Brett Cripps had just watched his family’s holiday house at Conjola Park burn to the ground, but his quick thinking saved the lives of multiple people that were left stranded on the water of a popular holiday spot.
With his parents also on board the small boat, they loaded up a family of 11 tourists, their dog, and one extra man just moments before the fire burnt their cars and caravans to crisp.
“It wasn’t even minutes,” Mr Cripps told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“The fire started roaring towards them. They didn’t know what was going on – the wind just fanned the embers and it went berserk. I saw someone and I just yelled out ‘you’ve got to get off’ because they didn’t know the fire was coming over the hill.
“I just said you can’t get in the car, you’ve got to come with me. Get in the boat.”
The boat, which was made for six, transported 15 people with Mr Cripps joking that he wasn’t expecting a fine from Roads and Maritime Services.
His family had owned the holiday home for 50 years, but according to Mr Cripps, no fire had been like the one they recently witnessed.
“This fire was just pure evil – that’s all I can say. It just roared … I’ve never seen anything like it.”
When the Herald interviewed Mr Cripps, he repeatedly said one thing – that he just did what anyone in his position would do.
“I’m not a hero, I was just in the right place at the right time. It wasn’t just me, there were a lot of local residents with boats and jet skis helping people out. I just happened to be in the spot.
“I just want to emphasis that the community banded together.”
