The Monday after a bushfire raged through quiet, leafy Bedfordale last month, the neighbourhood turned out in force to express their heartfelt gratitude to the local brigade members who saved their homes, animals, and beloved community.
Around 60 locals stood shoulder to shoulder with their volunteer firefighter neighbours for the community gathering at the Bedfordale station organised by resident Tracy Hart.
Many more who couldn’t attend expressed their sentiments later.
A ‘Thankyou’ banner was unfurled, and people lined up to write their messages of gratitude, while a donations tin was circulated.
A total of $1200 dollars was raised to go alongside the cases of beer and pamper hampers donated in recognition of the firies’ efforts.
The gathering was a chance for the community to debrief, with many homeowners expressing how scared they had been as flames edged closer to property lines.
Bedfordale Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade Captain Wayne Birss and his Lieutenant, Lachlan Bormolini, gave insight into just how hairy the situation was at one point.
Over the course of the fight nearly 300 firefighters were employed, 86 appliances were used, and Boeing 737s dropped retardant.
But the Large Air Tanker (LAT) drops were not slowing the speed of the fire as the wind whipped it through the dense forest, and there were no boots on the ground while the aerial attacks were going on.
Ultimately it was a call from the Bedfordale brigade that changed the course of the fight, putting the firies on the front foot.
“Lachy here [Lieutenant Bormolini] is the person you need to thank,” Captain Birss said.
“The fire is just going like hell – burning – and there’s no one on the ground putting any water on it, not doing any work with the dozers to try and track the fire itself so you can get close to it.
“If it wasn’t for Lachie telling them to get rid of the planes … who knows?”
Lieutenant Bormolini explained that the LAT drops of pink fire retardant were critical to “give Stevens Rd and Springfield Rd a buffer”, but that a change of tactics in the afternoon to machinery, troops and trucks, was necessary to “pinch the head fire off”.
Properties lining the edge of the Wungong Regional Park will likely have a pink reminder of the fire until winter rains wash it away.
And 112 hectares of affected bushland are relying on those rains to start regenerating.
But the fact that no lives were lost or properties destroyed is testament to the efforts of the emergency services at work on the March 22 fire.
And some Bedfordale residents have taken away a stronger understanding of the importance of maintaining fire breaks and creating a Bushfire Safety Plan.
