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Wild fires have killed at least 21 people and left the town’s folk of Churchill, Victoria, Australia, homeless. It is strongly believed the fire was started by an arsonist. Is that asking to be lynched, as emotions now reach boiling point?
The Australian authorities have arrested a 39 year old man, Brendan Sokaluk,as a suspected arsonist and placed him in maximum security in a Melbourne jail. Several looters have also been arrested and fire devastated areas are being closed off by the authorities.
“We have an emotive environment out there. The fire victims do not need the added trauma of trying to cope with an arsonist", explained, Victorian Police Assistant Commissioner Dannye Moloney. Some fire victims are very open in their opinion of what they believe should happen to anyone who deliberately lights a fire.
The authorities suspect that deliberately lit fires have been the cause of least two of the wild fires, which have destroyed thousands of hectares across South Australia and caused the deaths of over 200 persons, leaving 7,000 homeless. The smoke plume rose 15k in height at one point, and caused approximately 1000 lightning strikes.
“It looked more like a volcanic eruption than a fire storm", reported one of the survivors. “We called it the devil’s breath. It was breathing down our throats,” another said. The intensity of the heat had the power to kill at 200 metres.
While the death toll climbed in the southern part of Australia and firefighters fought a battle they couldn’t win, Queensland in the north east of Australia, was drowning beneath flood waters.
Abuse was flung at the vehicle that supposedly carried the suspect from the courthouse in Morwell. Tempers are hot as one victim exclaimed, “If this person is not insane, then he should be put in jail for a very long time". Others would like to be given a few minutes alone with the arsonist.
The magistrate has ordered the arsonist to undertake psychiatric evaluation and banned any publication of photographs of the suspect. If the man is found guilty he could be facing up to 25 years in prison on one arson charge and 15 years on a second one.
Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister, was quick with his opinion, that the act of arson could be viewed as possible murder. However, both the act of arson and murder by arson are almost impossible to prove. Rudd is adamant in his statement of seeing that this kind of tragedy never occurs again, “Even if it means cracking heads to ensure that a nationwide fire warning system is in place. A process that has been hampered because of bickering between state and federal officials".
It is not clear yet if the current wild fire danger is actually finished. Victorian firefighters have been joined by interstate volunteers, as well as crews from New Zealand.
Should the suspected arsonist be found guilty and sent to prison, one can only speculate how long he would remain drawing breath. Is there ever any safe place for a proven arsonist?
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