FROM THE ASHES When James Kitto’s house just outside West Wyalong burnt down in November 2020, he found a new appreciation for the Service and the work that is done after a fire is extinguished. A TRAGIC LOSS A long-serving member of the Tallimba Brigade in the Bland Temora Zone, James had only recently moved to West Wyalong when the fire occurred. The fire at the Kitto household started early in the morning on Saturday 21 November, the result of an electrical fault in an unoccupied bedroom. James was woken at around 0700hrs by one of the kids running down the hall and yelling that there was smoke coming over the top of a bedroom door. Luckily the bedroom was empty, however children were sleeping in a room across the hall and in other rooms in the house.
members and their families when times are tough. This involves building relationships, lending a sympathetic ear, finding resources for people in need and standing with people in difficult times, as well as visiting members in hospital and performing crisis or suicide interventions. In the course of several conversations over the next few days, James found Ian “a very understanding bloke”, who was able to provide some much needed support. Ian also arranged some financial support for James and his family from the RFSA Welfare Fund. These funds proved critical in keeping the family going in the immediate aftermath of the fire before the insurance claims were paid.
A Triple Zero call quickly brought trucks and tankers “Receiving the funds a day or two after the fire was from both Fire and Rescue NSW and the local NSW very handy because we were in the lurch a little bit RFS, but the fire had spread quickly into the roof for a while,” says James. “It was nice to feel a part of and already engulfed half the house. The quick work an organisation that actually does something after of firefighters slowed the spread and allowed James the fire as well.” and his family to save things like photos and small belongings before the fire spread. But unfortunately, For James it was eye-opening to be on the “other side” of a fire and see a side of the Service he the house could not be saved. had not previously considered despite decades of HELP FROM THE SERVICE volunteering. After speaking to the local NSW RFS members who “From my point of view, I observed the evolution of attended the fire, James received a call later that the NSW RFS over 30-40 years a bit cynically,” says day from Senior Chaplain Ian Spall to check on his James. “I thought that all the local blokes getting welfare and offer support. together and helping each other fight fires was as As part of the NSW RFS Chaplaincy and Family effective a way as any, without the bureaucracy Support program, Ian and his team assist around it.” 22 BUSH FIRE bulletin || FEATURES
