“I am very concerned about the NSW Government’s proposal to include the Hawkesbury fire stations of Richmond and Windsor on the target list of those who can shut their doors temporarily and take their fire trucks off the road,” Ms Templeman said.

“The Hawkesbury has a need for more fire stations, not less, with RFS volunteers already expected to cover the expanse across the river in a fast growing area at times.

“This will leave our community worse off and the State Member for Hawkesbury and Mayor of Hawkesbury should both be shouting loudly about it to their colleagues in Macquarie St, as their counterparts on the Blue Mountains side of my electorate are and the Fire Brigade Employees Union.

“People know that I lost my house in Winmalee in the 2013 bushfires, and that fire happened really fast. Houses were saved or lost based on a few minutes, or even moments, and there were too few appliances to cover the area that fire quickly swept through.

“The availability of local Hawkesbury Fire and Rescue trucks can make all the difference in a fast moving bushfire or house fire – the difference between losing your kitchen or your whole house.

“This decision, if it isn’t stopped, will lead to one of two scenarios at accidents and fires.

“The first is that it will involve longer wait times, if a fire truck needs to travel from Windsor or Rooty  Hill.

“Alternatively, it will put more pressure on the RFS volunteers. If there is no Fire and Rescue truck available, who is going to go to the fire, or the fatal car accident or the emergency? It will be RFS crews, who do it for no pay, but just because it’s the right thing to do for their community.

“I will be keeping a close eye on this case