Catastrophic conditions right here at home

Posted from Irrewillipe and Colac , Victoria .5am 10th January  2026  

As you can see , I don't get to this blog very often, There maybe better sites  to chase if you are seeking relevant risk information 

Well at least this morning ( Its after 4am in the morning on the 11th of January ) the news is ....as it happened. 

While the wind has died down now , the westerlies which came in after the northerlies on the 10th have prevailed a lot longer than expected.
Most of were surprised that there was so much lightning late on the 10th but we should have perhaps expected it.  . I was on Situation duty one night about 20years ago when 60 fires from lighting strikes were recorded by the three towers in the Otways, Those fires came to nothing but last night the lightning took out power and started the fires that have grown in the Gellibrand valley  south  of where we are ( main area of risk ) . Lightning cut power for water and communication and that normal risk should not be underestimated. 

  Nothing you read here is intended to condemn anyone because,  as even the most welcome new use of supercomputers means noone can accurately advise those living near bush in particular in some weather moments. There is IMO no risk to Colac township but seek more advice if you need convincing . 



























The Melbourne media and its political drivers may try to provide what they cannot, but we have always known its usually up to us here anyway and would always welcome more reasonable and truly local support. .

One day as the previous post states, our children may perhaps get their land and their wisdom about it back .  Thanks for the help from South Australia . 

We are now reasonably happy that those we love who cannot move either out or back in to protect their properties don't have to evacuate, but we hope there may some extra on ground assistance to protect their properties now that the main risk is gone for the moment.
We will take advice from the locals in charge in a few hours time. 
Fortunately for all the fires which started in the Gellibrand catchment ( that I know of ) there are not a lot of people likely to be affected with containment perimeters likely to established today . This is only my opinion .


Please where you can, and before you move anywhere, look up the Fire emergency website and other sites which feature wind speed and direction and humidity --like the ones in the column to the right,    There is safety in much advice .  
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