As the fire crew drove down the road in Winmalee at the height of the 2013 Blue Mountains fire they were waved down by off-duty police officer Steve Day. He told them he believed a woman was trapped at a nearby property.
What happened next was an act of heroism that was recognised in a bravery award on Sunday.
With fire burning in trees, bushes and garden beds, the conditions were so intense Onur Ayyildiz and Grant Quinlan searched the driveway wearing full protective clothing and breathing apparatus. Mr Quinlan said afterwards that with temperatures very high, dense smoke and poor visibility he considered "the chances of survival of a person were extremely poor".
They then found Bonnie Wilkinson, 30, huddled against a wall, clutching a garden hose and in a state of complete distress with fire burning centimetres from her.
In an attempt to coax her to safety, Firefighter Ayyildiz removed his helmet, flash hood, breathing mask and firefighting coat, which he then placed on Mrs Wilkinson, giving her the confidence to accompany them to safety. They then escorted her away from the inferno and placed her in a police car.
On Sunday, a day ahead of International Firefighters Day (or St Florian's Day after the patron saint of firefighters), a ceremony was held to recognise the efforts of 64 Fire & Rescue NSW firefighters for their courageous actions risking themselves to save lives and property.
Mrs Wilkinson, who ran a security business from her property, said that she'd only had 20 minutes notice of the fire's approach.
"We are very fortunate to have the firefighters who put themselves at risk for our benefit. We lost everything bar the vehicles but our customers and friends have given us more than we could ever put a dollar value on."
Mr Ayyildiz said he could see Mrs Wilkinson was in a state of shock as she watched her livelihood burn to the ground.
"I thought the only way to get her out was to give her some form of security. I gave her my gear so she would feel protected. I said: 'We have to go.'"
Springwood fire station officer, instructor and commander of B Platoon, Bruce Cameron, was awarded a Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal on Sunday along with Winmalee resident and NSW Fire & Rescue Urban Search and Rescue member Peter Christoff, in recognition of their rescue efforts in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake disaster.
Mr Cameron, who has 34 years of firefighting experience, was a member of the rescue team that discovered Christchurch resident Ann Bodkin alive despite being trapped for 26 hours amidst the wreckage of the Pyne Gould office building in the city's central business district.
Moments later he witnessed the incredibly moving moment when Ann was reunited with her husband, Graham.
Mr Cameron, who was also awarded this medal a decade ago for his role in rescue work following the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, told the Gazette on Monday "it's nice to get a pat on the back again".
"That [Ann's rescue] is still very clear in my mind and it was one of the luckiest things, as there were still aftershocks around and we were just hoping the building wouldn't crumble.
"It was very delicate and dangerous work."
Ambulance Service of NSW (Springwood branch) member and Woodford resident Murray Traynor was also involved in the rescue operation at the Pyne Gould building.
Last year he received a bravery award for his rescue work there and during other emergency situations, including the deadly Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in 1988.
Valley Heights RFS brigade captain Stephen Price received a Commisioner's Certificate of Commendation (individual) for taking a personnel carrier to Singles Ridge Road in the October 2013 fires and making a decision to evacuate 13 children and five adults from Rainbow Pre-school.
The Blue Mountains RFS District was awarded a Certificate of Commendation (unit).
