Sources: BBC, Breaking Christian News, Baptist World Alliance, Associated Press, HCJB Global

With a climbing death toll from bushfires in southeastern Australia, HCJB Global-Australia's staff reported that they are safe.

Record-high temperatures that reached 115 F last weekend, followed by shifting winds, contributed to devastating fires, killing more than 181 people with dozens still missing, destroying nearly 2,000 homes and blackening some 1,200 square miles. An estimated 5,000 people are reported as homeless. Across Victoria, 450 people have been treated for injuries, according to medical officials and emergency departments.

Victoria Premier John Brumby referred to the fires as the "largest natural disaster in our state's history and Australia's history." He described entire communities wiped from existence by "what people would describe as literally a fireball that just came over the hills and devoured everything before them."

News reports cite officials as suspecting that some fires were intentionally set, provoking Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's description of the calamity as "mass murder."

"None of our staff have lost homes, but we know of people who have died in the fires," said Peter Penford, studio manager at HCJB Global-Australia.

"It's been devastating for parts of my community," added Dale Stagg, who recently began duties as director of the HCJB Global-Australia World Office in Melbourne. "We live near one of the major fire areas. We believe that 18 families from our Christian school have lost their homes."

Stagg said Melbourne-area ministries in Kinglake and Marysville have suffered material losses. "At least 35 people died in Kinglake. Everyone is just in a state of disbelief," he said. "We believe that the death toll could be well beyond 200 from the Victorian fires. Our prayers are many, and rain would be nice!"

Blazes continue to sweep across Victoria. In many areas, residents remain on alert as more than a dozen fires continue burning uncontrolled. At least 100 police officers are investigating the fires, and some are being treated as arson. Task Force Phoenix will work with the state's coroners' office, fire and health authorities to investigate all fire-related deaths. Police have arrested one man, suspected of deliberately setting one of the fires.

In Australia, deliberately lighting a fire which results in death carries a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, while intentionally or recklessly causing a bushfire carries a 15-year maximum sentence.

More than 100 people have been admitted to hospitals across Victoria with burns, at least 20 in a critical condition and nine on life support or in intensive care. Heather Clelland, director of Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, said 21 burn victims were admitted earlier this week with "classic burn patterns that we are seeing are mostly due to people who have been forced to run through flames or have been exposed to extremely high radiant heat temperatures."

Nick Bryant of the BBC reported the mood as somber at Victoria state relief centers with many people searching for loved ones among the survivors. Prime Minister Rudd has announced an aid package of $10 million (US$6.6 million).

Three closely related Baptist bodies (Baptcare, Baptist Union of Victoria and Baptist Union of Australia) have established an Emergency Bushfire Relief Fund with an initial grant of $50,000 (US$33,000). The fund will be used primarily for food, clothing, accommodation and personal needs, as well as for bereavement counseling. In addition, Baptist churches in Victoria are being used as emergency shelters, and local congregations are offering pastoral care to victims.

"We are safe," said Eric Skattebo, a former radio producer with HCJB Global-Australia. "Our eastern suburb of Melbourne (Mount Evelyn) has not been directly affected" but his home is only 10 to 15 minutes from one of the major fires. He also referred to nearby Marysville, saying "each autumn we would travel there to see the beautiful change of leaves and visit friends at a Christian retreat center. Sadly, this town is no more. The headline reads, 'Marysville Wiped from the Map as Inferno Shows No Mercy.'"

HCJB Global-Australia operates a shortwave station in Kununurra, reaching across the Asia Pacific Region with programs in 20 languages. Studios at the office in Melbourne are used to record programs in English and Oromo, a language spoken in Ethiopia.

Posted: Feb. 12, 2009