AUSTRALIAN FIRES CONTINUE AS AFTERMATH LOOMS

UNCLAS MELBOURNE 000021 SENSITIVE Department for CA/OCS/ACS/EAP SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID SENV CASC AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN FIRES CONTINUE AS AFTERMATH LOOMS Ref: A) Melbourne 20, B) Melbourne 17, C) Canberra 134, D) Canberra 100 Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Australia's deadliest wild fire in memory continues to burn in many parts of Victoria. While most of these fires are under control at the moment, higher winds and temperatures are expected by the end of the week. The official death toll for the blazes has reached at least 173 and officials expect it to rise as emergency crews search through previously inaccessible areas. Post has not received any report of U.S. citizens injured or killed in the blazes and is maintaining close links with emergency personnel. While Australians have already commenced relief efforts, many expect more bad news over the coming week. End Summary. Death Toll Continues to Rise -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Officials have confirmed that at least 173 lives have been lost in Australia's worst wild fires in memory and expect the number to continue to rise as recovery efforts continue for missing persons (reftels). Approximately 5,000 people have reportedly been left homeless by the fires. Paul Davis, an Australian Emergency Management official seconded to Victoria's Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) informed post on February 10 that of the approximately 25 ongoing fires throughout the state, 12 are of "major concern." According to Davis, these fires are mostly contained but there is some concern that warmer weather and stronger winds expected by the end of the week could complicate firefighting efforts. Approximately 3,800 emergency personnel are deployed throughout the state, Davis said. Bodie Shaw, Deputy Director of the NIFC (National Interagency Fire Center, Bureau of Indian Affairs) and the primary U.S. link between the DOI and the government of Victoria, continues to liaise with officials to finalize details on the possible deployment of U.S. wildfire assets to Australia. ¶3. (SBU) Victoria Premier John Brumby announced a royal commission into the brush fires on February 9 and indicated that the state's "stay and defend or leave early" policy may be reviewed in the aftermath of the blazes. Police are treating each fire site as a crime scene and suspect that arsonists may have contributed to the fires. A visibly emotional Prime Minister Rudd described arsonists as "mass murderers" on February 9. During a condolence session in parliament on the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said that "the seventh of February 2009 will be remembered as one of the darkest days in Australia's peacetime history." American Citizens -------------- ¶4. (SBU) As of 3:30 PM local time, post had not received any report of American citizens injured or killed in the fires. Post continues to maintain contact with hospitals, emergency services and local American clubs and notes that there has not been a substantial increase in the number of services requested since the fires began on February 7. We have confirmed the safety of the two U.S. citizens concerned in the welfare and whereabouts (W&W) request received on February 9 (ref. A) and are following up on two other W&W requests received on February 10. Post has also received a report from a dual U.S./Australian citizen that her home located 50 kilometers northeast of Melbourne had been destroyed in the fire. The U.S. citizen and her family are safe and have support in the area to provide for living arrangements. She has not requested additional consular assistance at this time. Comment -------------- ¶5. (SBU) With fires still burning in many parts of the state, the devastation wrought by the fires is far from over. Australians are already moving to assess the scope of the damage and rebuild as corporations have donated more than A$16 million (US$10.7 million) to the relief effort. Initial media reports of the deployment of U.S. wildfire assets to Victoria have been well received by locals as a demonstration of solidarity. THURSTON