SYDNEY (AP) — The Australian government said Monday that it is willing to pay “whatever it takes” to help communities recover from the deadly fires that have devastated the country. The executive pledged an additional A$2 billion ($1.4 billion) for recovery efforts, in addition to the tens of millions already announced, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
“The fires keep burning. And they’ll keep burning for months to come,” Morrison said. “And that’s why today I introduced this which is an initial, additional investment of 2 billion. If more is needed and the cost is higher, then more will be provided.” The announcement of the funds, which will be earmarked for the reconstruction of locations and infrastructure destroyed by flames, coincided with the disappearance of two more people in remote areas of New South Wales. Across the country, at least 24 people were killed and 2,000 homes were razed by flames, which for the time being have charred an area twice as far as the US state of Maryland.La rain and falling temperatures on Monday gave a little relief to the communities fighting fire. But rainfall also made it difficult for firefighters to complete strategic burnings as they prepare for a further rise in temperatures by the end of the week.” With the most benign weather conditions, a wonderful truce is presented for everyone, firefighters, emergency services personnel and also for communities affected by these fires,” said Shane Fitzsimmons, commissioner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Department, to reporters. “But it also presents some real challenges in implementing tactical and strategic burning and other techniques to try to control these fires.” In the state of New South Wales there were more than 135 active hotspots, of which almost 70 were not contained. The authorities warned that the rain will not suffocate the biggest and most dangerous before the situation becomes more complicated. Victoria State Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville said at least 200 millimeters (8 inches) of rain would need to fall in a short period of time to put out the flames _ about 20 times more than the amount recorded across the region and n on the last day. The authorities further warned that the fire season, which normally lasts until March, is not over looking.” No one can please. We have a major fire hazard by the end of this week,” said Victorian Prime Minister Daniel Andrews to reporters in Melbourne. “There’s no way we’re out of danger. And the next few days, and even the next few months, are going to be a challenge.” His New South Wales counterpart, Gladys Berejiklian, asked the Australians not to let their guard down. The Australian capital, Canberra, was the world’s highest air quality city on Monday. The Department of the Interior, which coordinates the national disaster response, asked all non-critical personnel to stay home because of the dense smoke covering the city. Fires are common during the southern summer, and Australians often have a pragmatic view of them. But this year’s began unusually early, fueled by drought and the warmer, driest year in the country since records were held.
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