Australian newspapers herald public spirit

These are the worst bush fires for 30 years

		By Phil Mercer in Sydney

The newspapers in Australia are dominated by images of the bush fires that arc around Sydney.

The Daily Telegraph says the country's biggest city has choked under a cloud of bushfire smoke and has a picture to prove it.

It shows the Sydney Harbour Bridge barely visible at noon on Sunday, which could disrupt Monday's New Year's Eve celebrations.

"Sydney fades to grey," said one columnist, as pollution levels hit an all-time high.

Sydney is under a cloud of haze

"Spared by luck and toil" is the headline in The Australian, which reports that mild, freakish weather coupled with extensive containment efforts by the army of emergency workers spared much of the Sydney region from an inferno.

The Sydney Morning Herald's editorial gives mention to what it calls the great Australian spirit, which has shone through the smoky haze of the crisis like a beacon. The paper praises the sacrifices made by the many thousands of volunteer fire fighters, the largest emergency force ever assembled here.

Anger at arsonists

If these fires that have devastated a quarter of a million hectares of bush land have brought out the best in many people, they have also brought out the worst in others.

The authorities believe almost half of the outbreaks across much of New South Wales were started deliberately. All of the newspapers reflect the anger and disbelief felt here towards the arsonists.

"Acts of sheer bastardry" says the Sydney Morning Herald, quoting the state's second most senior police officer, who leads a specialist squad set up to track down the firebugs.

Comments from the Premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr, get aired in every newspaper. He said simply the arsonists "were mad and wicked" and promised to do all he could to increase the penalties for those convicted.

New warning

Australia's wild summer weather dominates other papers around the country. Brisbane's Courier Mail reports that Queensland's summer heatwave has abruptly given way to violent electrical storms, which damaged dozens of homes and caused many others to go without power.

The Herald Sun in Melbourne describes the country-wide effort that is battling the flames further north near Sydney. Fire crews from Victoria, South Australia and Queensland are all on the front line, along with army and navy personnel.

The paper strikes an ominous warning for the days ahead. It says hot, dry conditions are expected for the next 72 hours, providing the fire stricken areas no respite.

In its end-of-year review The Australian reflects that the country sees out 2001 focusing on a familiar threat. Bush fires are common but the intensity of these fires is not.

The newspaper believes the nation should harness the sense of purpose and togetherness the fires have brought to create a more optimistic and outward looking country in 2002.