Three members of the Harrington Rural Fire Service brigade were awarded the Commissioner's Unit Citation for Bravery on Tuesday, May 4.
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Captain Michael Cleland, senior deputy captain Robert McPherson and deputy captain Garth Honeysett travelled to Sydney to accept the citation at the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) St Florian Day Bravery Awards. The citation was given to them for their actions going above and beyond in trying to save the life of a house occupant during the Black Summer bushfires.
"We were just doing our job. I'm sure any other members of the service would have done exactly the same thing," Michael said.
"We don't see ourselves as heroes. We were just doing what firefighters do, being there to help the people in the community. It was just a time that we stood up to do a little bit extra, and unfortunately it was a tragic result in the end.
"We're all proud to be in the service and proud to be recognised. We all felt very humbled being awarded at the presentation.
"On the day there were 16 other awards presented to individual personnel and, sitting there listening to their citations, we felt really proud of what everybody does in the service.
On November 8, 2019 at approximately 11pm, the Harrington brigade was called to a fire at Wharf Road, Johns River. Harrington arrived at the fire just after Kundle Moto Brigade, who passed on a radio message of someone being trapped inside a house. Both brigades responded to the address through extreme fire conditions.
Kundle Moto were travelling up the driveway of the property when a large tree fell in front of them, causing them to stop suddenly. Kundle Moto then radioed Harrington and Firecom to say conditions were too dangerous and they were retreating - visibility was down to zero, the firestorm was still raging and the fallen tree was blocking the driveway.
Without thinking twice, deputy captain Garth Honeysett and senior deputy captain Robert McPherson of the Harrington brigade donned breathing apparatus and went in on foot.
As the Harrington crew ran up the long driveway with no visibility, a large branch fell in front of them and tripped Garth. The other crew members helped him to his feet and continued on. After searching the property and adjacent shed, the crew informed Michael that the two-storey house was completely burnt to the ground and there were no signs of survivors.
The Harrington crew waited outside the property for the arrival of NSW Police and Fire and Rescue NSW, who confirmed the occupant of the property, Julie Fletcher, was deceased.
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