Country Fire Authority spokesman Gary Weir said favourable weather conditions for the next few days will help control the fires but warned the wind could turn. -- PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
MELBOURNE - FIREFIGHTERS contained a new blaze that sprung up overnight in the hills east of Melbourne and said they had made good progress on some of the eight remaining wildfires still burning out of control on Monday.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced a national day of mourning will be held on Sunday, with an official ceremony at the 14,820-capacity Australian Open tennis arena.
Call for calm as Aussie arson accused due in court
MELBOURNE - AUSTRALIAN police called for calm on Monday as a suspected arsonist was due in court on charges of lighting one of a swarm of wildfires that killed more than 180 people and destroyed hundreds of homes.
The 39-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of starting a fire in the Churchill area east of the Victoria state capital Melbourne on February 7 that killed some 20 people.
SYDNEY - AUSTRALIA on Monday began counting the economic cost of wild weather this month which left the northeast under water and the southeast in flames.
Floods unleashed by cyclonic rains saw much of Queensland state declared a disaster area, a week before a record heatwave sparked the worst wildfires in history in Victoria state on February 7.
More than 180 people were killed and 1,800 homes destroyed when blazes tore across Victoria state on Feb 7 in Australia's worst-ever wildfire disaster.
Country Fire Authority spokesman Gary Weir said favourable weather conditions for the next few days will help control the fires but warned the fuel was still dry and the wind could turn.
'At the moment, there are no threat warnings out to any communities,' Weir told Nine Network television. 'All it takes is for the wind to pick up and, basically, we could be at it again.' Later on Monday, a man arrested in connection with one of those fires will appear in court to face charges of arson causing death, intentionally lighting a wildfire, and possessing child pornography.
His identity is being concealed by the court because of the risk of reprisal attacks against him or his family.
He is accused of setting a fire near the town of Churchill that killed at least 21 people.
One other fire, which nearly destroyed the village of Marysville, is also being investigated as arson.
On Sunday, Australians mourning the lives lost in the wildfires sought comfort at churches across the 1,500-square mile (3,900-square kilometre) fire zone and around the country.
Mr Rudd attended a service in the town of Wandong, where he joined residents in placing leaves and flowers into a bowl of water in a symbol of remembrance and rebuilding.
In Whittlesea, about 60 miles (100 kilometres) north of the state capital of Melbourne, Governor General Quentin Bryce joined about 200 people who overflowed into Christ Church's yard for an hourlong service.
'You could feel the togetherness there,' Mr Bryce said. 'It will give people support and comfort in their grief.' Volunteer firefighter Jeff Rowden, 45, said Sunday's church service brought solace to his brigade.
'I think it's good to be around people who shared the same thing and know what you've been through, so we can get back to our normal lives,' Rowden said.
Fire victims from the destroyed town of Kinglake have launched a class action lawsuit against power supplier SP Ausnet, arguing that downed power lines sparked and set fire to a nearby pine forest. -- AP
