Sunday, October 20th, 2013
“Premier Barry O’Farrell has today been at the Rural Fire Service Headquarters in Lidcombe.
He has warned residents across the state to brace for the possibility of mass evacuations in coming days amid dire weather forecasts.”
‘‘The state’s in for challenging days ahead,’’ he said
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-bushfires-live-updates-20131020-2vumk.html#ixzz2iEI9AfvF
I just discovered the above new item in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Some areas in NSW experienced the worst bushfires last Thursday when temperatures reached the high thirties (Celsius) with very strong erratic extremely hot winds. 208 houses have been destroyed so far. The entire Blue Mountains Area is still in danger.
So the Premier says ” to brace for the possibility of mass evacuations in coming days amid dire weather forecasts.”
This warning applies to residents across the state of NSW. I think a lot of people tend to think it is not going to effect them unless they live right next to the bush. However to be honest under these dire weather conditions a fire could turn up anywhere within a very short time. So I think the Premier is right to give people a warning like this. For sure it is much better to be prepared than to be sorry later on.
Here now is a message from the Queen:
“2:58pm: Her Majesty The Queen has just sent a message on the bushfire situation here. She’s expressed great admiration for the work of fire fighters.
“I would like to convey my heartfelt sympathy to all those who have been affected by the devastating bushfires across New South Wales.
“My thoughts are with the many people who have lost their homes or livelihoods in the fires, and I have great admiration for the fire fighters, volunteers and emergency services officers who are working tirelessly to contain the situation.”
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-bushfires-live-updates-20131020-2vumk.html#ixzz2iEQUOraR
AuntyUta 
My heart goes out to all of you in the region….what a difficult time.
Thank you so much for your heart felt response. It is indeed a difficult time, especially for all the emergency workers and for the ones who’ve lost their home already.
Thinking of you here from a much cooler Tassie (so far).
Thank you, Elizabeth! 🙂
Liebe Ute wünsche dir einen schönen Tag und ich wünsche dir das du vor dem Feuer in Sicherheit bist,ist eine schreckliche Sache, die armen Leute tun mir so Leid ich bette für sie.Ich wünsche dir eine gute Woche und alles Liebe von mir.Lieber Gruß von mir und Freundschaft.Gislinde
Bei uns ist so weit alles in Ordnung, liebe Gislinde. Danke für deine lieben Worte. Wir wünschen uns etwas Regen! Viele Grüsse, Auntyuta. 🙂
Hi Aunty. I hope you’re a safe distance from where it is. Been thinking of you everytime we’re updated one the news here in californai
Thanks for your concern, Mary-Ann. We are near Wollongong 100 km south of Sydney. We are all right for the time being. The huge fires in the Blue Mountains a bit west of Sydney are still of great concern.
This is a good round-up for me thank you, Aunty Uta, of what’s happening. I see snippets of the news, but only grabs of it. Glad you provided the link.
I don’t think I’d ever build in a forest.
Hope youa re well, Aunty Uta! 🙂
Yes. thank you, Noeleen, Peter and I are well. Of course people who build in bush areas, are most at risk. But this does not mean if you build in a suburb or city there is no risk. It is very difficult to keep bushfires under control if there is no moisture in the air and if there are very hot, strong winds. At the moment more than 2000 firefighters try to keep the fires under control!
All of Sydney is covered in smog from the fires in the Blue Mountains.
Today we might get a bit of rain, but it won’t be enough rain to extinguish the huge fires to the west of Sydney. These fires might rage on for weeks to come.
Where we are there are a lot of trees and grass and everything dries out quickly in hot, windy weather. As the Premier says, we prepare for the worst but hope for the best!
Cheers, Aunty Uta. 🙂
I hope for the best alongside you, Aunty Uta.
It’s raining in Melbourne right now.
Every year the same and every year still so much tragedy in it – losing your belongings, photos, “things”. Left with nil. It’s really distresing, Aunty Uta. I’d hate to see that smoke in the hills.
Take care 🙂
Thanks, Noeleen. We are told not to travel to the Blue Mountains tomorrow. No worries, we won’t! 🙂
My thought’s go out to all those concerned, it must be terrifying . I cringe when it pops up on the news. Thank you for the Link.
Take Care Uta xx
Sheila, these bushfires in the mountains are terrifying. The really hot weather did not last for very long. Now with much cooler weather I guess the firefighting gets a little bit easier. There are still some rather unpredictable winds around, that means the firefighters and emergency workers still have a very tough job.
Thank you! Cheerio, Uta ox