While most students in the Highlands enjoyed a break from school over Christmas, several took the opportunity to serve the community.
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As the Green Wattle Creek and Morton fires bore down on the Southern Highlands between December and January, several students from Moss Vale High School were actively fighting fires, protecting properties and supporting the RFS brigades in their time of need.
Student Phoebe Kelly was on call for the Moss Vale Brigade and fought on both the Green Wattle Creek and what became the Morton fire front on January 4.
"I worked a double shift on one day," she said.
"We went to Taralga and went out to Wombeyan Caves from around 6 am to 8 pm and then got diverted to Wingello on the way back."
Mitchell Rowley who was stationed at the Bundanoon RFS Brigrade said his shifts involved back burning, property protection and "a bit of everything".
"I don't think I've had a double day shift, normally it's 12 hours," he said.
"That's normally time to clock off and swap over crews."
Also stationed at the Bundanoon RFS Brigade were Matthew Kelly and Kiarnah Robb who were involved in keeping the shed in order.
"I didn't do any firefighting," Matthew said.
"I was rolling hoses, hanging hoses, drying hoses.
"I was listening to the RFS scanner, hearing what was happening around Bundanoon and Wingell, which helped inform me a bit of what was going on."
When the Southern Villages were threatened, Mitchell found himself protecting his own back yard.
"Me, my dad and my brother stayed at our house protecting our property," he said.
Crews from out of town came in protecting the left side of Bundanoon towards Exeter.
"Bundanoon Fire Brigade were in Wingello protecting the village."
As for what it was like on the fire grounds, Phoebe said it was "hot".
"It depends on the conditions at certain times," she said.
"One time when we were doing property protection on a ridge and we were waiting for it to jump and the wind changed.
"We had to run, drop hoses and we got smashed with embers and we could just feel it on our arms.
"I didn't feel scared but I knew I was in a situation that I could die.
"I think it was just the adrenaline running through."
Another worry that firefighters faced was burnt out trees.
"Trees were a worry, especially when you get candles (which light from the inside) and fall," Phoebe said.
"The scariest part was going back through Wombeyan Caves.
"We came in the morning and everything was fine and on the way back everything was black and the trees were falling.
"We were getting out, cutting trees and looking out. It was unpredictable."
Despite the danger, Mitchell said it was the community support that was the biggest reward for helping out.
"We had a lot of community support," Matthew said.
"A lot of food and drinks were donated."
As for why they joined the RFS, each student had their own reason.
Phoebe joined the RFS as she wanted the experience of joining Fire and Rescue, a goal she had as a kid.
"I'm not really going down that path [anymore] but I'm still going to stay with the RFS because it's fun and interesting," she said.
For Mitchell it was a familial influence that lead him to join the brigade.
"I joined because my uncle is the captain of the Bundanoon fire brigade and my dad is the senior deputy captain," he said.
"There's that follow them in their footsteps sort of thing and go out to fires with them. Mainly it was my dad asking if I wanted to sign up to the new cadet program," he said.
Matthew joined up because he thought it looked "fun and interesting".
Looking to do something else with her time after school, Kiarnah joined the RFS.
"I also wanted to help and get the experience," she said.
Moss Vale High School has raised more than $1000 for the RFS with a mufti day held on February 14.
School captain Scott Lawrence said that some of the families from Moss Vale High School had been affected by the Morton fire and had lost "everything" but the school had stepped in to help.
"Any chance we can, we support people affected by the fires," he said.
"The Student Representative Council is looking to donate to those families specifically."
School Captain Taylah Denford added that the school was helping the families affected.
"We're very education orientated, so in order for us to help students with their education, home needs to be good," she said.
"If we can help them by raising money and donating items to those families, that's our way of supporting them and their education."