Community Fire Unit fighting fires that threatened southwest Sydney
WHEN fires broke out just metres from homes in Sydney’s southwest today, the Community Fire Unit sprung into action to help their neighbours for the second time in as many days.
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WHEN fires broke out just metres from homes in Sydney’s southwest today, the Community Fire Unit sprung into action to help their neighbours for the second time in as many days.
The local residents’ unit is trained to attack spot fires and embers until NSW Fire and Rescue or the Rural Fire Service can attend the scene.
When flames erupted yet again in bushland near Somercotes Court in Wattle Grove today after a harrowing weekend of intense bushfires, the unit was there in minutes with hoses in hand as residents watched on anxiously.
Greg and Kathleen Johnson, Andrew Mayorga, Pat Collins, Adam Petteit, Balakrisha Naidu and Jason Christoforides of MHP358 Community Fire Unit Wattle Grove became local heroes after their actions on Saturday.
“Andrew’s wife could see the smoke in the afternoon so we came out and had a look,” Mr Johnson said.
“We could see it moving towards the houses and that’s when we knew it was time to get our gear.”
Their heroic response marked their first call to action in eight years since they formed the local unit.
Their response on Saturday was so excellent RFS volunteers left them in charge of that area while they attended to other fires.
“There were a few spot fires and they got us to look after it,” Mr Johnson said.
“That freed them up to focus on the bigger stuff happening nearby.”
Now, the unit is calling on their neighbours to join them.
“Not many people were interested when we formed a few years ago but we think after the weekend maybe they will be,” Mr Johnson said.
The unit was hard at work with their hoses and standpipes from the early afternoon until midnight on Saturday.
