Greatest fire risk since ash wednesday

[Rebecca Franklin]

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.

[Rebecca Franklin]

Crap their is already an 120 hectare fire burning in a state park that went up last time. That is before the really high temps and winds tomorrow

[Dorothy McDonall]

Good luck with all that. It must be a dreadful concern. My wish for you is many days of refreshing rain ...

[Barbara F.]

This is so frightening. Please keep us updated.

[Lainie]

There are now about 8 or so fires burning around Melbourne - specifically a massive one about 50 mins drive east of Melb CBD and another huge one north of Melb, burning in a SE direction. Thankfully the wind has died down in most places and a slighy cool change has come through. At least 150 homes / studs etc have been burned to the ground, at least 15 people have lost their lives and many horses and livestock are dead. It is awful.

The wind and a high temp of 46-47 degrees celcius today have turned VIC into hell. The entire sky was grey from smoke. Spot fires and embers keep / kept lighting new areas. Fires are still burning and I know people who had little warning, had to leave their horses behind and still don't know how they have fared and have lost their house / property to the fire. If not for the water-bombing helicopter "Elvis", they would not have made it off their property.

[Dorothy McDonall]

What a tragedy you have unfolding there. I pray for rain, I really do, and for the safety of all, humans and animals, caught up in this whirlwind. Be well ...

[Rebecca Franklin]

Both my sisters were evacuated yesterday, I have not been able to get onto them yet to find out if they lost their homes. I spent all day with the horses, making sure tails were up etc. When the fires hit 15 k's away we dropped the internal fencing. We were surrounded by fires on 3 sides and then the wind changed and blew them in the opposite direction. We are still under threat today. Fires are still close. It depends on the wind. 40 lives have been lost in victoria and I don't know how many homes. People I know have lost homes and horses. There has been little rain and there are thunderstorms which is a concern with lightening. It looked like the world was ending yesterday. The sky was thick with smoke and everything had an orange glow. Please pray for rain for us.

[Barbara F.]

I don't even believe what is going on!! How can riders outside of Australia help? Is there a way we can help with the relief effort?
Are the fires so bad that the tails might catch a spark form flying ash?

[Rebecca Franklin]

The fires are bad enough for embers to set horses tails on fire. Even though the temp and winds have dropped today, I believe their are still 150 fires burning out of control. My horses are still in indirect threat. Many horses have died. Our wildlife will have been wiped out in certain areas. A lot of towns have been burnt to the ground. Many people are dead. In one car they found a mother, father and 3 children. The fire had engulfed the car. There are areas the authorities can't get into, so I assume the death toll will rise. Fire crews from interstate have started arriving to assist. My sisters homes have survived so far. I don't know how the international community can help, except for emotional support. I have had a good cry today. The town I grew up in has nearly been obliterated.

[Rebecca Franklin]

I have just found out. One equestrian centre in Kinglake has lost all 30 horses on the property. Kinglake is still ablaze and that is the fire threatening my horses. A lot of our main Highways are blocked by fire. Some of my family are unable to get to melbourne.

[Rebecca Franklin]

There are now 66 people confirmed dead. 400 still missing. Over 700 homes confirmed lost. there will be many more. Fire fronts are still up to 200 kilometres wide. The news footage is terrifying. The wind is still taking it away from my horses, but that means somebody else is in danger. The next few days are supposed to be cooler, but then it is going to heat up again. Please let the fires be under control by then.

[Lainie]

Now 86 people confirmed dead, including a well known newsreader and his wife who died in Kinglake. Over 120,000 hectares of land have been burnt in one massive fire alone.

Know people who have lost everything except the clothes they were wearing. The fires continue to burn. The wind is the deciding factor.

[Elizabeth Daly]

Am reading this in Dublin, Ireland and am absolutely horrified. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Please let us know how you are. Please let us know how you are getting on, also Rebecca if you are reading this, please post more news, please God it will get cool and the winds subside.
Elizabeth Daly.