The Fire Station

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Continuing my walk, I arrive at the fire station that is both charming and serene. This diminutive building, affectionately dubbed "The Yellow House," boasts one impeccably maintained fire engine, polished to a shine that would make a diamond blush, it sits in majestic repose, its crimson coat gleaming in the sunlight that filters through the glass doors.

Fires in Bundanoon are as rare as a kangaroo in a tuxedo. The most frequent emergencies involve someone at the local nursing home inadvertently burning their toast and setting off the alarms. Thus, the fire station is usually unmanned, sitting quietly like a forgotten relic. The engine remains untouched, its pristine condition maintained by the occasional visit from a volunteer, who considers it his personal mission to keep it looking as if it just rolled off the factory floor.

However, when the alarm does sound, it’s as if a bomb has gone off. The tranquillity of The Little Yellow House is shattered, and what unfolds is a scene reminiscent of an FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago. Volunteers, a dedicated group of enthusiastic locals, materialise from seemingly nowhere. They scramble to the station with the urgency of headless chickens, donning gear and leaping into action with a mix of determination and mild panic. Sirens wail, lights flash, and the fire engine roars to life, finally liberated from its glass-encased slumber, and barrels out of the station. It speeds towards the source of the commotion, ready to douse the flames and restore order to Bundanoon, whether it’s a kitchen mishap or something more serious.

Come the bushfire season, though, the mood shifts dramatically. The village, normally so serene, braces for the worst. The Little Yellow House becomes a hive of activity, its previously dormant state a distant memory. The volunteers, now seasoned by necessity, stand ready to face the formidable threat of bushfires. Tragically, this season often brings loss of life and property, a stark contrast to the usual peaceful routine. During these times, the fire station is on high alert, together with the Bundanoon Rural Fire Station, vital lifelines in the face of nature’s fury. Despite its small size and typically quiet existence, The Little Yellow House stands as a beacon of hope and resilience in Bundanoon.