Greatest fire risk since ash wednesday

Please wish us luck in Melbourne for Tomorrow, In 1983 we had a massive fire that cost 75 lives and 100's of homes. Our forcast is 43 celcius and extreme winds. Our fire authority has put out a warning that this is the worst conditions since that terrible day. I was 12 at the time and everywhere you looked there was ash, smoke and the skies were orange, I am very nervous. We will be unrugging, plaiting horses tails today and making sure every horse is in the safest paddock possible.

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Permalink Reply by Sandy on February 27, 2009 at 11:07am

we'll be thinking of you and hope that it doesn't turn as bad as predicted, and will wish for rain for you. Please keep us posted.

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Franklin on February 27, 2009 at 3:19pm

Hi, I am very glad to post that nothing bad happened yesterday. The government took no risks, they closed all schools and child care centres in fire prone areas yesterday. Summer is officialy over today and I have never been so happy to go into Autumn. Lets hope the weather realises it. Tuesday is supposed to be hot, I am not sure about winds yet. The fire fighters have done an amazing job building containment lines around the big fires. They still have fronts of up to 1000 kilometres. We need rain and lots of it.

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Franklin on March 1, 2009 at 2:35am

Here we go again. Tuesdays forcast is for 36 degrees celcius and 150 kilometre an hour winds. I am so sick of this. I am stressing and trying to workout whether I evacuate them again or not. I will have to ride them back to my house, (probably a 3 hour ride) as I can't organise moving them by float before then. Schools closed again and huge fire warnings. Summer is over or supposed to be.

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Franklin on March 2, 2009 at 3:52am

The Victorian police have sent warning sms to all victorian mobiles. They are saying the risks are as high as Black Saturday. We still have many fires burning out of control and with the high winds, the containment lines wont hold. I couldn't get my horses out, so I have done the best I can. Tails are up again and I have moved them to a dust bowl of a paddock with no trees.

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Permalink Reply by Wendy on March 2, 2009 at 12:31pm

Best of luck Rebecca!

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Franklin on March 2, 2009 at 2:07pm

I feel sick. It is 6 am and I have just checked the fire website. Kangaroo Ground has been listed as under direct threat from the fires. That is where my horses are. I want to go and get them. I know it would be extremely dangerous to lead them the 16k's back to my house. The roads dont have paths. Most of the time I would be walking on the road and leading 2 scared thoroughbreds. I don't know what to do. If a fire is lit between them and home we would be burnt anyway. My instincts are to save them, but many people died on black saturday trying to save their horses. What do I do?

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Permalink Reply by Dorothy McDonall on March 2, 2009 at 3:19pm

Oh, Rebecca ... I really feel for you. What a dreadful dilemma. Of course, only you can answer this question ... just know that whatever you decide I, and I'm sure many others on this site, will keep you in my prayers and wish you all the best. I wish I could do more ... remember to breathe ...

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Permalink Reply by Sandy on March 2, 2009 at 3:38pm

I couldn't say what to do either, since that is a risky decision either way. I don't know what I would do either, i'd be just as torn about that decision. it depends if that area is now closed off? what the risks are to you? and if you could even manage that with your scared horses. I will be wishing you all the luck in the world that all goes in your favour. Be careful, don't put yourself into danger.

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Franklin on March 2, 2009 at 4:17pm

My husband has refused to drop me off to the horses. I understand him, his first priority is me. My agistment has banned all agisters today, they don't want people deaths on their heads. They will stay there and drop the internal fencing if needed. The fences are made with a product that is designed to snap under pressure, so at least they wont get hurt if they panic. If something happens to my babies, I won't forgive myself. I just have to sit back and wait. Thank you for all of you support.