[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3731]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING REGRET FOR AUSTRALIA'S LOSSES AS A CONSEQUENCE OF WILDFIRES

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 2009

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my 
deep regret for the loss of life and destruction of property that is 
occurring in Australia as a consequence of wildfires, and to extend my 
condolences to the Australian people.
  Although wildfires are common during the Australian summer, strong 
winds, extreme temperatures and dry conditions have combined in recent 
days to fuel fires, which have ravaged Australia's southern State of 
Victoria with unparalleled force. Despite the prompt and earnest 
efforts of rescue crews and firefighters, 181 deaths have been 
confirmed and, according to yesterday's edition of Australia's Sydney 
Morning Herald, police fear that as many as 300 people have already 
passed. More than 750 properties spanning 350,000 hectares of land have 
been destroyed. Whole communities have been decimated; in the town of 
Marysville, which was hit by a 60-mile-long fire front, it is feared 
that 100 of the 519 residents have been killed. Tragically, these 
numbers are likely to deteriorate further, there being approximately 23 
fires which remain uncontained.
  Encouragingly, the size of the tragedy has been matched by the size 
and speed of the response. I extend my sincere appreciation to the 
emergency rescue crews, firefighters and Australia's Federal and 
Victorian Governments for their well-coordinated response to this 
calamity. The loss suffered would have been far greater were it not for 
the skill, dedication, compassion and sacrifice of these emergency 
responders.
  I also extend my best wishes to law enforcement authorities as they 
investigate the causes of this tragedy. Unfortunately, preliminary 
investigations indicate that some of the fires may have been 
deliberately lit. I have full confidence that the Australian 
authorities will bring anyone responsible for this death and 
destruction to justice, and take such other action as is necessary to 
minimize the likelihood of future calamities of this nature.
  Madam Speaker, the fires that continue to burn in Southeast Australia 
have caused loss and destruction on a catastrophic scale. The 
Australian people will truly be in my thoughts and prayers over the 
coming weeks. I wish the affected communities the very best as they 
fight to retain and rebuild their lives, and encourage my colleagues to 
do so as well.

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