western australia

Bushfires abound in our old stamping grounds

@JudyEv (382068)

Rockingham, Australia

January 11, 2023 9:30pm CST

We used to live on 18 acres just out of Donnybrook, in Western Australia. I’ve written here about the church at Thompson’s Brook and our house-sitting at Yabberup. Now, all these places and the land between and around is at risk from bushfires. An evacuation centre has been set up at Donnybrook. We have a lot of friends and acquaintances who would all be at risk at the moment. A lot of endurance riders live in the area. I know 120 sheep have perished but haven’t heard much other news. All in all, 300,000 spot fires (I kid you not – 300,000) were started during the storms a few days ago. The photo is another of Vince’s of the lightning from that night.

17 people like this

19 responses

@rsa101 (40976)

• Philippines

12 Jan 23

So, lightnings are the main culprit for these bushfires. I just hope that there would not be serious ones this time and just pass you buy. Is this an annual event happening in your area?

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@rsa101 (40976)

• Philippines

16 Jan 23

@JudyEv I think they are part of the cycle of nature but the worsening might just be cause of the climate change that we are all experiencing.

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

We now live in the city so are not really at risk. But each year there are bushfires started by lightning. They seem to be getting worse each year.

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

16 Jan 23

@rsa101 I agree. You wouldn't even try to fight a bushfire nowadays. They are just too fierce and intense.

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@dfollin (27267)

• United States

12 Jan 23

Oh my! I remember when there were fire's there before one friend told me that everyone was basically trapped in the country. Another friend she could see the blazes in New Zealand. Be safe, praying for you and everyone there. Those poor sheep!

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

Thanks. We do have some really terrible fires here from time to time. Sometimes arsonists light them or, like these, they come from lightning strikes.

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@dfollin (27267)

• United States

17 Jan 23

@JudyEv Praying for you and everyone in Australia.

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

17 Jan 23

@dfollin Thank you. It's very much appreciated.

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@shaggin (74987)

• United States

12 Jan 23

Oh my gosh wow that sounds unreal and terrifying

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

It is really hard to combat so many bushfires at once.

1 person likes this

@DaddyEvil (174430)

• United States

12 Jan 23

That's a lot of fires! I hope no people have been injured in them and hope no more animals are injured, either.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

I haven't heard of any injuries so far which is good.

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@DaddyEvil (174430)

• United States

13 Jan 23

@JudyEv Let's hope it stays that way.

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@thislittlepennyearns (68246)

• Defuniak Springs, Florida

12 Jan 23

Bushfires seem to be common in Australia? Or Do I just pay attention to when I hear about them because of knowing you.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

They are common here and each year it seems they are more intense and do more damage. I pay more attention to some news now too if I think I know the US area and myLotters who might be there.

@thislittlepennyearns (68246)

• Defuniak Springs, Florida

13 Jan 23

@JudyEv I pay attention to news in areas where there are mylotters from too.

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Zhang jing xuan

@zhangxueying (3362)

• China

12 Jan 23

I saw some news before that the Australian fire in 2019 burned for half a year.This is really terrible

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

Some of our fires do burn for a very long time and do a huge amount of damage.

@FourWalls (86703)

• United States

12 Jan 23

Wow, 300,000 fires started by lightning?! That’s amazing (not in a good way, either). I can’t imagine how bone dry the brush must be for that to happen!

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

I think it is amazing too. The map of the south-west showed dozens of spot fires all over the place.

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@LadyDuck (502466)

• Italy

12 Jan 23

Oh my goodness, I remember when you cleaned around you to prevent bush fires. I hope your old house is safe.

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@LadyDuck (502466)

• Italy

13 Jan 23

@JudyEv I hope so, I know there is a sort of attachment to the places where we have lived.

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

The new owners have locked the gates and are mostly only there some weekends. However, there doesn't to be any fires in the immediate vicinity.

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@Tampa_girl7 (54715)

• United States

12 Jan 23

I pray they get the fires out quickly.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

They are still fighting these fires but they do seem to be bringing them under control.

@wolfgirl569 (135744)

• Marion, Ohio

12 Jan 23

That's a great photo. Hope everyone stays safe there

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

I haven't heard of anyone losing their life so that's a good thing.

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@Ronrybs (21497)

• London, England

12 Jan 23

I guess with a dry spell, lightning is a big risk

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

It is indeed. All the crops have been harvested and the stubble would burn very readily.

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

@Ronrybs That happened when I was growing up too. It doesn't happen any more but I don't know if it's been banned.

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@Ronrybs (21497)

• London, England

13 Jan 23

@JudyEv You used to see deliberate stubble burning here, but not so much of late. I think it has been banned

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@RubyHawk (99367)

• Atlanta, Georgia

12 Jan 23

I woulld wish for rain with all my might. I hope it does rain and put those fires out.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

We don't normally get much rain in summer unless there is another storm. But that brings the risk of more lightning strikes.

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@RubyHawk (99367)

• Atlanta, Georgia

13 Jan 23

@JudyEv We have storms coming in with thunder and lightening year round. Sometimes our electricity goes out. Trees are sometimes hit by lightning and knocked down.

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@LindaOHio (222302)

• United States

12 Jan 23

That is horrible news. I hope they can get the fires under control; and I hate to hear about any loss of life. Vince's photo is contest/calendar worthy!

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

I'm glad you like the photo. You're right about it being a good one for a calendar. I must remember that.

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@Beestring (15372)

• Hong Kong

12 Jan 23

That's a lot of fires. Hope everyone is safe.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

I haven't heard of any loss of life so that is a good thing.

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@Beestring (15372)

• Hong Kong

13 Jan 23

@JudyEv That's good.

1 person likes this

@snowy22315 (208906)

• United States

13 Jan 23

Fires are so dangerous. Steer clear of them!

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jan 23

We won't be going anywhere near them if we can help it. We've heard that the concert which was scheduled to be held in the church this weekend is still going ahead so that's good news.

@allknowing (153530)

• India

13 Jan 23

I have been reading about these bush fires. Hope everyone around there stay safe and follow instructions.

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

There is a lot of information nowadays about having a 'fire plan' and being prepared in case your property comes under risk.

@jstory07 (148734)

• Roseburg, Oregon

12 Jan 23

I hope that no one losses there live that is a lot of fires. I hope you stay safe.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

There are no fires in our area but we check the web from time to time to learn of any new ones.

@DWDavis (25797)

• United States

13 Jan 23

Wow! that is incredibly intense lightning. It is hard to imagine so many fires being started by one group of storms over such a short period. Is any rain coming in concert with the electrical storms?

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@DWDavis (25797)

• United States

14 Jan 23

@JudyEv Dry electrical storms can cause so much damage. How does the government respond to a situation with so many blazes?

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

I found the figure hard to believe too but apparently it's correct. The fires were over a very large area and there wasn't much rain associated with the storms.

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@Treborika (18194)

• Mombasa, Kenya

12 Jan 23

It seems that so large area is prone to wild fires. This is very dangerous so to speak

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan 23

We do get quite a few fires every summer. Some do a lot of damage.