A big bushfire is threatening properties of our friends
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (344106)
Rockingham, Australia
February 1, 2021 9:05pm CST
There is a massive bushfire to the north-east of our capital, Perth, in Western Australia. It was getting close to my sister’s and nephew’s property but a wind change has now seen it heading south and west. We have a lot of friends in the horse endurance riding fraternity and quite a few live in that area and have had to evacuate. Imagine trying to relocate horses and pets not to mention your family.
I don’t think they have lost their houses although at least three houses have been burnt as well as a fire truck. Two fire-fighters have been injured. The fire is now perilously close to residential areas.
There are four or so aircraft water-bombing the area but so far, nothing is stopping this fire. It’s very scary but they now seem an annual occurence, whereas once it only happened occasionally. There is a total fire ban today so no movement of vehicles other than on roads.
Photo of one of our small fires. We try to reduce the leaf litter and rubbish around our place each winter in the hope that it keeps the place a bit safer should we have a major fire here.
18 people like this
17 responses
@snowy22315 (183928)
• United States
2 Feb 21
That is scary. It sounds a lot like what goes on in Calif
3 people like this
@arunima25 (88275)
• Bangalore, India
2 Feb 21
That sounds scary! I hope everyone is safe. Hopefully the fire is controlled soon.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (344106)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Feb 21
@arunima25 If they are insured, they'll get money to rebuild. Otherwise, who knows what they will do. 
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (88275)
• Bangalore, India
2 Feb 21
@JudyEv Oh! That's terrible! It would be devastating. Not sure about how it works there. But are there any compensation from insurance?
1 person likes this
@much2say (56753)
• Los Angeles, California
2 Feb 21
I hope the fire can be controlled soon and that all can stay safe! We have the brushfires here - even had them last month. Not in our direct area, but those hilly areas . . . lots of dry brush, houses and some horse ranches too 
.
.2 people like this
@JudyEv (344106)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Feb 21
@much2say One has lost some bush at the back of their property; another has lost fencing and reticulation but thankfully they haven't lost houses or livestock. One lady is staying with my sister as she had to evacuate. I haven't heard if her house is still standing or not. The fire is now heading north towards my sister. Although it is quite a distance from her, if the wind gets behind it, the fire can travel very quickly.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (344106)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Feb 21
@rheicel No, not really. You can't stop lightning strikes. If the weather is very bad such as really hot with a danger of lightning then they call a total fire ban and you're not allowed to start any fires outside, not even a barbecue, and you can only drive on the roads so farmers can't harvest or use their machines.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (73765)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
2 Feb 21
Controlled fires often are the best to control major fires.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (73765)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
2 Feb 21
Same here, too. We get them from time to time when we have doubts. (brush fires I mean)@JudyEv
2 people like this
@JudyEv (344106)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Feb 21
@kaylachan We've just learnt 56 homes have been destroyed which is a lot in our terms.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (90732)
• Arvada, Colorado
2 Feb 21
Oh dear..this is not good..hope everyone is okay
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (90732)
• Arvada, Colorado
3 Feb 21
@JudyEv Oh dear Judy..sounds so bad
Oh dear Judy..sounds so bad1 person likes this
@JudyEv (344106)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Feb 21
@RebeccasFarm It's now over 80 houses and my sister's area is now in the red zone. They are directly in the path of the fire. It is some miles away but the wind is behind it. It's very worrying at the moment.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (110078)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Feb 21
Hope they can get them put out soon.
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (35886)
•
3 Feb 21
Dry Areas in the U.S. like Florida and California suffer from out of control wild fires. Is Australia susceptible to these seasonal fires?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (344106)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Feb 21
@dgobucks226 Those who have had to leave their homes are very stressed out at the moment.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35886)
•
4 Feb 21
@JudyEv Hope they can get the fire under control. People being displaced from their homes due to fire must be extremely traumatic Something I have thought about on occasion. Kind of a what if this happened to me.
Something I have thought about on occasion. Kind of a what if this happened to me.1 person likes this
@JudyEv (344106)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Feb 21
They are pretty regular now but they seem much more intense and mostly almost unstoppable nowadays. Sometimes it's the eastern states that are hit really badly and sometimes it's us. But all states have some fires over the summer.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (183858)
• United States
2 Feb 21
This is so sad and scary. I hope they are able to put out the fire very soon.
1 person likes this
