We received this message recently from Ken Hughes of the RFS which we share with you:
I just thought as our major supporter over many years I would let you know what the Northern Beaches RFS brigades have been doing this fire season. I have been a volunteer for 40 years and have never seen anything like the current situation.
As you can imagine we have been very busy throughout NSW over the last few months. We have served from Port Macquarie in the north, south to Narooma and west to Lithgow, Tumut and the Snowy Mountains.
Last week most of our units were spread across the south coast, with a major success being the saving of Bendalong, a small village near Ulladulla, and many desperate battles in and around Batemans Bay.
Later in the week we were called to put in a major backburn along a large part of the Great Western Highway in the Blue Mountains and while this was programmed to continue today, in view of the weather these troops will head to Cooma to relieve our units down there. The Blue Mountains work is programmed to continue tomorrow, but this will depend on the weather.
Clearly our resources are stretched very thinly, however, we are keeping a small contingent at Terrey Hills to deal with local emergencies.
Best wishes
Ken Hughes AFSM OAM
Treasurer Donated Funds
NSW Rural Fire Service
Northern Beaches District
