It’s happened here before in the North East when fires in 2003, 2006, 2009 and again last year burnt in alpine bushland for days and weeks on end, threatening to emerge at different times to raze the homes and towns in their path.

And now it is happening in Blue Mountains’ communities as residents race to prepare their homes and authorities formulate battle plans ahead of the dangerous conditions expected there and in other fire locations outside Sydney today.

For those who have already fallen victim and lost their houses to the fires at Springwood and Winmalee last week, it must seem incredible that less than a week later, with the pain of their loss still raw, they are watching others potentially doomed to the same fate.

The Blue Mountains is a magnificent part of our country, treasured by residents and visitors alike.

But just as others living on the urban fringe enjoy the peace and beauty, it can come at a cost when the right conditions combine to increase the threat of bushfire.

I have close relatives who live at Winmalee but whose house fortunately wasn’t among those destroyed or damaged in last week’s fire.

But even after living in the Blue Mountains for more than 30 years and being familiar with previous nasty bushfire seasons, it was apparent this latest threat had been particularly unnerving for them.

We have spoken in the past about the pleasures of living in the mountains, the ability to be away from the hustle and bustle of suburban Sydney even with the proximity to efficient public transport; as well as the sense of community that existed in the towns that grew up on either side of the Great Western Highway between Penrith and Katoomba.

But with those positives came a codicil. The price of enjoying the mountains lifestyle was the possibility that you might one day lose your home in a bushfire, even when you met all building standards that attempted to give homeowners a fighting chance when a fire threatened.

Obviously, living in a bushfire prone area gave even greater cause for homeowners to ensure their insurance policies were kept up to date and would replace what was lost if the worst happened.

When I lived in Sydney there was a time when I did consider the charms of living in the mountains, but in the end I made up my mind I was never going to be willing to lose a home to bushfire, nor did I want to flee from that danger.

Now I have to say there are no guarantees even living in suburban Albury, or in other parts of the country that aren’t directly adjacent to bushland, that you won’t lose your house to fire or even bushfire in extreme conditions, heaven forbid!

But when you face the possibility of packing up kids, pets, valuables; when you have to drive away from your home not knowing if it will still be standing when you return, then that is something I believe you must be prepared to do to live in one of these locations.

For those who face that situation today, who have spent recent days preparing their properties, packing up valuables and contemplating evacuation ahead of today’s grim weather forecast, I join others around the country in hoping that it’s work that will ensure they have the best chance of getting through this crisis without losing their properties.

I also commend those fighting these blazes including Border and North East personnel from the RFS, CFA and NSW Fire and Rescue who have travelled up to the Blue Mountains and other parts of Sydney in recent days.

Their selfless devotion to the task at hand, shown so often at home, is now being appreciated by a much wider audience.