VZCZCXRO1160
RR RUEHPT
DE RUEHBN #0127 3312346
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 272346Z NOV 09
FM AMCONSUL MELBOURNE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5029
INFO RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 3672
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0018
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 2150
RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH 1632

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