Denise joined Wauchope Rural Fire Brigade in 2002 after seeing fires come close to Wauchope homes. She is now deputy captain.

On Sunday February 12, with a very hot day forecast, the Rural Fire Brigade had asked volunteers if they’d be on standby at their station.

They were there from 10am, were given lunch at noon, and got a call to go to Pappinbarra at 2pm. Eight volunteers took two vehicles to Pappinbarra Road and were among the first there.

“The fire was on the side of the road,” said Denise, whose daytime job is registered nurse in the operating theatres at Port Macquarie Base Hospital.

“It was very hot, but when you’re focused on doing your job, you don’t realise that. You just start your job of putting the fire out.

“It got hotter and grew bigger very fast. We were tasked to go to a certain address number, where we were asked to protect houses, sheds and equipment.

“As the fire moved, we continued up the hill to the next property. We were working constantly, and the fire kept growing, and we just kept on going.

“Eventually, I started to feel a bit nauseated and it got to a point where I felt unwell,” she said.

She told her captain that she needed to get into the air-conditioned vehicle, but she still felt sick. He took her to a property away from the fire.

They got there, and the family had no power or air conditioning but they gave Denise wet towels which she hoped would help, but didn’t. 

Her captain got permission to take Denise off the fire line and back to Beechwood which was a staging and assembly area for medical care.

“I went there, and the paramedics were wonderful, and they started to give me intravenous fluids and medication and decided that I should go to the accident and emergency at Port Base Hospital for a few hours.

“The care at the A and E department was exceptional. My friend from my brigade went and told my Dad that I was okay and when I was discharged a few hours later, she brought me home.

“When I woke up the next day, I felt hot, but all right. Everybody’s been lovely. I went back to work on Tuesday.”

Despite her experience, Denise will stay in the Rural Fire Brigade.

“I’ve been back to the scene where it’s still a little smoky, and it hasn’t put me off. Even nanas can fight fires.

“The brigade great for teamwork, camaraderie and it’s a bit like a family. If other brigades need extra people, we help out.”