Koolewong Devastated: NSW Central coast Town Reels from Rapid-Moving Bushfire
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A fast-moving bushfire tore through the waterfront suburb of Koolewong on Saturday, leaving a trail of destruction adn displacing residents as it rapidly consumed homes and possessions.The blaze, which ignited in a park early Saturday afternoon, quickly escalated due to strong winds and dry conditions.
Prepared for the Speed and Ferocity
Like many residents, Sarra and Craig Saxon-Gill had taken precautions ahead of the summer bushfire season, clearing gutters, installing roof sprinklers, and formulating a family fire plan. However, they were utterly unprepared for the speed and intensity with which the fire advanced. Their home, along with a collection of vintage cars, was fully engulfed in flames after being subjected to an ember attack.
“total devastation, there’s nothing that’s savable,” Mr. Gill stated, describing the scene as one of complete loss. “There’s a steel beam that’s been twisted, that’s how hot that fire was.”
The couple initially intended to defend their property, but their sprinkler system failed to deliver water when activated. Forced to evacuate with only the clothes on their backs and their animals, they joined a growing number of residents grappling with the aftermath of the disaster. While a spokesperson for the Central Coast council confirmed no interruption to the overall water supply, they acknowledged that some residents may have experienced reduced water pressure due to high demand.
Stories of Loss and Narrow Escapes
The speed of the fire left many residents with little time to react. Rouchelle Doust recounted a harrowing experience, returning home to find her husband attempting to extinguish the flames with his bare feet.
“He wanted to put it out, and he’s up there in his bare feet trying to put it out, and he’s trying and trying, and I’m screaming at him to come down,” she said. “I’m trying to put the embers out at the front until I realised that on the other side of the driveway it was a huge fire and I’ve gone ‘Oh s***’, and I jumped in the car and left.”
Ms. Doust and her family soon realized their home, built over 20 years ago, was beyond saving. “Everything’s in it: his grandmother’s stuff, his mother’s stuff, all my stuff – everything – it’s all gone, the whole lot,” she lamented.Remarkably, the houses on either side of their property remained untouched.
Community Rallies in Support
Amidst the devastation, a powerful display of community spirit emerged. mitch Samways, owner of Paperboy Espresso, opened his café’s kitchen to provide free sandwiches to firefighters battling the blaze at redhead, near Newcastle.
“everyone’s obviously stressed, but in a community like this, everyone rallies together,” Mr. Samways explained. “We’ve pretty much been pumping out as many toasties as we can. Coffees, cold drinks, anything they want to keep them fed, happy, and looked after. It’s the least we can do to give back to them guys. They’re the ones saving our community and making sure we can be here tomorrow.”
Donations are reportedly pouring in to support those who have lost their homes. At a press conference in gosford on Sunday,NSW Premier Chris Minns praised the outpouring of generosity,noting that the Gosford RSL had been overwhelmed with offers of assistance,including food,toiletries,nappies,and even temporary housing.
“That’s just the highlight of community spirit,” Premier Minns stated.”It’s an example for the rest of the country about what generosity looks like in times of adversity.”
The resilience of the Central Coast community is being tested, but the initial response demonstrates a determination to rebuild and support those affected by this devastating fire. .
