Singleton's finest returned to Brittliffe Close this morning before the wreckage of the house fire which took the lives of 11-year-old Blake Atkins and his five-year-old twin sisters Matylda and Scarlett.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
However this wasn't an inspection for the members of the fire brigade who were on call that tragic morning.
This was a private moment of reflection for the 15 men who arrived on the scene at the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Admittedly, 22 Fire and Rescue NSW members were present with seven from the neighbouring Branxton station also on call.
Yet, for the Singleton team specifically, this gathering was an opportunity taken with open arms.
"It's very emotional for us and that's why we're back here today," Singleton captain Bruce Ambrose told the Singleton Argus.
"But we've got a lot of support from the community, the fire brigade and other people."
The firefighters rescued the twins through side windows and both were taken to Singleton Hospital, but they died as a result of their injuries.
Earlier, brave neighbours pulled 31-year-old Kara Atkins and her eight-year-old daughter Bayley through a window as the fire took hold.
Sadly, the heat from the flames cut short their desperate attempts to continue the rescue.
Captain Ambrose stood before his team this morning to lay flowers, adding to the many which had already been planted by the community outside the family's home.
Then the group dispersed.
Some wandered over to glance toward the wreckage.
Others remained by the truck as a deafening silence echoed around the close.
And a majority held back tears; such was the raw emotion of the setting only 48 hours after they were forced to pack up.
"It's tragic and the last thing we want to do is go to fires like this," he added.
"It hurts us as much as it does anyone else."
This morning's group of 15 included 13 members from the Singleton Fire Brigade with the assistance of Sydney based Technical Rescue instructors Glen Whittorn and Garth Faine.
Coincidentally, the duo had travelled to Singleton from their Orchard Hills base this week to run a training program.
When they return home this afternoon, their lives will never be the same either.
"We've been training all week so it was fortunate we had a lot of people available when this happened," Captain Ambrose continued.
"So while we were all still together today we decided to lay some flowers, have a look back and try to get the emotions intact.
"Because if something happens today we have to go out and do the same job again and we have to be ready for that."
While Whittorn did not wish to make a comment he held on to his colleague's arm in support as a teary Captain Ambrose concluded, "Having children involved has made it even worse."
