Yuku free message boards

The East Gippsland Fires could turn out to be the worst since the 1939 fires that effected most of the state of Victoria. We locals are hoping that we can get several inches of rain to put this thing out. At the moment the only that will keep it away is if it runs out of fuel and that most likely will be when it its the coast and Bass Strait.

Last Thursday, was very scarry in this part of the world. The smoke just got heavier and heavier. The sky went from orange to black. By 2.30 p.m. it was like night time, the street lights had come on, cars had their headlights on. Burnt leaves and fine ash was falling from the sky. By this stage most of the streets had cleared of people. I sent my staff home, and closed my retail shop. My business partner had not come into town this day, so as to stay with his property and fight the fire. I travelled north, to where my father lives, to try and give him a hand to save his property. The only thing that stopped the fire coming our way was that the north wind reversed direction once it got into the cleared land and set its self back up into the bush. - for the time being - We are expecting north winds again this Wednesay and Thursday, so it is going to be another day of worry wanting for it to head south. It is not if it comes - but when!

The main fire front was started by lightening strikes early in December. The fire that is now known as the Coopers Creek fire was started deliberatly by a person(s). This was the fire that lead to approx 11 houses being burnt down and the indirect death of a man. At the moment all of the fires have joined together. Christmas eve and xmas day we have about 11mm of rain. Also we have been having southerly winds. At this moment the fire has slowed down and has been heading in a north eastly direction. However the next hot day and northly winds will send it back down towards Bairnsdale. It is just a waiting game.