From the frontline
Published Date: 16 Jan 2013
Summary
Cootamundra Herald
LOCAL Rural Fire Service (RFS) firefighter Gil Kelly took these amazing images from the frontline at last week's Jugiong fire.
A number of villages were in the firing line along the way, however firies did a fantastic job and with the fire now under control no homes have been lost. The blaze started about 10 kilometres out of Jugiong and quickly raced towards Yass where it was contained about 10 kilometres from the town.
Mr Kelly is part of the Cootamundra Headquarters brigade and joined the RFS 12 months ago.
He said it has been a full-on 12 months. He has been called to fight fires in Boorowa and was part of a strike team which went to Bourke.
He has also been involved in the flood crisis which encapsulated the district last year.
Mr Kelly described last weekend's fire as "very intense".
"There were good people around who know what they are doing though so we just do what has to be done," Mr Kelly said.
He said it was a busy time last week as a volunteer firefighter. He had been on standby to assist at Temora where he is also a member of the Cootamundra aviation brigade and after getting the callout to go to Jugiong his firefighting colleagues and he did not get home until 8.30am Wednesday.
These images were taken about 10 kilometres out of Bookham, near Burrinjuck Road
