Blue Mountains City Council is providing free family swim passes to volunteers who are currently helping with bushfire operations in the Blue Mountains.
Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill said the small gesture was council's way of thanking the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) and State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers who had already done so much this bushfire season.
"This fire season is without precedent and I have been deeply moved by the efforts of our local crews as they go out and serve our community over and over again," he said.
"Our people have unprecedented demands placed upon them. They must be exhausted, but such is their community spirit, they keep going.
"Why do they do this? They do this for us. They do this because they care. I hold them in the highest esteem."
The passes can be used at any Blue Mountains Leisure Centre - Katoomba Sports and Aquatic Centre, Blackheath Pool, Lawson Swim Centre, Springwood Aquatic and Fitness Centre or Glenbrook Swim Centre.
"This gesture is not much. But it is something," said the mayor.
"This community cares. And we are so grateful. We want volunteers to take their families to one of our centres to relax and cool off, or just to have some time out alone.
"This small gesture lets these wonderful people know that we are grateful and we honour their service.
"I think the national and state governments, who can do so much more than a small council like us, need to take a look at what we can do to thank and support our emergency services across the nation.
"The state of our climate means we will see much more of this and we need to recognise, as a country, what these amazing people do."
