AUSTRALIA BUSH FIRES


In Australia in December 2001, bush fires raged across the greater Sydney, Australia area, caused by extremely dry conditions. The fires destroyed more than 500,000 hectares (over 12 million acres) of land; one hundred forty homes were lost in two days and 5,000 firemen fought the fires across the state. A state of emergency was declared and one million dollars of relief funds given by the federal government for families who lost homes. Our Volunteer Ministers were mobilized and started delivering hundreds of assists (simple procedures that help an individual recover from shock, grief, pain and exhaustion). They connected up with rural fire services providing water and, at a community hall, set up a relief station for firemen.

The Volunteer Ministers worked with the District Commander of the New South Wales Fire Services who made them part of his Command Control Unit. One of the church volunteer ministers was asked to join the Rural Fire Service Committee as a member.

Volunteer Ministers provided spiritual assists to the firefighters and then taught others how to provide them.

Volunteer Ministers were invited to participate with the fire fighters in a ticker-tape parade to Sydney town hall, honoring those who worked to save homes and extinguish the fires.

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