Koolewong house built with new standard survives blaze
Homeowners Mike and Katie Greene fled with their children before the fire reached their street Saturday afternoon.
Mike and Katie Green return to their new fire-resistant home Sunday morning.Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong
“It’s such a lovely local community, just heartbreaking,” Katie said. “The bush was extremely dry, it was very hot and very windy… and the firefighters – amazing, amazing,” he said. reporter.
As the fire moved toward his street Saturday afternoon, Foskett stayed behind with his nephews to defend his home. He was also standing.
“Yes,” he said when asked if he was glad he stayed. “Of course my house would be destroyed; nothing has burned here in 90 years.”
His 90-year-old neighbor, who has lived in the area for 70 years, said Koolewong had never experienced a forest fire before.
The fire continued to burn Sunday morning. Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong
The neighbor’s house was also saved by Foskett.
“We created firebreaks for three houses; we scraped up all the leaf litter,” he said. “Because fire flows slowly from top to bottom. [the firebreak] “stopped it.”
Foskett said most of his neighbors fled the fire. Premier Chris Minns said on Sunday that 25 adults and two children were in emergency accommodation across the Central Coast, while most others were with family or friends.
“I’m the only person here; it’s like a ghost town,” Foskett said.
At 10 a.m. on Sunday, there were 76 fires across the state and 20 were uncontrolled.
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