It Was So Hot Here Last Week..........................

[gregga41]

Hey Aitch, it's been recorded as the highest temperature for an Australian capital city ever!! DAMN HOT!

[rick_ovic]

The day has turned to tragedy with 14 people confirmed dead and unconfirmed reports over 40 people losing their lives in the fires which have ravaged Victoria. 100 houses have been destroyed during today's record heatwave and many other business and rural properties have been lost.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/

It's 11.30pm Saturday night here and already my work colleagues and I have put our claims Catastrophe Plan on standby. I anticipate knowing more about the extent of losses in the morning and no doubt Monday is going to be a busy day in the office.

I'll be saying a few prayers for those families who have lost loved ones and also for those incredibly brave firefighters risking their lives to save others.

[kiramdear]

My prayers are with my Aussie friends who are suffering the heat and fires. Take care of each other, everybody!

[gregga41]

The loss of life and property continues to rise. My family lost our home in the Ash Wednesday fires of 1983, so i also send my prayers out to all involved.
Luckily there has been a drastic cool change, hopefully no lightning strikes. A 19 y-o firefighter has been arrested for starting a few of the fires down in Gippsland!

[weemac]

A 19 y-o firefighter has been arrested for starting a few of the fires down in Gippsland!

That's really sad but it happens so often.......
The world can do without that sort of thrillseeker!

Eden.

[brammy]

Does anyone breed koalas for pets? I understand that the wild ones can be vicious little buggers, but what about ones bred in captivity?
They sure look cute.

Or is this one of those "oselot" kind of things where they simply dont make good pets?

[johnallg]

Knowing what Calif. goes through, and being in Florida when the middle of the state was on fire, you all have my deepest sympathies. Lets all hope the fires are brought under control soon and with no more loss of life.

[rick_ovic]

The death toll is now officially 65 and still rising, with 640 homes destroyed.

And the arsonists are RELIGHTING the fires contained earlier by firefighters.

[johnallg]

Shoot on sight.

[kiramdear]

Arsonists??!! Who in the world ...???

[whojamfan]

Shoot on sight.

And if they get up, shoot 'em again!

[rick_ovic]

Shoot on sight.

Unbelievable, huh? I completely agree with you, John. There's suggestions that they'll be charged with murder if they are caught.

It's times like these you see the absolute best in humanity and the worst, too.

[winston]

Sorry to hear about all the death and devastation guys. What is wrong with people? I can't imagine anyone starting fires on purpose when the place is like a tinderbox to start with. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

[ozover50]

There's a one hour special broadcast on TV at the moment and it's absolutely heartbreaking!!

To think that some of these fires could have and probably have been lit by fellow human beings defies imagination. Forget bullets, gas and long term jail sentences.......... burn the b*stards!!!

[longboard_ric]

One arsonist arrested a few days ago, happened to be a member of the local fire brigade.

Despite testing to weed out the thrillseekers, they somehow manage to sneak under the radar.