Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MELBOURNE23
2009-02-11 05:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Melbourne
Cable title:
FIRES CONTINUE AS 60 U.S. FIRE EXPERTS PREPARE FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO8018 RR RUEHCHI RUEHFK RUEHHM RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHPB DE RUEHBN #0023/01 0420534 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 110534Z FEB 09 FM AMCONSUL MELBOURNE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4876 INFO RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RUEHC/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHINGTON DC RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH 1526
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MELBOURNE 000023
SENSITIVE
Department for CA/OCS/ACS/EAP, White House for NSC Bader
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID SENV CASC AS
SUBJECT: FIRES CONTINUE AS 60 U.S. FIRE EXPERTS PREPARE FOR
AUSTRALIAN DEPLOYMENT
Ref: A) Melbourne 21, B) Melbourne 20, C) Melbourne 17, D) Canberra
134, E) Canberra 100
MELBOURNE 00000023 001.2 OF 002
Summary
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MELBOURNE 000023
SENSITIVE
Department for CA/OCS/ACS/EAP, White House for NSC Bader
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID SENV CASC AS
SUBJECT: FIRES CONTINUE AS 60 U.S. FIRE EXPERTS PREPARE FOR
AUSTRALIAN DEPLOYMENT
Ref: A) Melbourne 21, B) Melbourne 20, C) Melbourne 17, D) Canberra
134, E) Canberra 100
MELBOURNE 00000023 001.2 OF 002
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) The impact of Australia's deadliest natural disaster
continues to be felt as the death toll from Saturday's inferno
climbs to 181 with more victims expected to be discovered.
Twenty-three major fires remain burning, but no new deaths have been
reported. The Victorian government has requested the assistance of
60 U.S. wildfire experts who are expected to be on the ground in
Melbourne on February 15; we expect considerable media interest.
Australian media continued to highlight the President's expression
of condolences and offer of support. Post has not received any
report of U.S. citizens injured or killed in the blazes and
continues to liaise with local authorities to confirm the welfare
and whereabouts of two American citizens. While it is still too
early to assess the full damage of the fires, some are already
expressing concern that burned water catchment areas may further
complicate Melbourne's already tight water supply. End Summary.
U.S. Assistance
--------------
2. (SBU) Bodie Shaw, Deputy Director of the NIFC (National
Interagency Fire Center, Bureau of Indian Affairs) and the primary
U.S. link with the government of Victoria, confirmed on February 11
that Victorian authorities had formally requested 60 U.S. wildfire
personnel to assist in management and recovery operations. The
current deployment plan will have these experts arrive in Melbourne
on February 15. The team will consist of 35 specialist fire experts
to supplement Australian fire suppression efforts as well as 26
burned area emergency response technicians. There is already some
concern that the fires have substantially damaged the critical Yarra
water catchment which may compound Melbourne's dramatic water
shortages. Post expects that there will be widespread media
interest in the U.S. team.
23 Fires Continue to Burn
--------------
3. (SBU) At least 23 fires continue to burn throughout Victoria as
the official number of dead reached 181 on February 11. Victoria
Premier John Brumby noted on February 11 that there is still a
significant number of missing persons which could push the death
toll from Saturday's fire storm well over 200. Paul Davis, an
Australian Emergency Management official informed post on February
11 that only 13 of the 23 fires are "contained." According to a
state fire situation report released at 7:00 AM local time on
February 11, nine fire complexes are burning or have burned through
449,918 hectares of land (equivalent to about 1.1 million acres).
Property losses include 1,033 private dwellings, 78 state and
community infrastructure buildings and 197,770 hectares (488,700
acres) of agricultural properties/public land. Over 7,000
Australians have been evacuated from their homes, many of which are
still under fire threat.
Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, the Australian Capital
Territory, South Australia and Western Australia have deployed over
4,250 people to fight the blazes.
American Citizens
--------------
4. (SBU) As of 4:30 PM local time, post had not received any reports
of U.S. citizens injured or killed in the fires. We verified the
well-being of one of the two welfare and whereabouts (W&W) requests
received on February 10 and two of the three W&W requests received
on February 11. Post continues to follow up with local authorities
and is reaching out to American clubs in order to verify the
well-being of our two outstanding W&W cases.
Australian Government Response
--------------
5. (SBU) The Australian federal government has responded by
increasing the Victorian direct assistance fund from A$10 million
(US$6.7 million) to A$15 million (US$10 million) on February 10.
Private donations to relief funds have reached at least A$34 million
(US$22.8 million). Parliamentary question time was suspended on
February 10 and 11 so PM Rudd could move a condolence motion on the
brush fires; he conveyed President Obama's sympathies. Rudd said
MELBOURNE 00000023 002.2 OF 002
state governments would be able to draw on the economic stimulus
package to assist victims and rebuild communities. He assured
opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull that bushfire spending would not
depend on the stimulus package passing in parliament. According to
Rudd, there will be no cap on the Federal contribution to the
recovery effort.
Comment
--------------
6. (SBU) Both the Australian government and the private sector have
stepped up financial assistance to the victims of the brush fire
crisis as blazes continue in several parts of Victoria. Melbourne's
daily newspapers are filled with personal stories of loss which is
indicative of the shock still being felt by many Australians. While
it is still too early to fully assess the damage of these fires,
U.S. technical assistance, particularly on Melbourne's damaged water
catchment areas, will likely be warmly welcomed.
THURSTON
SENSITIVE
Department for CA/OCS/ACS/EAP, White House for NSC Bader
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID SENV CASC AS
SUBJECT: FIRES CONTINUE AS 60 U.S. FIRE EXPERTS PREPARE FOR
AUSTRALIAN DEPLOYMENT
Ref: A) Melbourne 21, B) Melbourne 20, C) Melbourne 17, D) Canberra
134, E) Canberra 100
MELBOURNE 00000023 001.2 OF 002
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) The impact of Australia's deadliest natural disaster
continues to be felt as the death toll from Saturday's inferno
climbs to 181 with more victims expected to be discovered.
Twenty-three major fires remain burning, but no new deaths have been
reported. The Victorian government has requested the assistance of
60 U.S. wildfire experts who are expected to be on the ground in
Melbourne on February 15; we expect considerable media interest.
Australian media continued to highlight the President's expression
of condolences and offer of support. Post has not received any
report of U.S. citizens injured or killed in the blazes and
continues to liaise with local authorities to confirm the welfare
and whereabouts of two American citizens. While it is still too
early to assess the full damage of the fires, some are already
expressing concern that burned water catchment areas may further
complicate Melbourne's already tight water supply. End Summary.
U.S. Assistance
--------------
2. (SBU) Bodie Shaw, Deputy Director of the NIFC (National
Interagency Fire Center, Bureau of Indian Affairs) and the primary
U.S. link with the government of Victoria, confirmed on February 11
that Victorian authorities had formally requested 60 U.S. wildfire
personnel to assist in management and recovery operations. The
current deployment plan will have these experts arrive in Melbourne
on February 15. The team will consist of 35 specialist fire experts
to supplement Australian fire suppression efforts as well as 26
burned area emergency response technicians. There is already some
concern that the fires have substantially damaged the critical Yarra
water catchment which may compound Melbourne's dramatic water
shortages. Post expects that there will be widespread media
interest in the U.S. team.
23 Fires Continue to Burn
--------------
3. (SBU) At least 23 fires continue to burn throughout Victoria as
the official number of dead reached 181 on February 11. Victoria
Premier John Brumby noted on February 11 that there is still a
significant number of missing persons which could push the death
toll from Saturday's fire storm well over 200. Paul Davis, an
Australian Emergency Management official informed post on February
11 that only 13 of the 23 fires are "contained." According to a
state fire situation report released at 7:00 AM local time on
February 11, nine fire complexes are burning or have burned through
449,918 hectares of land (equivalent to about 1.1 million acres).
Property losses include 1,033 private dwellings, 78 state and
community infrastructure buildings and 197,770 hectares (488,700
acres) of agricultural properties/public land. Over 7,000
Australians have been evacuated from their homes, many of which are
still under fire threat.
Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, the Australian Capital
Territory, South Australia and Western Australia have deployed over
4,250 people to fight the blazes.
American Citizens
--------------
4. (SBU) As of 4:30 PM local time, post had not received any reports
of U.S. citizens injured or killed in the fires. We verified the
well-being of one of the two welfare and whereabouts (W&W) requests
received on February 10 and two of the three W&W requests received
on February 11. Post continues to follow up with local authorities
and is reaching out to American clubs in order to verify the
well-being of our two outstanding W&W cases.
Australian Government Response
--------------
5. (SBU) The Australian federal government has responded by
increasing the Victorian direct assistance fund from A$10 million
(US$6.7 million) to A$15 million (US$10 million) on February 10.
Private donations to relief funds have reached at least A$34 million
(US$22.8 million). Parliamentary question time was suspended on
February 10 and 11 so PM Rudd could move a condolence motion on the
brush fires; he conveyed President Obama's sympathies. Rudd said
MELBOURNE 00000023 002.2 OF 002
state governments would be able to draw on the economic stimulus
package to assist victims and rebuild communities. He assured
opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull that bushfire spending would not
depend on the stimulus package passing in parliament. According to
Rudd, there will be no cap on the Federal contribution to the
recovery effort.
Comment
--------------
6. (SBU) Both the Australian government and the private sector have
stepped up financial assistance to the victims of the brush fire
crisis as blazes continue in several parts of Victoria. Melbourne's
daily newspapers are filled with personal stories of loss which is
indicative of the shock still being felt by many Australians. While
it is still too early to fully assess the damage of these fires,
U.S. technical assistance, particularly on Melbourne's damaged water
catchment areas, will likely be warmly welcomed.
THURSTON