On the morning after the October 2013 bushfires, Oliver the cat was found burnt, battered but alive by his owners Luke Curtis and Megan Gaudiosi in the backyard of their destroyed Yellow Rock property.
Olly was lying in a pool of mud, trying to cool his badly burnt paws.
As with humans, healing from burns can be a very slow and painful process for animals, especially for an 11-year-old cat also suffering from smoke inhalation.
Olly required 21 treatments during the next two months at Wimmalee Petfriends Veterinary Hospital before he was well enough to return home.
This local vet clinic became a refuge for people's pets in the fire's immediate aftermath and offered treatment of about 350 injured animals free of charge - a decision which cost the practice more than $100,000.
These days Olly looks very well, enjoying the love of his family, who moved into their new home in November 2014.
He's put on weight and his coat is in good condition, but the pads on his feet are permanently lost and require close monitoring.
Olly's story is just one of many published in the fundraising book As the Smoke Clears, produced by locals Susan Templeman, Jenny Bigelow and Mary-Lou Keating. It features Senior Constable Keating's many stunning photographs of the bushfire recovery process and regrowth of the eucalypt forests.
The Blue Mountains Highway Patrol officer said many other groups and businesses also assisted with the treatment of animals, boarding of pets and donations of pet food during the bushfires.
"Volunteers from organisations like the Red Cross and the Salvation Army offered support and understanding for people who lost beloved pets and members from Blue Mountains WIRES put in countless hours to nurse injured native animals back to health," Senior Constable Keating said.
"As we prepare for this bushfire season it is important to remember the primary focus for emergency workers will always be the preservation of human life, so animal owners need to ensure they are prepared and have included their animals in their emergency or fire ready plans.
"The role and importance of the rich and diverse wildlife in the Blue Mountains also needs to be recognised and safe guarded."
Senior Constable Keating said sales of As the Smoke Clears have so far raised more than $19,000 for the Blue Mountains Mayoral Bushfire Recovery Fund.
"Part of this was allocated by the fund's committee to establish a group called Blue Mountains Animal Ready Community, which aims to raise awareness and assist the community to plan for the care of pets, companion animals, livestock and wildlife during and after natural disasters like bushfires," she said.
"Proceeds from book sales were also allocated to restore a small park in Emma Parade, Winmalee that was badly damaged by bushfire and to create a bird habitat garden for Mt Victoria Public School and purchase related learning materials for the students."
