Wildfires continue in Australia, serious threat remains

Over the last couple of days I have frequently found my thoughts turning to the numerous wildfires currently burning all over eastern Australia. At the time I wrote this article there was a video report on ABC News in Australia that while the wildfire situation has eased up a bit in New South Wales, uncontained fires continue and the wildfire threat is far from over, unfortunately the video is expired.

In a report on ABC Australia that I believe was issued yesterday (Australia time), authorities say that somewhat cooler weather returned with a return to hot weather expected to return later this week; firefighters as well as affected residents talk about their experiences. 

I don't know specifics about tankers and helicopters used to fight these wildfires in Australia, but I have seen images of helicopters and perhaps a SEAT or two in the reports I cited above and possibly elsewhere in my recent wonderings about the internet. Bill Gabbert of Fire Aviation wrote an article on the Australian wildfire season about a month ago with a listing of aerial wildland fire support assets used in Australia. Mike Archer of the Fire Publications Blog included a nice article from the Southland Times about a Bell 214 Helicopter pilot working the wildfires in Tasmania in his posting for January 7, 2013. that you might want to check out.

In the meantime Mike Archer continues of the Fire Publications Blog continues to cover the ongoing wildland fire situation in Australia on January 8 and January 9. Bill Gabbert has written about the Australian wildfire season on January 8 and January 9 (check out the videos.

Last but by no means least at the time I wrote this article the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) has a nice webpage with links to stories, videos, and other information about the current wildfire situation in Australia. 

Revised on October 12, 2015 to remove a dead link.