The population of Emma Parade dramatically decreased one year ago, but one thing is now certain a brand new resident will be moving in soon.
Bushfire baby Isaac James, the first child of police officer Brett Thomson and his high school teacher wife Leila, arrived at Hawkesbury Hospital on October 10 and will take up residence when their new home rises from the ashes at number 30 early next year.
The 3.35kg bundle came six days early and almost a year to the date when bushfire ravaged their first home in Winmalee.
"When we found out Isaac was due on the 16th of October, it made us feel like it's something nice and new happening," Mrs Thomson said.
"We're just excited and happy now."
A nervous Leila, 26, remembered waiting out the fire at her parents home in Baulkham Hills, while Brett, who was "between night shifts at Auburn station", recalled himself to duty at the evacuation centre at Coles, Winmalee, and worked through the night with other off duty police.
"I had seen on the RFS website that fire had broken out at Springwood," Mrs Thomson said, remembering the day's drama. "I was pretty nervous and worried."
Of the 196 homes lost in the fire, 22 were from Emma Parade and unfortunately for that small community, a good proportion of residents have chosen not to return.
The Thomsons, who had only just moved in a few months earlier, did wonder whether they should stay too.
"After the fire we did think about it [whether to go] because I'm still a bit worried about [another] fire, but we just decided that we really loved living here and loved the community and we wouldn't get that anywhere else," Mrs Thomson said.
"At the end of the day what happened was really upsetting and it's been very stressful, but it's still material things and we can rebuild.
"We really got along well with the people around us, and after the fire obviously it made people closer," she said.
And Mr Thomson, 28, agreed.
"We had a Christmas party in the street, some of the people who didn't lose their houses organised it," Mr Thomson said. "It was a nice opportunity to catch up and build relationships," he added.
The couple is currently living in a granny flat in Valley Heights, provided by friends from Winmalee Anglican Church, who had been "very supportive".
Ian Palmer, at number five, says he is "very happy" for those, like the Thomsons, that had been able to rebuild.
"It's good to see our little community returning. For others there is still a long way to go."
Mrs Thomson hopes that eventually every block will get a new home and some new friends for Isaac might even move in too.
"But I think it's going to take a while," she said.