Funds for Clarence/Dargan RFS Brigade
Donation protected
The past few days have been very hard, but we’ve been extremely lucky and our house is still standing. We have lost several outbuildings and about 70% of our property is burnt, but thanks to the work by my family, the firefighters and the RFS volunteers, we have a home to come back to for Christmas.
Yet there are many in the area that do not. From last numbers, about 10 houses in Clarence have been lost and over 20 in Dargan. Of these, several of these homes belong to members of our RFS brigade. These men and women have spent countless hours on the fire ground protecting other people’s homes while theirs burnt. They have made the biggest sacrifice possible and we thank them for that.
My parents are very active members of the RFS, and the work that they have put in over the last several weeks is phenomenal. Creating fire breaks and back burning, talking to the local community, stopping fires from reaching peoples’ homes, the work has been never-ending. The 12-hour shifts have consistently turned into 15-17 hours, before heading back out the next day with little to no sleep. The risk of fatigue is great, but when our homes are on the line it becomes a different story. Many brigade members only have one uniform which they don't have time to wash, so they are dirty and covered in the product of the fire. Prior to the declaration of the state of emergency, my parents were working on the fire ground all night, getting a couple hour's sleep before working all day, and heading back on the fire ground that night. They are physically and mentally exhausted beyond recognition.
On Saturday, the fires ripped through Clarence and Dargan as well as the outskirts of Lithgow. At this stage, my dad had been on the fire ground for nearly 30 hours when we realised the fire was about to reach our house. It was a hard fight and thankfully the prep work that we had done around the house is what saved it. Our fences have burnt, the land is scorched and the gardens have seared the edges of our house, but it still stands.
We were lucky in so many ways. We were lucky that my father, who had worked over 30 hours straight by this point on top of doing 17-hour shifts in the days leading up, had been able to get home to help us with our fight. We were lucky that we had the time to prepare our property and do the absolute most to prevent the fire. We were lucky that firefighting crews were able to help us put out the fire that threatened our house on two fronts, coming from both ends of our property. We were lucky.
But not everyone was as lucky or had the opportunities that we did. Many brigade members were out protecting other people’s homes instead of their own, and couldn’t get back. Many didn’t know the state of their own houses, whether they had anything to come home to. Many were left with only the RFS clothes on their back, covered in day’s worth of ash and soot, sweat, blood and tears. Many have lost all their belongings, valuables, life possessions in order to save someone else’s. They have paid the ultimate sacrifice to help their community.
I’ve spent the last couple of days at the RFS fire shed and it has been filled with hugs and tears from everyone. People stopping by to say thank you, offering donations or just in need of a hug. Some of these people have lost so much but are still there for their community.
The biggest thing is that these people are all volunteers. They are not getting any money for the work that they are doing. They have put in countless hours, have lost sleep, have pushed themselves past physical and mental limits, all as volunteers. They are doing this to protect their community and help others feel safe. Their recognition is at times minimal, yet their contribution is beyond massive.
So I’ve decided to make this GoFundMe page to help the members of the Clarence/Dargan brigade who have lost their homes get back on their feet. Any donation would help them with the little things that we take for granted- groceries, clothes, even a toothbrush. During this time of giving, let’s give them the small comforts that they’ve lost, and try and make this dark time a little brighter. So everyone, please share, donate and help the people that have helped save my house, the houses of my community and so much more. They deserve everything we can possibly give them plus more.
Update: My withdrawal plan is to give the money to the Clarence/ Dargan RFS brigade committee in regards to how to split the money among the members. The funds will most likely go towards helping the members in getting basic necessities now that their homes are gone -Caitlyn
Yet there are many in the area that do not. From last numbers, about 10 houses in Clarence have been lost and over 20 in Dargan. Of these, several of these homes belong to members of our RFS brigade. These men and women have spent countless hours on the fire ground protecting other people’s homes while theirs burnt. They have made the biggest sacrifice possible and we thank them for that.
My parents are very active members of the RFS, and the work that they have put in over the last several weeks is phenomenal. Creating fire breaks and back burning, talking to the local community, stopping fires from reaching peoples’ homes, the work has been never-ending. The 12-hour shifts have consistently turned into 15-17 hours, before heading back out the next day with little to no sleep. The risk of fatigue is great, but when our homes are on the line it becomes a different story. Many brigade members only have one uniform which they don't have time to wash, so they are dirty and covered in the product of the fire. Prior to the declaration of the state of emergency, my parents were working on the fire ground all night, getting a couple hour's sleep before working all day, and heading back on the fire ground that night. They are physically and mentally exhausted beyond recognition.
On Saturday, the fires ripped through Clarence and Dargan as well as the outskirts of Lithgow. At this stage, my dad had been on the fire ground for nearly 30 hours when we realised the fire was about to reach our house. It was a hard fight and thankfully the prep work that we had done around the house is what saved it. Our fences have burnt, the land is scorched and the gardens have seared the edges of our house, but it still stands.
We were lucky in so many ways. We were lucky that my father, who had worked over 30 hours straight by this point on top of doing 17-hour shifts in the days leading up, had been able to get home to help us with our fight. We were lucky that we had the time to prepare our property and do the absolute most to prevent the fire. We were lucky that firefighting crews were able to help us put out the fire that threatened our house on two fronts, coming from both ends of our property. We were lucky.
But not everyone was as lucky or had the opportunities that we did. Many brigade members were out protecting other people’s homes instead of their own, and couldn’t get back. Many didn’t know the state of their own houses, whether they had anything to come home to. Many were left with only the RFS clothes on their back, covered in day’s worth of ash and soot, sweat, blood and tears. Many have lost all their belongings, valuables, life possessions in order to save someone else’s. They have paid the ultimate sacrifice to help their community.
I’ve spent the last couple of days at the RFS fire shed and it has been filled with hugs and tears from everyone. People stopping by to say thank you, offering donations or just in need of a hug. Some of these people have lost so much but are still there for their community.
The biggest thing is that these people are all volunteers. They are not getting any money for the work that they are doing. They have put in countless hours, have lost sleep, have pushed themselves past physical and mental limits, all as volunteers. They are doing this to protect their community and help others feel safe. Their recognition is at times minimal, yet their contribution is beyond massive.
So I’ve decided to make this GoFundMe page to help the members of the Clarence/Dargan brigade who have lost their homes get back on their feet. Any donation would help them with the little things that we take for granted- groceries, clothes, even a toothbrush. During this time of giving, let’s give them the small comforts that they’ve lost, and try and make this dark time a little brighter. So everyone, please share, donate and help the people that have helped save my house, the houses of my community and so much more. They deserve everything we can possibly give them plus more.
Update: My withdrawal plan is to give the money to the Clarence/ Dargan RFS brigade committee in regards to how to split the money among the members. The funds will most likely go towards helping the members in getting basic necessities now that their homes are gone -Caitlyn
Organizer
Caitlyn Ferguson
Organizer
Newnes NSW
