Grief, despair and raging anger

[Kody]

On January 7/2009, Australia suffered the worst day/s of bushfires (wildfires) in the history of our nation. There has never been a day of greater tragedy or loss and We all hope to God that there never will be again. You guys would have watched the events as they happened on your tv at home. A total of 173 people were killed in the fires and 78 of these were lost from the town of Strathewen. The town of Strathewen was totally destroyed, there was nothing left at all. Our entire nation grieved in shock and horror at this tragedy made so much worse when it was discovered that the fires were deliberately started by someone who couldn't care less about what would happen. More than a few of the lost ones were volunteer fireman who died trying to save the lives of others. The town has mostly been rebuilt now but life there will never be the same, many people have never returned. It is impossible to remove the seared scars of memories from those dark few days. A documentary was shown on tv a few days ago that presented the people of Strathewen living now in December,2012. The fear and horror is still raging in the hearts of all the survivors, especially in the eyes and hearts of the children.

Today as I write this, there are 53 more bushfires burning in the South East of Queensland. The news reports that keep flooding in, state that at least 48 of these fires were deliberately started by person/s as yet, unknown. Whenever such treacherous crimes as this are committed, every Australian is left hurting with grief, despair and raging anger. The hurt is compounded by the stabbing knowledge that when caught, the perpetrators will not be punished as they should be. The cry far and wide is that these criminals must be jailed for the rest of their natural life, they must never be released from prison walls again. The people who have lost their families and family members are handed down a lifetime sentence of grief and hurt that will never be healed. The criminals walk away with very little to worry or think about. Even teenagers who light these fire should be given the strongest of punishment, a minimum of 35/40 years. Is that too much for a teenager? Ask the ones who lost their families if they think this is too much and the answer is a resounding NO! Our laws here are pathetic and the courts are too soft on the criminals. The innocent victims are the ones who pay the greatest price of all.

Kody

[stumphugger]

Oh no! Not again! I hope it rains hard enough to knock the fires down. We had our dose in August and September and our area only had smoke to complain about. But we were very dry, and folks were nervous. Our fires were caused by lightning, not stupidity.

Fires get to a certain size and it seems like (and often is the case) that nothing except a good downpour or snow will put them out.

Best of luck and I'll think good thoughts...I'll try to send our rain that way. Keep safe!

[Roo Dog]

Kody,

Severe punishment for fires deliberately lit with malicious intent goes without saying.
Just how much of a deterrent punishment is for others is the question.
Most people who do this sort of thing are stuffed in the head and the possibility they may end up in the slammer for the rest of their days does not, in all probability, even enter their thinking. Being caught appears to give many a kick due to the notoriety they achieve.

I am not too sure what the answer is when it comes to prevention as many appear to be of a type you would least suspect.

Take it easy.

RD