bushfire smoke over Melbourne

Penny had a quiet day today, because the smoke from the bush fires is drifting across the city of Melbourne and we didn't think it was a good idea to go walking.

Here's the view of sunset over Melbourne on 22 December 2013 with the nearby city buildings silhouetted against the sky.

Here's the same view tonight, with the buildings lost in the haze of smoke.

The Moon is red, as it was in the terrible fires of 2009. Thank God no lives have been lost this week, a wonderful credit to the organisation of the fire response, and to the bravery of our wonderful CFA firefighters and the other firefighters who assisted them. It's so sad, though, for the many people who have lost their homes.

dogs and the renewal of Marysville

Today Penny and I set off early to Marysville to meet Cindy's dog-walking group. "Where is?' on my computer showed me the way to navigate there, but was way off the mark in saying it would take one hour and twenty-two minutes, given that through the Black Spur, with its hairpin bends, the average speed was about 30 - 40 kilometres an hour.

I haven't previously visited any of the areas of the state so tragically burnt in the 2009 bushfires, so I found it very moving to approach this devastated town through the blackened, mist-shrouded forests of the Black Spur.





(I made sure to charge the battery for my camera last night. It's a pity I didn't put it back into the camera! I apologise for the low quality pictures - I took them with my mobile phone.)

The town of Marysville looked like a new housing estate, with lots of open ground waiting to be built on, and the frameworks of new buildings scattered around. As we headed up the track from town, we passed gardens and fences with no houses - and no inhabitants. A very sad start to our walk.

The walk itself was fascinating, with the blackened trunks of the towering trees clothed in soft green foliage.





The ground was a mass of young growth, the forest of the future. Mostly it seemed to be coming from seeds scattered by the trees after they burned, but in some cases it seemed the rootstock was regenerating.



There's a kind of beauty in the layers of charcoal bark on the trunks of the trees. It feels soft and crumbles in the hand, as if it's already returning to the soil to aid in the regeneration of the bush.



Signs along the way warned us to be careful.



The dogs were off-lead most of the way, as it's State Forest, so they had a wonderful time.

kangaroos can be dangerous to dogs

A man was injured by a kangaroo recently when he tried to stop it drowning his dog.

It's sad to read about a clash between the two species that we love. An acquaintance once told me a terrible story about her dog and a kangaroo fighting and falling down the bank into a river - both drowned. Ever since then I've been nervous of the idea of Penny meeting a kangaroo. You'd think it's unlikely, but we humans are pushing further and further into the remaining territory the kangaroos have around Melbourne.

There is said to be a mob of kangaroos north of here that has been surrounded by suburban development, so that their range is more and more limited. I have wondered whether the kangaroos that occasionally make their way south to Darebin Parklands might be members of this group.

It's a sad situation.

When I read more details about this incident, I realised the kangaroo had been sleeping before being disturbed by the man and the dog and being chased into the dam by the dog. I've heard that kangaroos will head for water so they can turn on pursuing dogs and drown them.

Another report describes the kangaroo as a 'rogue', but I agree with the discussion after the article, that it's not fair to blame the 'roo, because it was the one being chased.

I hope Penny and I never come across a kangaroo when we're out walking.

woman with dog refuses to be airlifted from the bushfire

There's an article today in TheAge newspaper that has me wondering what I would have done if an inferno of flames was approaching my property, I was being airlifted out with my dog in my arms, and the dog jumped back down to the ground.

In Kinglake West, during the tragic February bushfires, Juliet Moore was attached to a police helicopter's winch, when her dog, Poncho, jumped out of her arms. Ms Moore asked to be released from the winch.

Eventually the police helicopter had to leave when it became unstable because of low oxygen levels in the air, and the police officer who was on the ground took a convoy of cars to try to reach safety. Ms Moore had a passenger in her car, and the passenger leaned out the window and led a horse by the halter.

The next car towed a horse float with two horses.

And the convoy was joined for part of the way by deer, koalas, kangaroos and lizards, all running alongside the cars.

When I read this story, I hoped and prayed I'll never be in this terrifying situation. It made me think about the fact that we are just one species of the many that share this one planet, but we are in a better position to influence what happens to our climate and our environment.

It's a big responsibility.

dogs and cats still being rescued from the Victorian bushfires

Tonight at training with Penny, at K9 Kompany, I heard a lovely story. (K9 Kompany is the dog training component of Coldstream Animal Shelter.

A dog the shelter people nicknamed Happy has been reunited with his family - from Kinglake, I think. The humans have been in intensive care in the hospital but are now out, and Happy is recovering from burnt paws. I think he will have to wear his little protective boots for six weeks, or maybe it was six months.

But... here comes the amazing part... the family's cat has just been brought in to the Coldstream shelter. Thank goodness for micro chipping, which has reunited one more member of this distressed family.

Pets are still being found, nearly two months after the main fires. Some, for instance, hid down wombat holes during the fires and are just now coming out of hiding.

It is a moving experience to read through the updates from the Shelter about the ways in which they are still helping animals recover from the fires. I particularly loved the excited post on the day they trapped Stardust the cat in Marysville.

a dog sees the moon turn red during the Victorian bushfires

On Friday 13 February, about midnight, Penny and I went outside for the usual 'pitstop' before retiring to bed. I hasten to add that it was Penny who needed to use the 'outside facilities'. I'm sophisticated enough to use the inside toilet.

We were astonished, and saddened, to see the moon was red. Red from the bushfire smoke that was smothering Victoria that week. I took a photo, which unfortunately was blurry, but here it is:



Yesterday when I was listening to the radio I discovered I wasn't the only one who had seen this strange bloody moon as a symbol of the bushfires. Bobby Valentine Bobby Valentine, a local singer, was inspired to write a song about it. He is donating all proceeds to the brave men and women of the CFA (Country Fire Authority) who fought the fires.

You can listen to the song here. If you click on 'Bushfire Moon' it starts to play, so you can listen and decide whether you want to download it.

Note; I've put in a link to Bobby Valentine's MySpace instead of his home site because the first link doesn't seem to work properly.

in the aftermath of the fires we reflect on what happened

I walked in Darebin Parklands with Penny today and reflected on the events that have terrified Victorians over the last nine days. The speed with which disaster overtook us has left everyone traumatised, and it will be years before we recover.

We've got plans to make houses safer and a major enquiry will study ways to make the bush safer from fire. But it needs to rain. That's the bottom line. As I walked through the parklands and looked around, I remembered that it all goes back to that basic need. Water. Water to make the plants stay green and water to make our air moist enough that it won't simply burst into flames.

I was reading on mark lawrence's blog the miraculous escape of one of his friends who saw the fire come close:

She told me of how they watched as the very air ignited from the extreme heat and ferocity of the fire. How where as the top of one hill was ablaze, the air at the top of the neighbouring hill suddenly exploded in a ball of flames and set that hill ablaze. The fire was still some 3 kms away or so, sure to destroy their home, and they were prepared to leave when it go too close when the late change came through and started blowing the fire in another direction and their home was saved.

I guess the air ignited because of the oils given off by the eucalypts, but I'm not sure.

From another local blog, by Ross Hill, I followed a link to the Boston Globe Big Picture blog, where there are images of the fires. (You might not like to look at number 16.)

To return to our walk in the park...

The first thing I saw was wonderful, a sign that life goes on, one of my all-time favorite birds was sitting in a tree over the creek. (If you click on the picture it will come up larger in another window.)



And the view of the bridge at the bottom of the hill was great.



Then we passed the duck ponds. And that's when I started to feel sad once more. The water is suffering from the lack of rain and its bright green color is a sign of its terrible quality..




As in our own garden, it's now a question of what to save, where to put the precious water. And I'm grateful for the work the rangers are doing to save the historic Chinese Black Mulberries, planted over one hundred and thirty years ago. Big containers of water and a mix of wetting agent drip constantly into the ground.



It's impossible to save all the plants and it's sad to see some trees die.



I was determined to have a more upbeat post today, but I guess it just hasn't happened.

It MUST rain soon!

dogs still go walking even in times of trouble

Penny was the one who cut the walk short today, when she sat down and indicated she was ready to head home.


She had gone out with one of her other humans, while I was at church, praying for the people (and animals) affected by these fires. Not just praying, of course - there was a collection and a chance to talk with people whose families have suffered, and to discuss long-term ways the local charity can help, when the first crisis eases.

It's warm, but Penny can usually walk longer than she did today. Probably the smoke in the air affected her. Here's a picture of the usual view over Darebin Parklands compared to today's view:

many people offer respite accommodation to pets

Emails have been flying around the local Net lately asking people to take in pets from bushfire affected area on a temporary basis. We registered early and we've been trying to think through our strategy for introducing a potentially traumatised dog into the household.

But today I heard that the small firm that is organising the respite care has received ten thousand emails and five hundred calls a day!

People certainly are willing to help.

I think we will wait and see. It's bound to be a long road to recovery.

I heard that someone needs a home for two large pet pigs. They are to be relocated from Daylesford tomorrow. If anyone local is able to help, maybe you could leave a comment here and I'll pass on your information.

We are still reading the CFA updates each hour or so on the weather conditions around Warburton, our favorite place other than Melbourne and the home of our friends, both human and canine.

So far so good.

But we need rain. Lots of heavy rain.
Soon.
And cool, windless weather.

a boring but thankfully safe day today

Penny has been outside a few times in the hope of some human activity but I'm sitting inside away from the smoke that has blown over metropolitan Melbourne today. By some trick of the wind, we didn't get a lot of smoke from the dreadful fires of last weekend.
Of course, everyone's nervous, so the Country Fire Authority (CFA) site has a reassuring message that most of the smoke seen today is from burns that are intended to deprive the fires of fuel.

Smoke Information
Metropolitan Melbourne
The fires around Melbourne are generating a large amount of smoke. Residents in metropolitan Melbourne are advised that due to extent of bushfires around Victoria in the past week, they may be experiencing increased smoke from both going fires and fire suppression activities being undertaken by DSE and CFA fire crews.

Winds from either the north or east are likely to bring smoke into Melbourne. The smoke may be more noticeable at night or early morning when overnight inversions trap the smoke near ground level.

All day the light has been yellow, but Penny doesn't care. She wants to go somewhere.



She doesn't know how lucky she is to be bored. I was listening to the radio yesterday, which was broadcast from Warburton, a town waiting to know if the fires would swing around - they haven't, thank God - and the interviewer wished each person a boring day the next day. That's today, and so far, it's been quiet.

Not quiet, of course, for the people sitting by the bedsides of burn victims, or preparing funeral services, or sifting through the ashes of their homes.

I know how lucky we are. And I think constantly of those who will need help in the short term and in the long term.

free vet care for pets injured in bushfires

I copied this from a message passed on in the AboutSeniors newsletter:

Free vet care for animals injured in bushfires
THE University of Melbourne’s faculty of Veterinary Science has offered free care for animals injured in Victoria’s bushfires.
The free care is available for domestic pets and horses and will be provided at the university’s veterinary clinic and hospital at Werribee in Melbourne’s southwest.
Faculty dean Professor Ken Hinchcliff said his staff were “deeply concerned” for the health and well-being of animals and their owners in bushfire-affected regions.
“After ensuring the safety of themselves and their human loved ones, people affected by the bushfires will want to ensure that their pets are cared for and receive the veterinary attention they need,” he said.
“Veterinary services in the regions affected by bushfires will be stretched to the limit.”
Those with injured dogs and cats can phone the veterinary clinic on
(03) 9731 2232 (24 hours).
Those with injured horses should phone the university’s equine centre on (03) 9731 2268 (24 hours).


The original article was in The Australian newspaper

pets need foster homes because of the Victorian bushfires

I received this email today from the Darebin Parklands Dog-owners group. I'll print it here in case anyone reading this is local.

We have received two requests for help for bushfire victims - both emails are copied below:

1. From Fun4Paws needing places for dogs
2. For donations of blankets/towels/sheets etc from Marilyn

1. Fun4Paws

Hello all,

Fun4Paws is currently offering emergency respite care to the animals affected by the bush fires, however there are many more animals than we have carers.

There are large numbers of owners with nowhere to place their dogs. If you are able to offer a place to a dog in your home, please contact myself of Lynne Fitzsimmons and we will coordinate.

Luke - 0415 104 044 contact@fun4paws.com.au Lynne - 0428 844 810 or lynne@fun4paws.com.au


If you are interested please let us know when your home would be available (dates) and if you have any other pets for us to consider when placing.

Dog Listeners Australia wide have pledged $1000.00 the assist in the costs of food, petrol etc. so we hope that all costs of looking after a dog will be covered.

Please assist us by forwarding this email on to all of your contacts so that together we can help the hundreds of dogs in need of temporary homes.


Luke Williams
Proprietor - Fun4Paws

0415 104 044

contact@fun4paws.com.au
www.fun4paws.com.au


2. From Marilyn

I am a co-ordinator for the below and my house at 96 Gillies Street, Fairfield will be the pick up spot. So if anyone has anything to donate please deliver at my house as soon as possible. If I am not home you can leave in my front area.

Cheers
Marilyn
URGENT NEED FOR BUSH FIRE VICTIMS -
Sunday 8th February, 2009
DOMESTIC & NATIVE ANIMALS NEED YOUR HELP!
I have this morning been in contact with the RSPCA to offer assistance.
Over the coming days the RSPCA expect to be inundated with animals requiring help and care - both domestic and native.
FYI - THEY CANNOT take outside volunteers who have NOT ungone the manditory RSVPA Training Program.

BUT for those of us in the city area, we CAN help!
THE RSPCA VICTORIA ARE IN URGENTneed of the following items:
OLD BLANKETS - if you don't have .. a neighbour might.
OLD TOWELS any size
OLD SHEETS
BAGS OF CAT FOOD - please purchase - just one bag will help
BAGS OF DOG FOOD - as above
DRINKING VESSELS - old bucket, plastic dish (ice cream container)

IF YOU CAN HELP, please confirm your involvement as ASAP so collection of goods for delivery to the RSPCA shelter can be arranged. NOTE: the RSPCA are
co-ordinating with all other relevant authorities regarding the care of injured animals, BOTH domestic and native. Goods will be distributed where the need is most urgent. THE NEED FROM TODAY WILL BE CRITICAL so carers will have enough resources to work with.

THE MATTER IS URGENT and QUICK ACTION IS ESSENTIAL. TO JOIN IN AND HELP .. YOU WILL NEED TO DO THE FOLLOWING >>>
Immediately FORWARD this email to friends & relatives in the Melbourne area.
Please copy sbyron@dodo.com.au so I can track involvement.
NOTE: THERE IS THE NEED TO STAY WITHIN THE MELBOURNE METROLITAN AREA TO ALLOW FOR COLLECTION AT PICK-UP POINTS.
Request your contacts to urgently forward on to their friends and relatives.
Make contact to friends by phone to say you need their help.
Co-ordinate a group (see info below.)
Try to door knock neighbours.
Be able to use your place as a drop-off & collection point.
Collection of goods will need to be arranged immediately.

If you can act as a Co-ordinator, advise your friends to deliver goods to you TODAY or tomorrow!:
GOODS WILL NEED TO BE COLLECTED AND DELIVERED WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
Please confirm if you can act as a Co-ordinator by emailing ASAP your name, address and contact number/s to -
sbyron@dodo.com.au
Suzanne Byron
Southbank
M: 1049 38 12 12

dogs lift our spirits in tragic times

I think it’s a good thing that our dogs want us to walk every day. Penny looked at her lead so often this morning that I finally organised myself to set off for Darebin Parklands. Like everyone else in Victoria I had woken up feeling awful, because of the terrible bushfires that have devastated our state. But as soon as we went down the hill into the park my spirits rose.

The ponds had waterfowl sitting on the surface, looking as if the last two days had never happened.








But when I looked closely at the water’s edge I saw how the ponds are suffering from the lack of rain.





And when I walked around the edge of the pool, I saw the saddest sight of all – a ducking that probably died in the incredible heat of Saturday.





After I had checked for a heartbeat, I reported the find to the ranger, and we continued on, past trees dead in the drought and past limbs dropped by young trees trying to survive.







As we continued on I heard a beating in the sky and looked up. It was one of the wonderful helitankers, heading north to drop thousand of litres on the fires. A reminder that people continue to mourn and suffer.



But Penny doesn’t get downhearted. She thought the water looked pretty good in the creek and waded in, even though we weren’t in an off-lead area. Naturally, that refreshed her, so we headed to the off-lead area to enjoy chasing a ball.






Penny thinks life is good. And I know that life goes on.

tragic deaths in Victorian fires - animals and humans

The temperature reached 118°F in parts of Victoria yesterday, with Melbourne reaching 115.5° F (46.4°C, the highest temperature ever recorded), and the whole state went up in flames. It's hard to imagine in the twenty-first century, but humankind was helpless in the face of nature.

If human activity has changed the climate of our planet, it looks like Victoria is going to be one of the worst-affected places on earth, unfortunately.

Scores of people died in their homes and their cars. The official death toll keeps rising, as the emergency services get access to the areas that have been burnt out. Terrible scenes of destruction and devastation play out hour after hour on our television and the radio is one continuous stream of warnings and reports. I think the most appalling thing I heard today was the instruction to people in one town not to leave, because it was too late.

Stay in your home, the announcer ordered. And I thought, what if the inhabitants knew their house could not weather the fire storm? Then the man on the radio said to move quickly to a well-prepared neighbor's house, if you thought your own home would burn. Even sitting in my air-conditioned car in the middle of Melbourne, I felt terrified.

And the pets... I looked at Penny, lying on the seat beside me and shuddered for those who could not get back to their homes and knew their beloved pets were locked in the house. In some cases emergency shelters will not take pets. I don't know why - perhaps space is at a premium.

But how could you leave them behind?

And the stock and the wildlife...

You'd think we'd become used to scenes of weeping farmers shooting cattle lying in agony in a burnt-out paddock. But we don't.

I see flocks of birds sweeping across the sky and I think, at least you can fly. But the koalas can't leave fast enough. Or the kangaroos. Or the wombats. Or the lizards. Or the snakes. Or the butterflies. Or the spiders. Or the ants.

Or...