Bellbrook residents remain in fear of the out of control Carrai East bushfire which has burned around the small country town for almost two weeks.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The heroic acts of the Rural Fire Service and local residents prevented the fire, which has burned more than 110,000 hectares, from encroaching on the town, but the fire continues to pose a threat.
Bellbrook Hotel licensee Shirley Smart said the neighbourhood has become a "ghost town" as the majority of the town hasn't returned after an evacuation request was issued last week.
"It's just an eerie feeling around town, there are no kids laughing and no one talking. All you hear are the trucks coming in and out with their sirens on," Ms Smart told the Argus.
"Most people haven't returned to town, it's like a ghost town out here."
Related content:
Ms Smart claims homes have been lost on the outskirts of the town, but praised the firefighters for their attempts to save every property.
"We know of a few people up river who have lost their homes and their properties have been destroyed," Ms Smart said.
Local resident Annie Reynolds, who returned to Bellbrook last Sunday, still has her car packed and is ready to evacuate again if necessary.
"The fire is only a couple of kilometres out of town and if we get the message danger is coming then we will leave immediately," she said.
"It's the waiting that's the most annoying, it's a feeling of high anxiety, and not knowing what is going to happen that's horrible."
Ms Smart said the Bellbrook Hotel has suffered financially over the past fortnight.
"There's no one in town so we don't have any customers," she said.
"We have had to drop people's shifts and a lot of food has gone to waste."
Thick smoke hovered at ground level in Bellbrook today and the local school remains closed.
Stay ahead with local news by signing up for the Macleay Argus newsletter here.
Also making the news: