Jewish firefighters, police on the frontline
Published in The Australian Jewish News
January 9, 2020
Several Jewish firefighters and service people have been at the epicentre in fighting the fires that have gripped the nation.
For New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteer, Joshua Todes, the sight of an entire street of houses ablaze in Buxton has stayed with him.
Just one day after completing his HSC exams, the 18-year-old Moriah College graduate faced the fire front. Since then, he has been a part of the efforts at Gospers Mountain, Green Wattle Creek, Little L Complex and Lithgow.
Speaking to The AJN this week, Todes explained how evacuated residents often leave letters taped to their front doors, thanking the firefighters and expressing their appreciation.
“Seeing these letters and then their homes destroyed, that really hit me hard.
“But the RFS have done such a great job in protecting some of these communities, I’ve been amazed,” Todes added.
“It has been very intense at times, and then there are a lot of periods of waiting.”