in the defence of the town. Mt Torrens is only a very small town of 200 people. I think there'd be only 50 or so left...

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I'd take the photos and computer with me... I know you guys in the US are used to hurricanes and what-not but this is as close to an emergency situation as I've come. The wife was all teary and panicky... She keeps telling me to leave but I keep telling her I'm able bodied and can assist in the defence of the town. Mt Torrens is only a very small town of 200 people. I think there'd be only 50 or so left...

i admire your bravery and dedication to the town !!
in my town we had a tornado come through ( not a fleeing situation like a fire ) but our police were to busy catching thieves that were in damaged homes , that they couldn't assist , which made it even worse ..

i used to trim trees around the power lines and every ice storm , tornado , hurricane , ect we would pack our bags for out of town clean up all over the U.S. being younger then i figured "heck ya ! , overtime from the time i leave home , till the time i get back home " but what i missed back then at first i realized on the first job ( a hurricane on the east coast) when i saw the sadness , disbelief , destruction , and disheartening wrath that was left behind !! i remember the red cross bringing us sandwiches and us giving them to the residents , and in return residents bringing us pillows ( that we turned down) because we slept in the work trucks at times and they figured 1 pillow was good enough for 2 of them .. its a shame that in some places it takes devastation to bring people together and have what your community has at the moment by standing by each other and helping out !!

Originally Posted by gooser

i admire your bravery and dedication to the town !!
in my town we had a tornado come through ( not a fleeing situation like a fire ) but our police were to busy catching thieves that were in damaged homes , that they couldn't assist , which made it even worse ..

i used to trim trees around the power lines and every ice storm , tornado , hurricane , ect we would pack our bags for out of town clean up all over the U.S. being younger then i figured "heck ya ! , overtime from the time i leave home , till the time i get back home " but what i missed back then at first i realized on the first job ( a hurricane on the east coast) when i saw the sadness , disbelief , destruction , and disheartening wrath that was left behind !! i remember the red cross bringing us sandwiches and us giving them to the residents , and in return residents bringing us pillows ( that we turned down) because we slept in the work trucks at times and they figured 1 pillow was good enough for 2 of them .. its a shame that in some places it takes devastation to bring people together and have what your community has at the moment by standing by each other and helping out !!

It's a nice old town with some old homes worth saving; not mine, mine's a dump :-) and I'd feel like a loser if I left. It's not like I'm an old lady. It's looking a lot more positive around here now, but things can change quickly.

It's going to be an interesting night. I'm actually feeling tired, just the stress I think. I have, however, my son's Rebellion Bay Spiced Rum and my ancient Dalmatian to keep me company.

I'm where the blue arrow is...