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Michael Sernik has no doubt that RFS crews saved his Towrang district house.
He was at home with wife Janice when he first noticed smoke appearing at the back of his property, perched high on a hill off Narelle Lane, some 14km north of Towrang.
At that stage, at 1.20pm Sunday, RFS crews didn’t know about the blaze but were at his property quick smart.
“We were at the front line and it happened suddenly. It was totally out of the blue,” Mr Sernik said.
“There were high flames and the fire came roaring through. It was ready for a battle.”
Winds were gusting well over the 70km/h force registered at Goulburn airport and the Serniks could feel the fire’s heat in the house.
“I thought it would self-combust,” he told The Post.
”We had hoses at the ready around the house but when it hit, there was zero visibility. I realised for me, two of the most important things to prepare are goggles and a mask. They’re critical.”
But the couple was otherwise well prepared, having earlier cleared around the house. Fire hoses and a generator were on hand and on Sunday, they put water in the house gutters and plugged down pipes with sandbags.
Still, the pace of the Greenwich Park fire, which started off nearby Tarlo River Road just after 1pm, caught them by surprise.
“It came screaming across and we evacuated. I grabbed my computer and guitar and we literally ran away. it was very frightening,” Mr Sernik said.
An outbreak started in their orchard below the house, containing some 100 fruit trees, after an ember fell through one centimetre square bird netting.
Despite the challenging conditions, RFS crews managed to keep the fire at bay around the home. About 20 acres of the 33-acre property was burnt.
“Without a shadow of a doubt they saved the house,” Mr Sernik said.
“They were fantastic and so professional, on the ball and selfless. They worked hard from the moment they arrived here and into the night. Three crews stayed around through the night and put in a perimeter line. I can’t say enough good things about them.”
On Monday afternoon, Mr Sernik felt the danger had passed for him but noted smoke pouring over a distant hill to the southwest of his home.
On the ground
The Greenwich Park fire has destroyed 459 hectares since started some 25km northwest of Towrang. On Sunday, 160 firefighters were on the ground. Overnight, six crews comprising 15 personnel managed to put in containment lines, taking advantage of calmer conditions, RFS operations officer, Daniel Osborne said.
On Monday, 60 firefighters were on hand, dousing spot fires and strengthening containment lines.
One of them was Juliette Bass of Big Hill Brigade, one of six females on the ground. She was spotting fires off Tarlo River Road when The Post caught up with her.
She joined the RFS in 2001 after she and husband, Marshall, now Big Hill’s fire captain, moved to a Big Hill property.
“We moved there after the Balmoral fires (in the Southern Highlands). We joined the RFS because we wanted to know how to protect ourselves,” Mrs Bass said.
“I enjoy it, (especially) being able to protect life and the community. It’s sad when you see the devastation but it’s rewarding to protect people.”
Mrs Bass said the RFS had its fire responses “down pat” and she was amazed by the people who dropped everything on a Sunday afternoon to respond. Crews had come from Bungonia, Windellama, Middle Arm, Crookwell, Yass and many other places.
When not fighting fires she undertakes secretarial duties for Big Hill RFS and works in childcare in Goulburn.
The Post also met John Thompson, also of Big Hill, who had taken a day off work as an intensive care nurse at Wollongong Hospital to help fight the fires.
Steve Moon, RFS safety officer for the blaze, was taking a break from business as a first aid trainer.
Also out in the field, Mark Hart pulled up with a 24,000 litre tanker load of water at Narelle Lane, on behalf of Narambulla Partnership, owned by Divalls.
Standing nearby, Robyn Fry was awaiting news of her Tarlo River Road property. She had not been allowed in due to the danger and, like several others, sought accommodation elsewhere on Sunday night.
“The fire started southeast of the house and approached relatively slowly,” she said.
Ms Fry lives some 20km along the road from Towrang Road and has no stock on the property.
“I have full confidence in these guys (the RFS). I’m very grateful,” she said.
Over the road from her Narelle Lane vantage point, a reconnaissance helicopter landed. Pilot Joshua Wales jumped out.
“We thought you’d come to deliver the pizzas,” quipped Cr Andrew Banfield, who was helping the firefighting effort with his brigade.
A Carrick resident pulled up and wanted to know where she could deliver a large box of KFC and drinks for the firefighters.
She was directed to the Towrang Bushfire Brigade station where its field services group provided catering. They were assisted by Tarlo Brigade’s catering unit which volunteered their services on Sunday and Monday.
They prepared sandwiches and drinks for well over 100 firefighters on Sunday and 60 firefighters on Monday, with more to come over the next few days.
Tarlo RFS volunteer Fran Dannefaerd arrived at the station at 5.30pm Sunday. She and volunteers were back there at 7.30am Monday to help cook breakfast, prepare lunch and dinner for ground crew.
“We’ll stay as long as we’re needed,” Mrs Dannefaerd said.