Josh Bruce didn’t get the relaxing New Year’s Eve he was expecting. 

Instead, he and his family found themselves on the south coast of New South Wales, caught in the bushfires which have had such a devastating impact on the country.

“Me and my partner are both from Canberra, and her family have a house down on the south coast of New South Wales, near Batemans Bay,” Bruce told SEN 1116.

“It was a bit of a sobering New Year’s Eve when we got the emergency phone calls and text messages to evacuate.

“But it was too late to go because all the highways were shut on both sides. It was a pretty dicey day there in Moruya, there were fires on either side of us.” 

The Canberra product praised the work of fire fighters across the country and those who have helped aid the recovery. 

“It was definitely really, really scary, but we were lucky enough to get out the next day and full credit to the New South Wales fire services and also the Victorian ones for what they’ve done to save people’s homes and lives,” Bruce said.

“Full credit to everyone that’s raised funds for the bushfire appeal, it’s been an incredible response from the whole country."