LYNDOCH Country Fire Service (CFS) volunteers have been emotionally thanked by a Cudlee Creek family whose home they saved during December’s devastating bushfire in the area.

Jules Kemenyvary and Peter Gauci’s home was under direct threat from the blaze on December 20, and held grave fears it could be burnt down.

As the fire neared, CFS crews from around the state rushed to the area, including the Lyndoch brigade, that was tasked with defending homes on Ms Kemenyvary and Mr Gauci’s street.

The brigade was able to save the couple’s home, as well as the rest of the homes on the street, while other properties on the fire ground were destroyed.

Officer in charge of the Lyndoch Crew which saved the home, Haniel Wilson, said it was an intense battle.

“There was a fire that was above their property and the forest which was on their property was on fire,” he said.

“A few of their paddocks were on fire and they had left their gates open to let livestock make a break for it.

“It was a significant grass fire.”

To say thanks to the Lyndoch brigade, Ms Kemenyvary and Mr Gauci visited the station last Wednesday with cooked dinner for the volunteers, Ms Kemenyvary read a handwritten letter to the brigade and gave a $500 donation to the CFS Foundation.

Ms Kemenyvary said the donation was nothing compared to the pain being without a home would cause.

“For us, they didn’t just save our home, they saved us from a future of devastation, being dispossessed and a year or more of angst,” she said.

“We feel that, forever and a day, we will have a debt of gratitude to these people.

“We are really fortunate we can come home, settle in, do our washing, put our clothes away and cook on our own stove. Just those normal day-today things which you really take for granted.”

Lyndoch is one of many local CFS brigades which have been under the pump during this year’s fire season, despite only one serious bushfire close to home.

Volunteers have been completing deployments to Kangaroo Island and country New South Wales and Victoria to support the firefighting efforts.

Mr Wilson said despite all the hard work, volunteers never expect any level of thanks from those they help in a crisis.

“I think there was something wrong with the air conditioner. It must have been a bit dusty because there was a few of us scratching our eyes,” he laughed.

“You never really involve yourself with people’s lives who you affect by doing your job as a firie. You hardly ever have that interaction.”

Ms Kemenyvary was amazed with the brigade’s modesty when she first contacted it after the fire.

“I contacted them privately when I found out it was them (who saved the house) and I said can I set up a crowd funding site just for you?” she said.

“I got a call back from the lieutenant saying it was fantastic, but he didn’t want it. He didn’t want to be singled out.

“They’re so humble, modest and they don’t ask for anything for themselves.”