Lake Conjola resident Geoff Weeks was standing outside the Lake Conjola General Store, waiting for lines to subside, before he went in to buy batteries for a radio on January 1.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 40-year resident said he had never seen anything like the catastrophic firefront residents could see, smell and hear on New Year's Eve.
"There were two helicopters and they must have dropped 1000 buckets," he said.
"They were back and forth, back and forth.
"Then they were smashing the Manyana side until dark."
Geoff lives and cares for his mother, but his daughter, who works at the store, had to retreat to his home near the lake. She lives in Milton-Ulladulla and was separated from her children.
They, like many hundreds of people, went to Conjola Beach as the heat and falling embers threatened the coastal community.
"We lost contact about two o'clock," he said.
Geoff said he was devastated to hear from friends who live in Conjola Park, where at least 50 homes were destroyed.
One Conjola Park resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said he stayed behind to defend his property. Twelve homes were lost in his street, but his remains. However, he said he would never 'do that again'.
"Just go, just go," he said.
Lisa, a general store staff member, said she and her partner stayed behind to defend their home from the spotfires near Pattimores.
Inside the store, she was busy placing stock out for tourists and locals, who are in urgent need of supplies.
On Lake Conjola Entrance Road, families were returning to see what was left on Wednesday morning. A mixed demographic of older residents, families with children and animals live along there.
Homes on Lake Conjola Entrance Road, Kurrajong Cr, Windemere Dr, Bowness Cl, Wheatley Pl and Collibah Ave were affected as well as damage to buildings on Rogers Road, Yatte Yattah.
The Lake Conjola Bowling Club is still standing. Flames have licked the trees south of the premises and also threatened homes which back on to Pattimores Lagoon.
A third man has also been confirmed dead in the South Coast bushfires. A man's body was found in a burnt-out car at Yatte Yattah near Lake Conjola.
NSW Police has announced a Public Information and Inquiry Centre has been opened to assist people in relation to bushfire information for the South Coast areas.
The telephone number to call is 1800 227 228.
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys urged people to use it only when they needed to.
