🇦🇺 Australia: In the Line of Fire | 101 East

The Jacobs family is just about to sit down to Christmas lunch when they notice the smoke. The blue skies above their home are turning orange.
"When we saw the smoke directly overhead, then it was pretty apparent that we were going to get hit by the fire," says Tom Jacobs.
In Australia, summers bring bushfires - and the loss of lives and homes every year.
The question for those in the line of fire is whether to fight or flee.
As 101 East discovers, it can be a life-changing choice.
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[@lindajackson618]

Bless them. My heart goes out to all the families.

[@seanbaskett5506]

There is a huge debate about all the Blue Gum Eucalyptus that was planted in the Central Valley in California. Basically, it DOES cause firestorms. Huge bark and leaf litter piles, canopies full of highly flammable oil, stringy bark that carries the fire right to the crowns. All in 100mph Diablo Winds. Makes great firewood though!

[@rjl110919581]

THANK YOU SHARE THIS VIDEO ON AUSTRALIA BUSH

[@somedumbozzie1539]

I grew up in these places, the sap of the trees has ten times the energy of TNT it is a not so much a fire as it is a massive gas explosion. The fire that hit Kinglake in 2009 was moving at 200 kph 120mph and was spotting 35 klm ahead of the main front so there is no point in trying to escape. The total energy released has to be measured in Megatons.

[@waiotahi52]

To hell with the cricket or rugby, sympathy from me in NZ mates.

[@m7th1c24]

I live 30 mins from Wye river... this stuff is scary

[@MrKiilani71]

eerie sounds of those unfortunate cattles

[@MrBignick88]

RIP Brian Naylor

[@intervenum247]

@ 23:34 Fire proofed Ferrari.. wonder how less fortunate Aussi "protect their car"

[@bluey9358]

"The Bush hadn't been burnt for DECADES"... What does that tell you FFS!!!! Its' pretty simple reduce the fuel, reduce the fire. When will we ever learn. " The Aborigines never thought up using a wheel in all their years living in The Aussie bush, but at least they had the Australian bush all worked out!!

[@Ifyouonlyknewtruth]

When your chased by nature . You got to wonder why .

[@bellebelle7462]

...because it's nature?

[@Ifyouonlyknewtruth]

Belle Merlé Nature with a precise target .like never before for instance Paradise California. Not Paradise such a Heavenly place any more .its scripture and the history in that place was to slaughter men woman and children native Americans by the millions. In one week. Very similar to Australia.

[@ryankincade3375]

Ok. Let's get to the point of the matter. Why is that reporter wearing a fire-fighter costume? Why? Somebody? Why?

[@gldesignco]

+Ryan Kincade because he's next to an active brush fire. you see the tree is still on fire? its for safety it appears.

[@10WilsonChris]

So after that whole video, all those people who lost their homes or lives, you come out wondering why a reporter is wearing wildfire gear??...... Glad someones asking the real questions...

[@CallMeMrX]

To be honest I was also wondering why he was wearing a fire suit on a beach.

[@nerfherder3582]

In order for media to be able to be on a fire ground, they must wear the gear. On the back, it should say "media". It's for their safety. I'm fairly sure they must also complete a "safety on the fire ground" course.

[@ajnunya6649]

Because any reporter who wanted to get on a fire ground was required to have done basic training and have the correct PPE. I don't know if that is still enforced or not but it was at the time this was filmed

[@blumie006]

I once seen a mob of kangaroos hopping from a fire front that was moving quicker then they could go and they literally exploded about 15 meters from the flames the radiant heat was that hot

[@blumie006]

NSW Australia has the best firefighters in the world followed by other Aussie States and territories

[@peterbarber7613]

blue eyes white dragon.all firefighter Australia wide are equal.dont say there better than everybody else its just not true

[@percy832]

Build underground.

[@MitchDonovan]

You still suffocate.

[@percy832]

@@MitchDonovan Smoke inhalation is an issue without an air filtration system. However, you would have a much better chance of survival. Plus earth bermed houses are much more energy efficient.

[@flowerpower8722]

Become a hungi.

[@wiggerj0nes104]

I'am a FIREFIGHTER, PARAMEDIC From The (L.A.F.D.) L0S ANGELES CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT

[@geoffrogerson9937]

WIGGER J0NES love your work, as we say in Australia. Thank you for your service, as you would say.

[@johnmrobertsonrblx594]

Why don't they start by removing branches near or touching the house and clearing the leaves up? You can have one member of the family at least try and clear the leaves away from the buildings to remove more fuels...

[@GrantfromEarth]

Not to mention the greenies have made it impossible to cut down trees and make your home safer

[@joshuathomas3309]

Greenies don't help nor do governments that refuse to acknowledge climate change. Our fire services acknowledge it why can't our government 🤔

[@tomalophicon]

@@joshuathomas3309 what does leaf litter have to do with climate change?

[@RealCadde]

If you wanna live in the bush then cut down the bush around your house. At least 100 meters away from your house.

[@user-n0tf0und.]

No... Stay in the burbs if you want to cut down everything. You don't destroy nature's habitat and 100m clearing won't save you in a real fire. Embers travel 5-20km.

[@RealCadde]

@@user-n0tf0und. It's not embers that take homes though, not when the home can be defended. Stay in the fuel if you want your house to catch fire no matter how much water you put on it. There's a reason firefighters don't protect certain homes, they can't be defended. Simple as that. And that was my point which you so clearly missed.

[@jonathanleverdesigner]

On my website i have external solutions for australian housing which the government ignored despite numerous attempts to get the aussie governments head out their behinds

[@vk3hau]

whats your website address.?