Bushfires Blazing in Extreme Heat Kill 181 Australians

Police officials now say that most of the fires were not intentionally set, but the hunt continues for arsonists believed responsible for fatal fires in Gippsland, east of Melbourne.

"We are left speechless at the thought and the possibility that some of these fires may have been deliberately lit," Rudd told the parliament.

"Communities across Victoria have been devastated by more than 400 bushfires that have swept across the state in the most severe weather conditions we’ve seen in our history," said Victoria Premier John Brumby. "The Victorian bushfires are the worst natural disaster Australia has ever faced."

Firemen confront one of Victoria's deadly blazes. (Photo courtesy Victoria Police)

Since the fires broke out on Saturday - with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius for four days last week - some 450,000 hectares have burned and over 1,000 homes have been destroyed. More than a dozen fires are still burning uncontrolled.

The union representing Australia's 13,000 firefighters today warned both the federal and state governments to take global warming seriously to prevent a repeat of the deadly fires.

Reluctant to blame climate change alone, Premier Brumby has ordered an inquiry into the management of national parks and the warning system for impending fires.

Australian Environment Minister Peter Garrett today granted the Victoria government its request for an emergency exemption from environmental assessment under national environment legislation, confirming that it can take any actions required in response to the current severe bushfires across Victoria.

"My decision follows a request from the Victorian government earlier this afternoon and will remain in force as long as it takes to fight these unprecedented and terrible bushfires across Victoria," Garrett said.

Premier Brumby and Prime Minister Rudd announced the establishment of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority to be headed by the outgoing Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon.

The authority will be responsible for coordinating activities of all local, state and commonwealth government agencies, and the many community organizations involved, aimed at helping communities to recover and rebuild.

Nixon will take up her new position on March 2. Meanwhile, sne has launched Operation Phoenix, vowing to catch anyone who started a blaze.

"While emergency assistance measures are underway to directly help those individuals affected by the current bushfires," said Brumby, "the government must begin to focus on the immediate steps and longer term activities required to help communities recover and rebuild."

Fire erupts into the night sky from one of Victoria's 400 weekend bushfires. (Photo courtesy Office of Premier Brumby)

Premier Brumby has strengthened the arrangements for relief centres, appointing senior Department of Human Services officials to be captains for each centre, to ensure that people receive the assistance they require, regardless of which agency, department or level of government that relief is coming from.

The commonwealth and state governments along with banks, large retailers, community and sporting associations are pouring funds into the new Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund established on Sunday - a total of at least $17 million to date. The state and federal governments have together donated an initial $4 million and $13 million has come from the private and community sector.

Yet Victoria Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson issued a warning today against bogus fundraisers trying to cash in on the devastating bushfires.

The Brumby Government, in conjunction with V/Line, Connex, Yarra Trams and the bus industry, will provide free travel to individuals and families who have lost their homes in the recent bushfires.

Victorian bushfire victims will be able to access free legal advice to help them with a range of legal issues stemming from the fires.

Smoldering ruins are all that remain after a bushfire swept this Victoria property. (Photo courtesy Office of Senator Bob Brown)

For help with physical and mental health issues, all Victorians can call a new telephone counseling support service. People can call Nurse-On-Call on 1300 60 60 24 and speak to a registered nurse who can provide general health advice.

"The nurse can then transfer the caller to the bushfire support counsellors who are trained mental health professionals such as psychologists, mental health nurses, social workers and occupational therapists if required," said Health Minister Daniel Andrews.

Andrews said that in addition to the direct victims of the fires, front-line emergency workers are experiencing distress in dealing with fires and survivors.

The state government is providing one-off grants to neighbourhood houses in bushfire-affected communities to help with emergency relief and recovery activities.

The Humane Society International says the loss of wildlife also has been devastating and at least two wildlife shelters are known to have been destroyed by the fires.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2009. All rights reserved.