Residents from the Glen Davis area thanked Rural Fire Service crews for their tireless efforts in trying to contain the Gospers Mountain fire at a community meeting on Monday, November 18.
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Vicki Sanderson was one concerned resident who was sent into "overdrive" after the fire "exploded" over the weekend.
"The escarpment went off like a nuclear bomb," she said.
Smoke from the fire, which has burned more than 138,000 hectares in the Wollemi and Yengo National Parks and Parr State Recreation area, filled the Lithgow Valley over the weekend and into Monday morning.
"It really scared everyone, it came out of nowhere and really did look like a bomb went off," she said.
"The visibility with the smoke was terrible, you couldn't see 100 metres in front of you."
Residents including Ms Sanderson are now taking action and preparing themselves in case the fire drops off the escarpment at Glen Davis.
"It really sent us into overdrive, we got our vehicles ready and we prepped the sheds, we did much more preparation than normal," she said.
Sanderson said that she moved her cattle towards her dam and moved their vehicles out of her shed.
"When the shed goes everything goes," she said.
Ms Sanderson said that having good weather, seeing the RFS carrying out containment back-burning and having the water bomber flying around had given residents more confidence.
"The RFS are doing a fantastic job on the containment lines," she said.
"This is one of the biggest fires ever and it being during the drought with no rain expected until January, I believe this won't be over any time soon."
Fire-fighter and Glen Davis resident Kathy Grimshaw was doing all she could for the busy RFS crews.
"I've been cooking for the fire-fighters, which I am more than happy to do, it's kind of a passion of mine," she said.
"They have been working so hard and the last thing you want to do after a long day is go home and cook."
Kathy and her husband Jason are both part of the Glen Alice fire unit and have been working hard with the squad.
"We have our fire plan in place, and have been keeping in contact with family and friends that are worried about us," she said.
"We are all okay."
Ms Grimshaw has also made sure that her children know what to do if an emergency was to arise.
"My youngest is six and the eldest is 14 so we have taught them what to do if that situation was to happen," she said.
Ms Grimshaw, who normally works in Lithgow, has been getting updates from friends and colleagues.
"Since the smoke has made its way into Lithgow I think that has worried a few people but we are keeping safe," she said .
Despite having put their fire plan into action, Ms Grimshaw doesn't see her family leaving the area.
"I personally don't think we will be leaving," she said.
"There is nothing to worry about at this stage and we are keeping safe."
READ MORE: Total fire ban declared for Lithgow region
Ms Grimshaw said 2003 was the last time she could remember a big fire threatening the area.
"We get more floods," she said.
"In this area you get used to the threat of fire, sometimes it's the people new to the are that might panic, but if you don't feel safe the best thing to do is get out while you can."
A further community meeting will be held at Glen Davis hall on Wednesday, November 20 to update residents on the bushfire situation.
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