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Australia bushfires: Pregnant firefighter defends decision to fight fires | Australia bushfires: Pregnant firefighter defends decision to fight fires |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A 23-year-old pregnant volunteer firefighter has fiercely defended her decision to fight dangerous bushfires that have swept across Australia. | A 23-year-old pregnant volunteer firefighter has fiercely defended her decision to fight dangerous bushfires that have swept across Australia. |
Kat Robinson-Williams, who is 14 weeks pregnant, said she received many appeals from worried friends to stop. | Kat Robinson-Williams, who is 14 weeks pregnant, said she received many appeals from worried friends to stop. |
It prompted a powerful post from her on Instagram where she said she would not "just stay behind". | It prompted a powerful post from her on Instagram where she said she would not "just stay behind". |
Ms Robinson-Williams has been volunteering with the New South Wales (NSW) Rural Fire Service for 11 years. | Ms Robinson-Williams has been volunteering with the New South Wales (NSW) Rural Fire Service for 11 years. |
"I'm not the first pregnant firefighter and I'm not going to be the last one," she told the BBC. "I'm still in a position where I'm able to help so I will." | "I'm not the first pregnant firefighter and I'm not going to be the last one," she told the BBC. "I'm still in a position where I'm able to help so I will." |
Australia is enduring a bushfire crisis that has left three people dead since Friday and burnt more than 200 homes. | Australia is enduring a bushfire crisis that has left three people dead since Friday and burnt more than 200 homes. |
'I don't care if you don't like it' | 'I don't care if you don't like it' |
Ms Robinson-Williams first posted on Instagram on Monday, putting up several pictures of herself in firefighting gear on the way to an incident. | Ms Robinson-Williams first posted on Instagram on Monday, putting up several pictures of herself in firefighting gear on the way to an incident. |
The post was captioned: "Yes I am a firefighter. No I'm not a man. Yes I am pregnant. No I don't care if you don't like it." | The post was captioned: "Yes I am a firefighter. No I'm not a man. Yes I am pregnant. No I don't care if you don't like it." |
Her post was met with an outpouring of support, with many calling her "an inspiration to all girls". | Her post was met with an outpouring of support, with many calling her "an inspiration to all girls". |
The volunteer firefighter, who comes from the Hunter Valley in NSW, told the BBC she had posted the picture after several friends had told her "you shouldn't be doing this". | The volunteer firefighter, who comes from the Hunter Valley in NSW, told the BBC she had posted the picture after several friends had told her "you shouldn't be doing this". |
"I wanted to tell them I'm okay and that I'm not just going to stop," she said. "I'll stop when my body tells me to stop." | "I wanted to tell them I'm okay and that I'm not just going to stop," she said. "I'll stop when my body tells me to stop." |
She added that her doctor had given her the all-clear "as long as I wear the right equipment". | She added that her doctor had given her the all-clear "as long as I wear the right equipment". |
Ms Robinson-Williams, who works in childcare, is the third generation in a family of volunteer firefighters. | Ms Robinson-Williams, who works in childcare, is the third generation in a family of volunteer firefighters. |
"My mum was also pregnant during the fire season of 1995. It kind of runs in the family," she said. "When I was young, my grandma made a toddler size firefighter outfit for me." | "My mum was also pregnant during the fire season of 1995. It kind of runs in the family," she said. "When I was young, my grandma made a toddler size firefighter outfit for me." |
A large number of her family members are still firefighter volunteers, including her grandmother. | A large number of her family members are still firefighter volunteers, including her grandmother. |
"It's a family thing, we've always done it. My grandmother is still volunteering, has been for 50 years, and my mum has been doing it for over 30 years," she said. | "It's a family thing, we've always done it. My grandmother is still volunteering, has been for 50 years, and my mum has been doing it for over 30 years," she said. |
Her husband is also a volunteer firefighter, as are her in-laws. | Her husband is also a volunteer firefighter, as are her in-laws. |
"I'm hoping my child will follow, though that's up to them," she said. | "I'm hoping my child will follow, though that's up to them," she said. |
When asked if she felt scared at all while battling the fires, Ms Robinson-Williams was quick to say "no". | When asked if she felt scared at all while battling the fires, Ms Robinson-Williams was quick to say "no". |
"I was in the thick of a fire yesterday, the houses were alight and backyards were on fire - we were there putting it out. It's just what I've always been doing." | "I was in the thick of a fire yesterday, the houses were alight and backyards were on fire - we were there putting it out. It's just what I've always been doing." |
About six million people live in the state of NSW. | About six million people live in the state of NSW. |
Fire crews have been battling a front spanning 1,000km (620 miles) with several blazes "exceeding 100,000 hectares alone", according to officials. | Fire crews have been battling a front spanning 1,000km (620 miles) with several blazes "exceeding 100,000 hectares alone", according to officials. |
On Wednesday, bushfires briefly spread to suburbs of Sydney. | On Wednesday, bushfires briefly spread to suburbs of Sydney. |
Authorities have said the region is in for a particularly dangerous bushfire season due to a severe drought and other factors. | Authorities have said the region is in for a particularly dangerous bushfire season due to a severe drought and other factors. |
Reporting by the BBC's Yvette Tan and Frances Mao. |