AUSTRALIAN-U.S. WILDFIRE COOPERATION TO BE SYSTEMATIZED

UNCLAS MELBOURNE 000127 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID SENV AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN-U.S. WILDFIRE COOPERATION TO BE SYSTEMATIZED Ref: MELBOURNE 97 AND PREVIOUS Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Two teams of U.S. fire experts will preemptively deploy to Victoria as the state braces for another tough fire season. With the devastating February 2009 fires still fresh in the minds of many locals, local politicians are sparing no expense to avoid a repeat of "Black Saturday." Australian and U.S. fire authorities are capitalizing on this momentum by moving to regularize exchanges of fire personnel. End Summary. Firefighter Exchanges to be Regularized? -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The state of Victoria is considering moving from crisis-driven firefighter exchanges with the United States to a routine exchange of fire experts. Five U.S. wildfire experts will arrive in Melbourne on December 5 for a two-week assessment tour aimed at determining the composition of two teams of 20-25 U.S. fire specialists that will be deployed in January and February 2010. Alison Stone, Victoria's Executive Director for Land and Fire Management told Consul General on November 24 that this preemptive deployment may become the norm as fire agencies in the United States and Australia look to improve exchanges in fire science and fire fighting techniques, capitalizing on opposite fire seasons. The two countries face similar issues of ongoing drought and populations which are expanding into previously wilderness and high fire threat areas. ¶3. (U) The 2007 Wildfire Arrangement Between the Department of Interior and the Department of Agriculture of the United States and the Australian Participating Agencies which governs these exchanges took a major step forward in recent months. In mid-September, the Australian parliament passed the Foreign States Immunities Amendment Bill which grants U.S. wildfire personnel legal immunity for acts carried out while on official assignment in Australia. Corresponding U.S. legislation provides similar protection to Australian firefighters when they are deployed to the United States. With this major bureaucratic hurdle out of the way, the path is now open for regular collaboration on wildfire suppression and science. Another Tough Year Ahead -------------- ¶4. (U) Australian fire authorities are preparing for a tough fire season throughout the country. Another year of drought has left Victoria at least as vulnerable as it was prior to the February 2009 fires. South Australia has already experienced record heat waves in mid-November accompanied by several wildfires which are now under control. Hot and dry conditions in New South Wales have also led to several small wildfires. Tasmanian authorities are concerned that good rainfall and the corresponding growth in brush may lead to tinderbox conditions in the coming summer months. Comment -------------- ¶5. (SBU) With the unprecedented loss of life (173 dead) of the February wildfires still fresh in the minds of many Victorians and state elections scheduled for November 2010, the state government is anxious to appear that it is doing everything possible to prepare for the coming fire season. In addition, a Royal Commission into the February 2009 fires continues with a final ruling due in July ¶2010. While the preemptive deployment of U.S. wildfire experts is no doubt a product of this political imperative, collaboration among U.S. and Australian fire authorities has never been closer. Fire authorities from both countries are eager to harness this momentum to institutionalize what is quickly becoming another pillar of the U.S. and Australian alliance. THURSTON