Victorian arson.

I'm sure most of the world knows about the fire disaster in the Australian state of Victoria. The more recent news being that they think the fires were deliberately set, which just makes me sick to my stomach. At this point they expect that about 171 are dead with more expected as the fires rage on. The following articles have some amazing stories of survival, as well as stories of heartache.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29123220/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29067017

A few years back some friends of mine and I came to know a couple of Australian gems (Rob and Nev) as they were staying in the States. Every few weeks Nev will write and give us updates about his adventures down under. Recently he wrote our group with the following:

Well things aren't to good over here me ole mates, we have got some bloody bad bush fires in the state next to us, Victoria, last count was 108 killed, over 700 houses burnt & heaps of people injured. One small town was completely burnt out. Our little part of the woods is ok at the moment, if it gets down there, there will be hell to pay, we have got thousands of of acres of blue gum & pine trees all around us...

And an update shortly after...

The closest fire to us down at home was about 60 miles away, closer to Uncle Rob though about 30 miles I'd say. The death toll is horrific, some family's have lost so much it's very sad. I think the death toll will be even higher yet. There's been about 830,000 acres burnt so far & there's still 52 fires still burning, at the moment the death tolls 130 people but they reckon it will top 200. The sad part is that Queensland is having massive floods if you could only even it out. The heat & wind has been terrible ... Police have shut whole areas down after the fires have gone through & classed them as murder sites. To read a paper over here its very hard not not to have a tear in your eye, some stories are just so sad. Anyway gang all we can do is pray for rain & bloody heaps of it.
Loves you lots mates, look after yourselves.
Nev

I'd like to take a moment to encourage fellow readers to pray for those involved in this disaster. From the people defending their own homes and farms, to those fighting the flames and risking their lives. Pray for their safety and that the winds calm down and rains pick up enough to help stop the spread.