THE Crater Lakes fire highlighted to 25,000 people the massive effort our firefighting men and women make to protect our community.
In many ways, the Crater Lakes fire was at the lower end of risk to people and property.
It was slow moving and well contained but on show for everyone to see.
So far this year we have had two other major fires in the region – Wrattonbully and Coles near Lucindale.
The Wrattonbully fire posed high risk to life and property and more than 3000 livestock were killed.
Mainly plantations were burnt at the Coles fire but, heartbreakingly, a Country Fire Service (CFS) volunteer lost her life serving our community.
The loss of CFS volunteer Louise Hincks can only be described as a tragedy and a great loss to her family, colleagues and friends.
The 44 year old lost her life serving the South Australian community.
Louise volunteered to travelled down from Adelaide with her brigade to help fight the Coles fire – well outside her home territory.
Ultimately she lost her life serving us.
Our CFS volunteers put themselves at risk not for the recognition but rather to serve the community.
Each and every year they put on their ‘yellows’ at anytime of the day or night to help others.
They spend many Wednesday nights training and build strong comradery within their brigade with fellow volunteers – it’s a band of brothers and sisters.
Losing a brigade comrade at an incident would be a scar for life to those who have built up enormous care for each other in that brigade.
We should all acknowledge the selfless work our CFS volunteers do in our community to keep us all safe.
At The Border Watch we pass on our deepest sympathy to Louise’s family, colleagues and friends.
