TRANSCRIPT

The Daily Telegraph, Friday December 28, 2001

Courage St. One community's war against the inferno

Black Christmas fires: Day 4

Image of houses under threat from the fire taken from the air. Caption reads 'Taskforce to hunt arsonists behind this terror... houses in Cross St, Warrimoo, feel the heat of bushfires still burning west of Sydney yesterday. Picture: Phil Hillyard'

By Claire McDonald and Bruce McDougall

The bravery and resilience of residents devastated by the bushfires raging across NSW is epitomised in a tiny Blue Mountains cul-de-sac.

Seven homes were burnt down and others seriously damaged when a wall of fire - fuelled by "cyclonic" winds - hit Cross St, Warrimoo on Boxing Day.

The blaze - believed to have been lit by an arsonist in nearby Springwood and one of 40 fires started deliberately - roared up a valley and engulfed houses.

Residents selflessly helped neighbours while their homes burnt down, sacrificing their own possessions, as the fire raced along its destructive path at lunchtime on Wednesday.

Stan Lawless stayed in the kitchen of his home while flames tore through the roof. He phoned neighbours Tracy and Paul Wakefield, who were spending Christmas with their family at Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains, to warn them of the fires.

"I really throught this was the day I'd go," he said.

Last night, police arrested three 15 year-old boys for lighting a series of fires in Shellharbour, south of Wollongong. And a man, 20 appeared in court at Parramatta yesterday for starting a series of fires earlier in the morning.

The fires continued last night with concern for firefighters near Gosford after a bushfire crossed containment lines. Fires at Appin and Holsworthy were said to be heading towards the F6. More than 100 fires are burning around the state and the respite given yesterday's cooler weather in not expected to last.

Temperatures will begin to rise again today with a warm to very warm day expected. By Sunday, hugh wind will

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