[Grimper]

But you can plug up volcanoes with gum.

[iamzack]

implied "etc"

[ssmit132]

But you can plug up volcanoes with gum.

No, with cement. (Read: Railroad Tycoon 2)

[Black Wolf]

Fires can be largely prevented, much more so than the other things you mentioned.

[Dilmah G]

Fires can be largely prevented, much more so than the other things you mentioned.

True, but the temperature over here isn't helping.

[Janos]

Fires can be largely prevented, much more so than the other things you mentioned.

Preventing fires often means allowing the smaller fires to burn. In an area that burns regularly preventing all fires means that the ones which will eventually spark up will be much more immensive (more fuel).

There are actually some quite tragic examples of this.

[Black Wolf]

That's what I meant. Controlled burms and such. Victoria doesn't do them AFAIK.

[Grimper]

That's what I meant. Controlled burms and such. Victoria doesn't do them AFAIK.

...

Victoria DOES do backburning, I ought to know I live there..

We also make lots of firebreaks and such.
Although I think these fires were caused by not *enough* backburning, but we still do it.

[Enigmatic Entity]

I used to live in Victoria near where some of the fires are now. We used to see large plumes of smoke and the "red" sun from earlier fires, i.e. pre 2008.

Down in Tassie, there actually hasn't been many really huge fires this year, so we sent about 100 fire fighters to Vic./NSW.

The amount of support for the victims is massive; the monetary donations about $75 000 000, along with warehouses packed with all manner of "essential" items.

[Janos]

Hey great the court named a suspect so the police had to move him to a secret location

great job, court, great job, excellent, what an excellent idea

[Grimper]

The fires have subsided and the new death toll is in. It's holding steady at 209 now.

But we're about to have another very hot day this week, so there's every possiblity they could start up again.

[Vasudan Commander]

Gday all - this is my first post back from my 'retirement'.

I am being affected by it - not directly to myself, but my uncle who died in the fire trying to save his home. From what my cousin told me, who was able to get out, my uncle realised he couldn't stop the fires so ran inside to get some things, but the flames caught onto the house and he never came out of the house.   

[Hellstryker]

Gday all - this is my first post back from my 'retirement'.

I am being affected by it - not directly to myself, but my uncle who died in the fire trying to save his home. From what my cousin told me, who was able to get out, my uncle realised he couldn't stop the fires so ran inside to get some things, but the flames caught onto the house and he never came out of the house.   

Good god, this is still going on? Sorry for your loss...   

[Vasudan Commander]

It doesn't look like it will stop until they catch whoever is doing it. Someone is DELIBERATELY lighting them. They've caught and charged 1 man with Arson causing death, but more of them are still coming up.

There's someone still doing this. 

[Dilmah G]

It doesn't look like it will stop until they catch whoever is doing it. Someone is DELIBERATELY lighting them. They've caught and charged 1 man with Arson causing death, but more of them are still coming up.

There's someone still doing this. 

They should shoot the bastard on sight. I cannot believe this **** is still going on.