However the one thing Lochie doesn't struggle with is how much the Wolumla RFS means to him and last week he spontaneously gave them a $20 donation from his pocket money.

Mum Mel Ketteringham said that when the fires were at their worst, Lochie was on the verandah watching and was comforted by seeing the RFS volunteers nearby.

"We went down to get a pizza and he just gave his money over. We had been stuck inside for a week and you feel so helpless. It was his way for helping," Mel said.

Mel and her family can see the fire shed from their home and she said it was reassuring.

And it hasn't just been Lochie's donation that helped.

"The community has been fantastic. We've had so much food. While we were on call they've been dropping in food and donations," Wolumla RFS deputy captain and treasurer Jim Eberbach said.

Volunteer Travis Fowler said the More than Beans coffee van had been "real good" to them too.

"It's a real community, it's been strong for longer than I can remember," Captain John Wilson said.

He said that while sitting at the station was driving them "nuts" especially when they could hear everything that was happening on the bad fire days, they all appreciated being told to be there for their community "in case anything happened".

The Wolumla RFS has recently signed two new recruits and three new cadets, aged between 13 and 14.