Of Bushfires, Generosity and Hope

There is an eerie feeling. The moon is red, as if reflecting the fire still burning uncontrolled in some areas in Victoria.

So far, the bushfires have burned through 413 000 hectares of land and destroyed at least 1834 homes since Saturday. The death toll hangs at 181. But there're hundreds more still missing.

Today, thick smog hangs in the air. Even with all our windows and doors shut, the smell lingers in our house just like burning incense. It is just chilling to know that fires are still burning uncontrollably at Kinglake, Yea-Murrindindi, Maroondah-Yarra, Bunyip, Churchill and Beechworth-Murmungee.

There are also a few blazes reported in Ferntree Gully, not far from where we live. I get the shivers every time I hear sirens, and it seems ever so often today.

Just mind-numbing. I could not NOT imagine the terror when tragedy strikes, when the flames engulf your home and there's no where to run.

There has been a fundraising frenzy in Victoria. Last night, there was a fundraising telethon on Nine Network. People all over the world have opened their hearts and given generously. Donations and pledges to the Red Cross Bushfires Appeal amount to almost $80 million so far. The rebuilding has begun.

There's one other thing you can do. Wear a yellow ribbon as a symbol of your support for the bushfire victims.

Photo taken using hubby's Nikon D3, 70-200mm with teleconverter. (Whatever that means!)