ABC TV News: 7.30 ~ Interviews with bushfire survivors + fire-fighting OPS update
Hot and windy conditions hamper aerial fire-fighting operations ~ bushfire devastation is not over yet!
This ABC 7.30 video report provides a SITREP about current VIC bushfires.
Source: youtube ~ abctv news
This map from the Victorian Emergency Services shows that numbers and extent of the bushfire threats are easing.
Source: emergency.vic.gov.au
This BoM heatwave warning map also shows that heatwave conditions are easing.
Source: reg.bom.gov.au
Bushfire Damage Estimates
So far there is one death reported in the current VIC bushfire disaster.
Source: yahoo.com
Ruffy farmer Matt Plunkett is one of those who lost 6,000 sheep in these bushfires.
« He is trying to stay positive in the midst of death and destruction.
Barely a blade of grass was left after the Longwood fire razed his property on January 8th 2026.
An estimated 6,000 of his 12,000 sheep died in the blaze or had to be euthanased.
“Everywhere you look it’s black,” Mr Plunkett said.|
“[I’m] not sure how we’ll rebuild, but we’ve got to.»
Source: abc.net.au
This report from the Insurance Business Online Magazine shows cost estimates so far.
« Insured losses from the bushfires burning through parts of Victoria since January 7 are estimated at more than $200 million across 3,123 claims, the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) said on Wednesday.
“These bushfires very much remain an ongoing event and I encourage Victorians to follow the advice of emergency services,” said ICA CEO Andrew Hall in a media release.
The industry body said the figure spans a broad mix of claims, including property, motor, commercial and business interruption, with early assessments indicating the destruction is severe: about 30% of property claims are expected to be total losses.»
Source: insurancebusinessmag.com
Graham did you know that there is a Subaru-Bell helicopter that has been especially adapted for firefighting. I was looking at some details on the company which once was Fuji Heavy Industries and changed its name to Subaru which is the main division selling cars. However, it has an aeronautics division which makes the Subaru-Bell helicopter in Japan and USA. It also makes the fuselage of Boeing planes.
From Bell Australia web site
"At Bell Textron Australia we can take an OEM model helicopter and transform it into a one of a kind aircraft. Mission specialties include law enforcement, search and rescue, offshore transport, fire-fighting and executive transport."
That seems a good support with its electronics for on the ground vehicles.