Farmer Roy's Random Thoughts - I never said it was easy.

[Blaithin]

A Prime Minister or a Presidentis largely about being a figure head. Especially in democracies. Their ability to get anything done is directly linked to their party, not their own ability. Yet they are the visual representation. What they do is what people see.

When you are elected to such a high priority public office you are now the face of the country. When you do something dumb, like dress up in questionable costumes, it is reflected on your country. It reflects poorly on your ability to manage even if your ability to manage is fine and part of it is delegating.

You don’t leave in the midst of a disaster just because you can work remotely while on holiday.

 

[Blaithin]

Well as top dog, he could be putting in a few calls for a lot more Ariel capability from abroad. Could also be utilizing the heavy equipment of the defence forces to help.....(I note our military are equally as bad as our PM. Friends have 2 kids in 2 branches and both are home for xmas for several weeks.....Take note China, Australia knocks off at xmas time...). He could also offer volunteers who take unpaid time off work a 1 or 2% tax break as gratitude....Plenty he could be doing.....

Your army isn’t helping?

 

[Yale]

A bit of shopping then lunch in Liverpool today,before all he’ll breaks loose with the kids home.

 

[CornishTone]

My cousin just sent this from Birdwood. One of the most ominous photos I’ve seen I think.
View attachment 849421

Latest update! This is right behind our old house. Kinda glad we’re not there in a way.

 

[renewablejohn]

Not much gonna stop all that.
It's affecting our local weather in a positive way, all those particles of dust and ash are nuclei for raindrops
Plus the immense heat of Australia contrasting with the cooler airmass over the Pacific has meant the best December precipitation I can remember, even snow in Queenstown and elsewhere inland

Hopefully you get a dampener on Christmas eve to help some of the crews out there battling, I'm no forecaster but

But its points like that where it needs to be stopped as you have the time and the access to create a defence. Ask a potato grower how much water a reel and irrigation unit could lay down either side the road in 24 hours prior to the bush fire getting there. I presume irrigation equipment is mainly used further north and not the same type as used in UK due to evaporation.

 

[CornishTone]

In times of disaster, the people need the reassurance of a figurehead, someone who’s in the fray with them and on their side. He has been duely elected as that figurehead so it’s only natural he is expected to be, at the very least, in the same bloody country. No one is expecting him to be on the end of a fire hose but to just clear off to Hawaii after he himself has called it a disaster, is a pretty feeble move frankly!

 

[Blaithin]

But its points like that where it needs to be stopped as you have the time and the access to create a defence. Ask a potato grower how much water a reel and irrigation unit could lay down either side the road in 24 hours prior to the bush fire getting there. I presume irrigation equipment is mainly used further north and not the same type as used in UK due to evaporation.

Some of these areas don’t have much water... which is the issue. It’s not like there’s lakes lying around.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

A bit of shopping then lunch in Liverpool today,before all he’ll breaks loose with the kids home.

View attachment 849425

Are you sure they're suitable presents for the kids?

 

[renewablejohn]

Some of these areas don’t have much water... which is the issue. It’s not like there’s lakes lying around.

I realise water is a problem but you can sometimes do more good creating a fire break by using a machine rather than putting fire crews at risk trying to erase a fire. System like this can create a 100 mtr diameter wet area prior to a fire arriving. Several units on a highway could keep the road open.

Obviously agri units will use far more water.

 

[Blaithin]

I realise water is a problem but you can sometimes do more good creating a fire break by using a machine rather than putting fire crews at risk trying to erase a fire. System like this can create a 100 mtr diameter wet area prior to a fire arriving. Several units on a highway could keep the road open.

Obviously agri units will use far more water.

There’s lots of ways to create a fire break. The most effective is literally tearing up the ground with heavy equipment to remove/bury the fuel for the fire.

Hard to irrigate a forest.

 

[renewablejohn]

There’s lots of ways to create a fire break. The most effective is literally tearing up the ground with heavy equipment to remove/bury the fuel for the fire.

Hard to irrigate a forest.

Actually its quite easy to irrigate the outside edge of a forest and once the forest floor is wet the shade of the trees reduces evaporation rates.
Certainly brash free forests are easier to manage.

 

[Blaithin]

Actually its quite easy to irrigate the outside edge of a forest and once the forest floor is wet the shade of the trees reduces evaporation rates.
Certainly brash free forests are easier to manage.

How do you irrigate a forest already on fire....

In order to irrigate the edge of a forest to prevent it from lighting on fire, the forest would have to not yet be on fire. If a fire starts in the middle of the bush, irrigating the edge won’t stop much. That and a wet ground doesn’t stop trees from burning.

Wonder how much water a drought bush at 45C would soak up before it actually started to keep the surface wet enough to prevent burning.

Irrigation here is pretty much all pivot. It’d be useless when it comes to fire fighting unless the fire started under it.

 

[Wombat]

Terrible to see these fires

 

[Karliboy]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10219204185723099

One for @Kiwi Pete

 

[Kidds]

I don't know if you know the back story to this
before politics, our esteemed PM worked in advertising
an ad for Tourism Australia back in the day had the tag line "where the bloody hell are you?"
he was the genius behind it
( it was roundly criticised here, back in the day)
you may have seen them ?

Yes, I did know.
I'd have thought I was more likely to see them than you with them being adverts for tourists.

 

[Wombat]

Wish we could send you some of the rain we are having

 

[renewablejohn]

How do you irrigate a forest already on fire....

In order to irrigate the edge of a forest to prevent it from lighting on fire, the forest would have to not yet be on fire. If a fire starts in the middle of the bush, irrigating the edge won’t stop much. That and a wet ground doesn’t stop trees from burning.

Wonder how much water a drought bush at 45C would soak up before it actually started to keep the surface wet enough to prevent burning.

Irrigation here is pretty much all pivot. It’d be useless when it comes to fire fighting unless the fire started under it.

Thats the whole point. Theres no point chasing a fire to stop it, you need to put fire breaks in ahead of the fire. This is when it becomes dangerous for fire crews so you need auto equipment in place to maintain the fire break while the fire sweeps towards it. That sort of system can easily be set up 24 hours prior to the expected arrival of the fire front giving time for the water to be absorbed into the trees and surrounding area. If the fire starts in the middle of the bush then your stuffed anyway as you have an endless supply of fuel.
As you say pivot irrigation would be useless.

 

[CornishTone]

Flying over The Adelaide Hills earlier.

FLYING OVER THE HILLS Video from J Woods | By Gumeracha Country Fire ServiceFacebook

FLYING OVER THE HILLS Video from J Woods

fbwat.ch

 

[Oscar]

What I have nt heard from anybody is that these fires are moving east mostly I guess so if you take the ones nearest Sydney is there a natural feature that will eventually stop the spread east or is it just going to keep going until it reaches the ocean ? Sorry if it's a bit simple but never been yet so don t know the features.
It does have some relevance as we are heading to Sydney next Friday!!

 

[Kidds]

Take a dust mask