Incredible as this news report may seem, but there appears to be no limit to the wickedness of some of humankind, no matter what their race or creed. This news report has just been posted from Australian Associated Press:
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21:47 AEDST Thu 27 Dec 2001
Arsonists targeted as bushfires ring Sydney
Australia's biggest city remained ringed by bushfires as the NSW government announced a crackdown on arsonists believed to be behind the devastation.
More than 100 fires continued to burn out of control with more than 150 properties already reduced to ashes.
Many residents were forced to flee their homes in the middle of the night as winds played havoc with the direction of fires.
NSW Emergency Services Minister Bob Debus said attempts to contain fires through hazard reduction burns had been abandoned in many areas as weather conditions deteriorated.
"We are continuing to deal with extremely difficult meteorological circumstances and because we expect the wind to become stronger in the coming days, there is absolutely no room for complacency," he said.
"The conditions, the circumstances of the fire crisis that we are presently facing may now certainly be compared with 1994.
"There are more than 100 of them (fires) and they are larger and fiercer."
The NSW government has set up a police taskforce to investigate reports of arson behind many of the fires.
Acting Premier Andrew Refshauge said the full force of the law would come down on people found to have deliberately lit any of the blazes.
"We see arson as an atrocious thing," he said.
"The idea that somebody should deliberately light a fire is almost beyond comprehension.
"Life is difficult enough in Australia, we are prone to bushfires, for somebody to add to that, particularly at this time, is just unbelievable.
"I can't understand anybody's mentality that they'd want to inflict such damage not only to property but risk people's lives and, of course, risk the firies' lives as well."
Dr Refshauge said arsonists would face the strongest penalties available.
NSW Rural Fire Services Commissioner Phil Koperberg said there were possibly 40 fires that couldn't be explained and may have been deliberately lit.
The strength of the fires had amazed the most experienced firefighters, Mr Debus said.
"That there can be fires crowning the trees in the middle of the night when there is almost no wind - this is an extremely rare occurrence," he said.
Mr Debus said worsening weather conditions had halted many backburning operations which were vital in reducing fuel loads ahead of an approaching fire.
"Even today, it's becoming impossible for the fire services to continue with backburning operations because the atmosphere is so dry, the fuel is so dry, that even backburns have become difficult to control," he said.
"We have virtually had to suspend backburn operations."
The state government was considering offers of help from South Australia and Queensland as conditions worsened.
There was even an offer of help from firefighters in California in a return gesture to Australian firefighters who helped them fight a devastating series of fires mid-year.
©AAP 2001
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Cheers,
Ozzie (wishing for peace and goodwill to all