Inferno Saturday Bushfire Disaster

February 9, 2009 by Arvadmin

The communications arm of the Red Cross, Recom is at most of the major evacuation points set up in response to the worst bushfire in Victoria since European settlement.

Some 700 homes and up to 100 people have been killed. A number of fires continue to burn and many homes are still at risk.

Recom, operated by radio amateurs plays a vital role in gathering and transmitting the registration details of those who have fled fire affected areas.

At the Traralgon Emergency Relief Centre in Gippsland registrations topped 1000. Some of the 10 Recom units completed their work at one centre before heading off to others on a list of 20 centres in fire affected areas.

The Inferno Saturday Bushfire Disaster activation followed a three-day activation from 29 January in response to major fires in the Gippsland region of Victoria.

On that occasion there was a once-in-a-century record three days heat-wave with temperatures topping 43 degrees Celscuis (109 Fahrenheit).

The latest activation on Saturday 7 February was on a day of the highest ever recorded temperature in the capital city of Melbourne, 46.3 degrees Celsius (115 Fahrenheit), strong winds and low humidity.