Bush fires update

We've been following the news from Melbourne all day.  It keeps getting worse and worse.  The death toll is now in the 80s.  

The information available on news websites is not very good - incomplete, random and and tending to the sensational.  I've been able to infer more than I can read by just watching the Sentinel website.

A screaming Age headline saying "Most tragic event in State's history" is actually a misquote.  John Brumby actually said "one of the most tragic" - and the difference is important.  Hyperbole disrespects others who have suffered in other terrible days - and adds nothing in relation to this tragedy.

No matter - our prayers are with everyone affected.  We, and our children, have many friends who have been in harm's way.  We wait to hear how they have fared.  

There is an unfortunate inevitability to bush fires in Australia.  Perhaps climate change is making it worse, but there is along history of occasional loss and tragedy that makes us all wonder whether we should live where we live, manage our environment the way we do, or be as careless about precautions for rare events.