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
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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?
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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
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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
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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