ExxonMobil and Abu Dhabi

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Story by Kevin Gault
Most of the damage was done by
two massive fires, one that virtually
wiped out towns northeast of
Melbourne and a second inferno
that raced across Gippsland.
These were the worst fires
in the history of Australia, a
country accustomed to several
outbreaks of fire every year. In
this rare disaster that took place
during a severe drought, many
people died trying to protect
their homes or running from the
swiftly moving flames.
Red Cross assistance
The Australian Red Cross played
a critical role in assisting those
affected by the blaze – 15,000
people sought help from the
agency. The Red Cross established
20 evacuation-relief cen-
Recovering from
The aftermath of several dozen
wildfires that ravaged southeastern
Australia in February
was shocking: 173 lives
lost, more than 2,000 homes
destroyed, 7,500 people left
homeless. One month after the
first flames ignited and were
propelled by 60 mph winds,
some of the fires still smoldered
but were finally contained.
ters supported by more than
400 volunteers and staff, providing
meals and medical aid for
firefighters and police along with
other emergency services such
as personal support, trauma
counseling and referrals for
emergency relief and recovery.
“I’m sure that the thoughts
and sympathies of everyone
in our company are with the
people and communities that
have been directly impacted by
these fires,” says ExxonMobil
Australia Lead Country Manager
Mark Nolan. “We applaud the
Red Cross for the assistance
that its staff and volunteers provided
for affected people as well
as the recovery efforts of the
emergency-services personnel.”
Above: A huge wildfire blazes through
the Healesville, Australia, region in
Victoria State earlier this year. The
loss of life and destruction caused by
the fires was the worst in Australia’s
history. (Lucas Dawson/Getty Images)
Left inset: A fire-fighting helicopter
hovers above the flames and drops
water on a blaze spreading through
dense forest east of Melbourne.
(Paul Crock/AFP/Getty Images)
Above inset: A fire crew battles in
thick smoke to save houses north of
Melbourne. Firefighters likened the
series of infernos to “an inland tsunami.”
(William West/AFP/Getty Images)