NSW bushfires: The hero RFS volunteers who fight for you
A hero firefighter who bravely tried to protect his home before it was engulfed by flames and a region co-ordinator who missed out on family Christmas but isn’t fazed. KNOW A HERO? TELL US ABOUT THEM
NSW
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The Daily Telegraph is paying tribute to the state’s brave volunteer firefighters and RFS workers, who have put their lives on the line and on hold to protect life and property. Many have taken leave from their jobs or business without pay, while others have gone weeks without seeing their partners and children. Here are a few of their stories.
BACK ON FRONTLINE AFTER OWN LOSS
A hero firefighter whose house burnt down has vowed to return to the frontline because “there’s still fires to fight”.
NSW RFS deputy captain Steve Douglas, 70, bravely tried to protect his Dargan home when the Gospers Mountain fire bore down on the tiny town. “I had a generator going, I had the pumps going and about three hoses charged,” he said. “I’ve been doing this for 42 years and at the last minute I decided it couldn’t be done — it was time to leave.” Within minutes the house went up in flames and Mr Douglas and his wife Jenny, 60, lost everything.
“From the age of 19 I’ve been fighting fires and now the bastards got me, it’s a bit ironic,” he said.
WILLING TO SACRIFICE
RFS region co-ordinator Jodie Williams, 47, oversees 11 districts, but the relentless conditions have seen her take on extra responsibilities. She missed out on Christmas with family, but isn’t fazed: “I can’t really call it sacrifice when so many people are suffering. In comparison, it’s no sacrifice at all.”
ROOFER QUITS JOB TO FIGHT
Roofer Andrew Johnston quit his job this week to stay in Balmoral and protect his community. The 22-year-old has been a rural firefighter since he was 14 years old.
“I quit to come here and fight these fires,” he said. “I have been doing this for about a week straight.”
Mr Johnston said he had been running on one or two hours of sleep a night as his community faced the brunt of the Green Wattle Creek fire.
“If you look around it is pretty devastating here,” he said.
“A lot of people have lost their homes, or shed, it is like a war zone.”
OUT OF RETIREMENT TO HELP
Former scientist Rick Symons is meant to be enjoying his retirement but it won’t stop him from fighting fires.
Six years ago he finished professional work and started extinguishing fires.
The former laboratory chemist and biochemist moved from Sydney to Foxground to retire. “I was aware we were in a bushy area and I knew I needed a bit of knowledge about the local bushfires,” the 71-year-old said.
He and his crew — including a retired Anglican priest — have been fighting fires near Nowra before putting out smouldering trees in Balmoral this week.
WE GET THE JOB DONE
With non-stop emergencies since August and a grim holiday season away from loved ones, state logistic officer Sav Wazir, 44, said: “We’re exhausted, but we press on and get the job done. My family knows what’s got to be done, there’s people worse off and they need to come first.”
TRUCKIE GIVES UP HOLIDAYS
Former soldier Bruce Grant is giving up his Christmas break from truck driving to fight the fires.
He said the RFS was flexible with what it asks of its volunteers but he was willing to do as many shifts as he could.
“You only have to do what you can do,” he said. “My work is really good and gave me a week off a month ago to go to Walgett (to fight fires) and I finished work on Friday and will put my hand up for a few more shifts before going back (to truck driving) after Christmas.”
He joined the RFS to find friends and join a community after he left the Army.
PUTTING HIS LIFE ON THE LINE
Jamberoo Rural Fire captain Gerard Blunden has worked putting out fires every day for the past week. The 59-year-old had huge workloads on Thursday and Saturday fighting the fires between Buxton and Balmoral.
“It was pretty hectic there for a while,” the firefighter of 19 years said.
Mr Blunden said he joined the RFS when he moved to Jamberoo from Kiama.
“You can get in some pretty dangerous situations but that’s when the training kicks in. You are also always surrounded by really experienced people.”
JOB SEARCH PUT ON HOLD
Scott King, 40, was due to start a new job as the Green Wattle Creek fire began weeks ago but it never eventuated.
“I have not been able to really apply for work or look around for anything else at the moment,” Mr King said. “There’s probably one place I’ve applied for but it can be hard after a 14 or 15-hour shift on the truck. My missus has been great with looking around for other jobs for me while I do this.”
DOING IT FOR HIS BELOVED WIFE
Neville Wearne lost his wife of 29 years, Irene, to pancreatic cancer in September but has barely had time to grieve.
He has been deployed for six weeks with the Ebenezer RFS fighting fires around Sydney’s fringe. He has had to forgo income from his day job as an electrical engineer.
UNABLE TO RUN HIS BUSINESS
Thirlmere firefighter Jamie Illiston, 42, has been on the truck for three weeks.
He runs his own business as an evacuation specialist, but has been unable to attend work while fighting the fires that have ripped through outer Sydney.
OUR CHRISTMAS ANGELS
Michael Lawrence, Peter Lawrence, Russell Scholes and Andrew Johnston on the Balmoral 1 truck have been working on the fireground for two solid weeks. The crew has been fighting the ferocious Green Wattle Creek fire, near Balmoral.
The close-knit crew says they are more than willing to forgo Christmas lunch this year if they are needed on the fireground.
LEFT THE FARM TO FIGHT
Nicole Groger, 22, has set aside work as a farmhand at Wilberforce in the Hawkesbury to do her part for fire-affected communities.
She has stared down deadly flames a number of times and been involved in saving “well over 10” houses.
If you know a hero firefighter, let us know about them in the comments below, or email news@dailytelegraph.com.au
Originally published as NSW bushfires: The hero RFS volunteers who fight for you