Secretary Salazar Joins Australia’s Prime Minister and Secretary of Agriculture in Lauding Wildland Firefighters
Music/Announcer: This is a Podcast from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Ron Tull: In February, 73 US firefighting specialists from the National Interagency Fire Center were deployed to Australia to join the thousands of firefighters battling the worst disaster in Australia's history.
In a ceremony held at the US Department of Agriculture Thursday, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar expressed his condolences to the Australian prime minister for the 210 lives lost during the disaster, one of them an Australian firefighter. The secretary presented Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd with a purple ribbon lapel pin in honor of his fallen firefighter.
Ken Salazar: The US wildland firefighters have a tradition of wearing purple ribbons in memory of the firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Mr. Prime Minister, our firefighters wish to present you with a purple ribbon lapel pin in honor of David Balfour and the 209 civilians who lost their lives in this year's fire in Victoria.
Ron Tull: The US personnel included 35 from the Department of the Interior and 38 from the US Forest Service. Most of them returned to the US March 15. Four of those who participated in the deployment were present at the ceremony. The Australian prime minister presented them with a plaque in appreciation of their assistance.
Kevin Rudd: Can I just say to each of your firefighters my personal appreciation and admiration for your sheer courage and professionalism? To put yourself in harm's way in defense of others with something so awesome and so terrible as a wildfire or what we would call a bushfire requires genuine courage and I salute you. Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the people of Australia and the people of the state of Victoria, in particular, I thank you, our friends in the United States of America.
[Applause]
Ron Tull: Both countries have provided assistance to one another since signing an agreement in 2001. It includes provisions for similar training so that the two countries can easily blend into each other's operations. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said the United States and Australia will continue to work closely together.
Tom Vilsack: Friendship is an important component of the relationship between Australia and the United States. And we look forward, Mr. Prime Minister, to continuing that relationship in a wide variety of activities involving our two great countries.
Ron Tull: This has been a podcast from the Interior Department Radio News Service. I'm Ron Tull, Washington.