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Hartley Rural Fire Brigade is one of many local crews in the area on the front line of the Gospers Mountain fire.
The blaze, which has burnt 344,406 hectares, is the biggest fire Lithgow has ever seen and is making its way across the Newnes Plateau.
Sixty-six year old Hartley RFS crew leader Rod Gurney has been involved with the RFS for 40 years.
Rod has been volunteering his time along with several other crew members, who have been working tirelessly on the fire ground.
"We're trying to give people rests. Fatigue management is important but it's hard because you've only got so many people and you've got people working round the clock, whether it's on the front line, on the radio, in the office or making food," Rod said.
He said people were doing it tough and it was becoming a continuous cycle.
"Our members are getting tired.
"It's not just a five minute job, you'll do what you have to do for the day and then you'll go home and think you can have a rest and then you get another call and you've gotta go out again," he said.
He said it had also been difficult breathing on site with the heat and smoke.
"You think the smoke's bad in Lithgow, you should see the fire ground," he said.
Rod said it had been a combined community effort from RFS crews coming from around the area.
"It's not just us, it's everyone around the area from Lithgow, Kanimbla, Hampton, Rydal, Tarana, Bell, Portland, Wallerawang and more.
"They're working hard up there," he said.
Rod said the volunteer firefighters also had families to leave at home, which was often a hard thing to deal with.
"Their families are worrying whether the husband, the wife, the son or the daughter are coming home.
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"People praise us, we don't want praise, we just want to be able to do our job and make sure we come back home again," he said.
He said another hard part was balancing volunteering and working, but he was thankful for an understanding community.
"We've all got businesses and all have to work, we're very grateful and lucky that we've got a community that supports our volunteer firefighters.
"We thank the people that are letting us have our members come out and work instead of going to work," he said.
Rod said it was incredible how the community banded together in a time of need.
"We know we get a lot of backing, people want to help all the time and that's because this is Lithgow."
People praise us, we don't want praise, we just want to be able to do our job and make sure we come back home again.
- Hartley RFS crew leader Rod Gurney
He said something the crew really needed donations of was bottled water and snacks to keep their strength up.
"The biggest problem we've got is that we need water. We get crates of it but it goes so quick, you can imagine up there how hot is is.
"We need water badly.
"Water, munchies and something to nibble on," he said.
To donate water and food to the Hartley RFS, drop off points include Hartley Realty, Hartley Fresh and R&A Chainsaws. To see what else you can do to help visit HQ at 4 Silcock Street, Lithgow.
Rod also wanted to thank the general community for their support and what they have done to help.
"They're thanking us but we want to thank them, we really appreciate it and every little bit counts."
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