This is an awesome article about a photographer hopped in with a crew one night.
WHEN Newcastle Herald photographer JONATHAN CARROLL pulled up at Doyalson North on Thursday night, fires were surging through Lake Munmorah.
He joined a crew of five Rural Fire Service volunteers who headed north to Catherine Hill Bay. Within minutes, Carroll thought he was going to die. Yet, as he explains, the team around him had other ideas:
WITHIN minutes of getting in the truck we were surrounded by walls of orange flames.
Someone yelled out ‘‘masks on’’ and they gave me a mask.
Then someone yelled ‘‘get your helmets on’’, then ‘‘get those blankets ready’’, then ‘‘get under those blankets’’ as the flames and embers shot across the highway.
I was petrified.
I thought I was going to die and was considering calling my wife and asking her to put my boys on the phone for one last time.
Then one of the team pointed to the bloke in the front passenger seat and said, ‘‘See this guy? I’d follow this guy into hell.’’
Another pulled out the fireman’s prayer before someone said, ‘‘Put that away, it’s an admission of defeat.’’
We arrived at the fire ground. They told me to stay close to them and the truck.
‘‘Right. We’re in front of the fire, but we are also surrounded by it, so we’re going to have to stop it,’’ one of them said.
I remained close by, stressed and panicked, then I noticed something.
They weren’t scared. They were calm. They were going about the job in a business-like fashion.
It rubbed off on me. I calmed down. I picked my camera up and started shooting as they fought the flames.
We got out of there around 11pm.Catherine Hill Bay was saved with only a few losses.
Earlier in the night one of the boys had said, ‘‘There’s been a few times when I’ve put my tail between my legs and kissed my ass goodbye, but tonight wasn’t one of them.’’
These guys at the RFS are on a different level to you and me.
***** ALERT - Nominations for your new ClubCJ Committee can be made here *****
2013 NSW Bushfires
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DORA_ANNE
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What a awesome story Reed , And Yes the RFS are hero's alright 
Just another incident that happened in our street yesterday ...... A big Part of the bush beside us was untouched by the fire which backs onto houses & this person who lives in one of the houses decided he wanted to have his part burnt so he has lit it up " In a total fire ban
We ran up with buckets & buckets of water & he YELLS hey don't put it out I want my back part burnt WTH Had to stop ppl from wanting to kill this guy 
Someone rang the firies which were in the area & got it out pretty quick .... I am yet to find out if he has been charged Lets hope so !
Just another incident that happened in our street yesterday ...... A big Part of the bush beside us was untouched by the fire which backs onto houses & this person who lives in one of the houses decided he wanted to have his part burnt so he has lit it up " In a total fire ban
We ran up with buckets & buckets of water & he YELLS hey don't put it out I want my back part burnt WTH Had to stop ppl from wanting to kill this guy Someone rang the firies which were in the area & got it out pretty quick .... I am yet to find out if he has been charged Lets hope so !
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lancerdarryl
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Thanks Mitch,
I don't live near these area's but I have close friends in Winmalee that I see often and they have been told to be prepared for the past 3-4 days now, so they have been cleaning their gutters and other crap that may get in the way, I hope for the rest of the members on this forum that they wont have to evacuate!
I don't live near these area's but I have close friends in Winmalee that I see often and they have been told to be prepared for the past 3-4 days now, so they have been cleaning their gutters and other crap that may get in the way, I hope for the rest of the members on this forum that they wont have to evacuate!
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Metalstrix
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Chopa wrote:Just read on Facebook that 40 tankers and pumpers have come from Victoria to help with the fires. Its great to see Australia unite to help each other out. If my pager goes off tomorrow, I dont care what work says... Im heading into the smoke!
I can't believe how fast fire travels. I mean my mate and I had trouble making one in winter as a camp fire, then you get the massive fires which travels like wind!
They will learn... I will always be a step ahead
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DORA_ANNE
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...Chopa wrote:Just read on Facebook that 40 tankers and pumpers have come from Victoria to help with the fires. Its great to see Australia unite to help each other out. If my pager goes off tomorrow, I dont care what work says... Im heading into the smoke!
Thumb's Up Reed
Take care if you are needed ! .... Praying for the rain Stevesleeper wrote:take care everybody and pray for some quenching rain.
& everyone's safety ! ... Thank You Chris & we are all good here nowCammo00 wrote:stay safe everyone. Glad to hear you and family are safe Doreen.
Angels Are Sometimes Disguised As Friends
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