It was only a simple act, a note on the door of a home in the fire-ravaged areas of southern Shoalhaven, but according to Fire and Rescue NSW Nowra captain John Dun, it was a "timesaver".
The Nowra station is into its fourth rotation of personnel and tankers to the Currowan Bushfire and on Wednesday (December 4) were working in the Bawley Point and Kioloa areas.
"Residents in the areas of Bawley Point and Kioloa have been assisting crews by leaving simple notes on their doors or windows to indicate they are safe and have left the location," Captain Dun said.
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"This saves us an enormous amount of time searching properties.
"We know they have left and are safe, so we don't have to spend time searching the property for them and can move to the next location."
The note simply said the date and time and "We have left gone to Bawley Point". "Hopefully return tomorrow?"
They also advised they had seven alpacas on the property and to "please shut the gate".
Captain Dun and his team left a simple thank you message as well, including "loving the Alpacas" which apparently weren't too happy to see the firefighters.
Nowra station teams have also undertaken a number of rotations through the Braidwood fire as part of a Region South strike team last weekend, assisting with property protection in the township.
