Passing through town on Monday on their way to meet with friends in Cessnock, they stopped at the local Fire Station in an effort to meet up with any of the local RFS members who made up the West Eight Strike Team.

NSW Fire Brigade and RFS member Charles Corby tracked down Jarrod Craw who met with the couple.

Karin told the Herald the reason for their detour through Cootamundra was not only to thank the team which saved their house but to present them with a case of beer as gratitude for their efforts.

The crew were offered a beer by the couple while in Victoria, however were unable to accept as they were on duty.

West Eight Strike Team was made up of Cootamundra members; senior deputy captain Marc Bickerdike, Mr Craw and fire fighters Aaron Jones and Kerry McKenzie along with members from West Wyalong, Hay, Young and Tallimba brigades.

West Eight Strike Team covered the Yea/Murrindindi fire areas.

During their deployment the team was based out of Alexander and spent a

substantial amount of time working on fires throughout the Black Ranges and Kinglake National Park and fires

surrounding Taggerty where crews attempted to protect the main powerlines into Melbourne, Crystal Creek and Swampy Creek communities.

Edi and Karin live on a 115-acre

property on the Scrubby Creek Road in Molesworth, and, during what has been described as Victoria’s worst ever natural disaster, the couple were 30 metres away from losing their home to the

inferno.

“When we received the knock on the door from the fire fighters it was a huge weight lifted from our shoulders, we knew were in good hands,” Karin said.

Edi and Karin showed Jarrod some photographs they had taken during and after the blaze which threatened their home.

Edi related tales of how quickly the fire had moved from the first moment they noticed black and red fire clouds in the sky facing their house to minutes later when a change in wind direction saw the fire reach their boundary.

Edi said they were still checking and putting out hot spots up to 10 days after the blaze passed through.

The home of Edi and Karin’s neighbours was also saved.