In the eight months since the red steer tore a path of destruction through the small village, the community has rallied, working as one to rebuild shattered homes and burnt dreams.

Many residents continue to live in temporary accommodation as reconstruction work on buildings slowly continues.

Mark's story is like so many city slickers who relocated to the area in search of a sea change.

He found the ideal home 10 years ago, a two storey timber and stone, four bedroom cottage, complete with swimming pool overlooking 10 acres of lush green rainforest just north of Forster Tuncurry.

But that came to a crashing halt on the afternoon of Friday, November 8 after a sudden change of wind sent the inferno straight through his Koorainghat Close property.

All that remains today are a couple of stone walls and floor from the original house and part of the floor - all of which will be incorporated into Mark's new home which began reconstruction earlier this month.

Mark had been sitting on his back deck around 3.30pm enjoying a late lunch, all the while keeping an eye on the sky above the treeline.

"There was a north wester blowing; blue sky in one direction, smoke in the other."

Within two hours the house had gone.

"When I left there wasn't any fire."

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Luck was on the side of his small four-head flock of alpaca - kept to keep the lawn down - which had been moved to greener pastures during the drought.

But Mark is looking forward and not dwelling on what he had and what he lost and considered himself one of the lucky ones.

"There wasn't much I could do; there is so much that you cannot control.

"I never had any intention of staying and single-handedly trying to save my home with a garden hose.

"It is not worth my life."

Unlike so many he was covered by insurance and earlier this month began rebuilding and getting his life in order.

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But it took him months of contemplation and evaluation to finally come to what he considered the right decision.

During this period Mark threw himself into helping his neighbours and the community.

"I could see a future that others couldn't," he said.

"Helping others also helped me recover; it has been a pretty horrific time."

But, Mark says he now appreciates what he has and what he had.

"It (fire) came through the trees so quickly and so loudly; I have nothing but admiration for what the RFS guys did, the way the street has come together."

The 65-year-old evacuated to the Rainbow Flat service station before being escorted down The Lakes Way to Forster by RFS personnel.

Forever grateful, Mark described his community, in particular neighbours, and the RFS as legends.

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