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Home » Army Allows Evacuating Australians to Flee Fire with Pets on Board Vessel

Army Allows Evacuating Australians to Flee Fire with Pets on Board Vessel

Just like Noah’s Ark, except that was for a flood not a fire, local residents of Mallacoota in Australia have been allowed to evacuate aboard an army vessel with their pets. The first 1,000 or so people were evacuated today in an unprecedented mass relocation in Australia. Darren Chester, MP of the affected area Gippsland, […]

By Jenni Baxter
03-01-20 11:10
in Featured
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Just like Noah’s Ark, except that was for a flood not a fire, local residents of Mallacoota in Australia have been allowed to evacuate aboard an army vessel with their pets.

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Photos: Twitter / Darren Chester

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The first 1,000 or so people were evacuated today in an unprecedented mass relocation in Australia.

Darren Chester, MP of the affected area Gippsland, where thousands (4,000 residents and tourists) have been sheltering on the beaches since New Year’s Eve, said Friday that the evacuation included a total of 963 people and their dogs.

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Some air evacuations managed to take place last night, after smoke temporarily cleared… allowing the army’s Blackhawks helicopters to land. Today the “sh*thouse conditions” (Chester’s words) returned and “air operations were prevented by smoke”.

Instead civilians were evacuated using two navy vessels – Choules (which is larger and has a few hundred beds) and Sycamore. They are being taken to safety at Western Port, said Chester. It’s about 17 hours away.

Authorities fear that conditions are about to get even worse tomorrow with increased temperatures and rising winds. There is also the possibility of fires joining each other to make them even stronger.

In a lighter moment today, Chester posted the photos on this page of the pets aboard the rescue boats and said: “Navy’s menagerie afloat: great to see #YourADF (Australian Defence Force) has been able to accommodate many faithful companions on the Choules and Sycamore. Just spoke to a grateful family who told me the ADF crew has been fantastic.”

Chester said the community has been “magnificent” in supporting each other during the horrific bushfires. Volunteers have set up a centre for donated goods.

The Premier of Victoria has declared a state of disaster for Mallacoota and a five other areas and resorts in the state.

1,365 homes have been lost in Australia during these fires.

https://twitter.com/DarrenChesterMP/status/1212934741952880640