Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MELBOURNE25
2009-02-13 05:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Melbourne
Cable title:
FIRES: OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FRONT; US FIREFIGHTERS EN
how-toVZCZCXRO0982 RR RUEHCHI RUEHFK RUEHHM RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHPB DE RUEHBN #0025/01 0440559 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 130559Z FEB 09 FM AMCONSUL MELBOURNE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4879 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 1529
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MELBOURNE 000025
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
Department for CA/OCS/ACS/EAP, White House for NSC Bader
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID SENV CASC AS
SUBJECT: FIRES: OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FRONT; US FIREFIGHTERS EN
ROUTE
Ref: A) Melbourne 24, B) Melbourne 23, C) Melbourne 21, D) Melbourne
20, E) Melbourne 17, F) Canberra 134, G) Canberra 100
MELBOURNE 00000025 001.2 OF 002
Summary
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MELBOURNE 000025
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
Department for CA/OCS/ACS/EAP, White House for NSC Bader
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID SENV CASC AS
SUBJECT: FIRES: OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FRONT; US FIREFIGHTERS EN
ROUTE
Ref: A) Melbourne 24, B) Melbourne 23, C) Melbourne 21, D) Melbourne
20, E) Melbourne 17, F) Canberra 134, G) Canberra 100
MELBOURNE 00000025 001.2 OF 002
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) Consul General traveled to the Whittlesea staging ground
northeast of Melbourne on February 13. According to firefighters,
the weekend will be critical as favorable weather conditions will
continue to assist crews facing ongoing fires, none of which appear
to be immediately life-threatening, though some of which may
threaten Melbourne's water supply. The death toll from the fires
stands at 181, but is expected to rise as emergency crews continue
to go through burned-out areas. Sixty U.S. wildfire experts are
expected to arrive on February 15 to assist in fire suppression and
land rehabilitation. Post has not received any reports of U.S.
citizens injured or killed in the blazes. We will discontinue daily
sitreps, but will provide spot reporting as events arise. Weekend
forecasts for Victoria appear favorable, but both South and Western
Australia are anticipating warm weather. End Summary.
Observations from the Front
--------------
2. (SBU) Consul General (CG) traveled with lead USG/Australia
firefighting liaison, Bodie Shaw (Deputy Director of the NIFC --
National Interagency Fire Center, Bureau of Indian Affairs) on
February 13 to the staging ground for firefighting and relief
operations in Whittlesea, located 35 kilometers northeast of
Melbourne. Emergency personnel there told CG that ongoing fires in
Victoria are by no means under control, though none appear to be
immediately life-threatening. Efforts over the next two to three
days will be crucial before anticipated warmer, windier weather sets
in next week. Fire crews have focused efforts on protecting
Melbourne's water catchment areas, and note that some are still
threatened by ongoing fires. Firefighters will conduct a controlled
burn on one of the catchment areas which was already 75 percent
burned in order to protect the town of Healesville (50 km east of
Melbourne) as well as to prevent the fires from spreading to
Melbourne's eastern suburbs. While the death toll for the fires
stands at 181, people who are only now coming out of the burned
areas report that more bodies remain. Sixty U.S. wildfire experts
and 15 Canadian firefighters are scheduled to arrive separately over
the weekend.
3. (SBU) According to emergency personnel, the initial rush of
displaced persons to Whittlesea following Saturday's fires was
handled effectively as most found lodging with friends and family.
Philanthropic citizens even offered displaced persons lodging in
spare rooms and vacation homes. A tent city set up to accommodate
displaced persons continues to operate in Yea (located 75 kilometers
northeast of Melbourne),but only housed 30 people on the night of
February 12. Many residents of the fire affected areas (now treated
as crime scenes) were prevented from returning to their homes as
police continued to search for evidence of arson, though many of
these areas have recently reopened. Insurance companies have set up
tents at the staging center northeast of Melbourne and locals say
that claims are being processed smoothly.
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 two outstanding welfare and whereabouts (W&W)
requests. Post received biographic information for the second W&W
case from Senator Mark Pryor's (AR) office on February 13. The
concerned U.S. citizen is resident in Sydney. ConGen Sydney is now
following up on the two outstanding Congressional W&W cases
mentioned in Ref. A.
Comment
--------------
5. (SBU) The fires are far from over. Fire crews have prioritized
protecting Melbourne's water catchment areas as well as preventing
the fires from spreading to the metropolis' eastern suburbs.
Officials, however, are worried about the longer term impacts of the
fire as one of Melbourne's water catchment areas is nearly burned
out and two of the remaining three are threatened by the fires.
Meteorologists anticipate favorable weather to continue through the
weekend in Victoria which will continue to aid firefighting efforts.
MELBOURNE 00000025 002.2 OF 002
Post will monitor conditions in South Australia where the fire
danger remains elevated.
THURSTON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
Department for CA/OCS/ACS/EAP, White House for NSC Bader
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID SENV CASC AS
SUBJECT: FIRES: OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FRONT; US FIREFIGHTERS EN
ROUTE
Ref: A) Melbourne 24, B) Melbourne 23, C) Melbourne 21, D) Melbourne
20, E) Melbourne 17, F) Canberra 134, G) Canberra 100
MELBOURNE 00000025 001.2 OF 002
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) Consul General traveled to the Whittlesea staging ground
northeast of Melbourne on February 13. According to firefighters,
the weekend will be critical as favorable weather conditions will
continue to assist crews facing ongoing fires, none of which appear
to be immediately life-threatening, though some of which may
threaten Melbourne's water supply. The death toll from the fires
stands at 181, but is expected to rise as emergency crews continue
to go through burned-out areas. Sixty U.S. wildfire experts are
expected to arrive on February 15 to assist in fire suppression and
land rehabilitation. Post has not received any reports of U.S.
citizens injured or killed in the blazes. We will discontinue daily
sitreps, but will provide spot reporting as events arise. Weekend
forecasts for Victoria appear favorable, but both South and Western
Australia are anticipating warm weather. End Summary.
Observations from the Front
--------------
2. (SBU) Consul General (CG) traveled with lead USG/Australia
firefighting liaison, Bodie Shaw (Deputy Director of the NIFC --
National Interagency Fire Center, Bureau of Indian Affairs) on
February 13 to the staging ground for firefighting and relief
operations in Whittlesea, located 35 kilometers northeast of
Melbourne. Emergency personnel there told CG that ongoing fires in
Victoria are by no means under control, though none appear to be
immediately life-threatening. Efforts over the next two to three
days will be crucial before anticipated warmer, windier weather sets
in next week. Fire crews have focused efforts on protecting
Melbourne's water catchment areas, and note that some are still
threatened by ongoing fires. Firefighters will conduct a controlled
burn on one of the catchment areas which was already 75 percent
burned in order to protect the town of Healesville (50 km east of
Melbourne) as well as to prevent the fires from spreading to
Melbourne's eastern suburbs. While the death toll for the fires
stands at 181, people who are only now coming out of the burned
areas report that more bodies remain. Sixty U.S. wildfire experts
and 15 Canadian firefighters are scheduled to arrive separately over
the weekend.
3. (SBU) According to emergency personnel, the initial rush of
displaced persons to Whittlesea following Saturday's fires was
handled effectively as most found lodging with friends and family.
Philanthropic citizens even offered displaced persons lodging in
spare rooms and vacation homes. A tent city set up to accommodate
displaced persons continues to operate in Yea (located 75 kilometers
northeast of Melbourne),but only housed 30 people on the night of
February 12. Many residents of the fire affected areas (now treated
as crime scenes) were prevented from returning to their homes as
police continued to search for evidence of arson, though many of
these areas have recently reopened. Insurance companies have set up
tents at the staging center northeast of Melbourne and locals say
that claims are being processed smoothly.
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 two outstanding welfare and whereabouts (W&W)
requests. Post received biographic information for the second W&W
case from Senator Mark Pryor's (AR) office on February 13. The
concerned U.S. citizen is resident in Sydney. ConGen Sydney is now
following up on the two outstanding Congressional W&W cases
mentioned in Ref. A.
Comment
--------------
5. (SBU) The fires are far from over. Fire crews have prioritized
protecting Melbourne's water catchment areas as well as preventing
the fires from spreading to the metropolis' eastern suburbs.
Officials, however, are worried about the longer term impacts of the
fire as one of Melbourne's water catchment areas is nearly burned
out and two of the remaining three are threatened by the fires.
Meteorologists anticipate favorable weather to continue through the
weekend in Victoria which will continue to aid firefighting efforts.
MELBOURNE 00000025 002.2 OF 002
Post will monitor conditions in South Australia where the fire
danger remains elevated.
THURSTON