Reach out to victims, but let firies do their job first

IT’S an all too familiar part of the Australian landscape, the bushfire. To most city dwellers the smoke haze is an irritation but to those who live in rural areas it can often be a matter of losing it all, including one’s life.

While in the army during the early ’60s I spent some time fighting bushfires in the Blue Mountains.

Watching a wall of fire that devours everything in its path, change direction and charge towards you is a frightening experience.

A sudden wind change blew embers all around us starting spot fires on the other side of the ridge road we were using as a fire break. We were in danger of being trapped. Pre-planning and quick thinking got us out of there, but hours of work were lost as another battle line was breached. I experienced that scenario and it is all too common.

As we go about our daily jobs, a battle rages in our Hinterland and other areas in our state against an enemy that has but one mission, to consume whatever it touches.

Our rural fire brigade is out there fighting an element of nature that has no conscience, will or desire, a sometimes friend but now an enemy assisted by wind and terrain and sustained by anything that can burn.

I know quite a few people who live in our Hinterland. A few of them are in the volunteer fire brigade.

My thoughts are with them, having experienced just a small part of what they face. My heart goes out to those who have lost their homes. Most will rebuild but so much dear to them will be lost forever, those irreplaceable photographs and items that generate loving memories, those things that make a house a home.

Our bushland will regenerate. Nature sees to that. Many species need fire to do so and therein lies the irony.

As for those brave and selfless men and women who maintain the battle lines against a ravening foe, they should have our support, not just today when the danger is present, but at all times. Prevention is a far better solution than the destruction of an all-out war with nature.

Please assist them by staying out of those areas affected and allow them to get on with the job. It’s difficult enough without you getting in the way, becoming a potential victim or needing rescue.

There will come a time where we can all help, especially those who have lost so much. The media will let us know how, where and when. Please reach out and help as you can because that is the Australian way.