I t was 6am on the penultimate day of the year when Lynn Brown, 76, got the call saying she had to evacuate, urgently.

As she answered, she glanced outside: the smokey sky at Batemans Bay in New South Wales already had an ominous red glow. It wasn’t the Australian sun.

Lynn quickly packed into two little backpacks her rescue-from-fire items: passports, jewellery, a handful of treasured possessions – and scarpered. What happened next is difficult for her to recount.

“I’m still trying to get over the terrible shock of it,” she tells The Independent. “Even talking to you now, I get the shakes. My hand won’t stop shaking.”

Rushing, Lynn and husband Barry, 80, first knocked on every house of her street. “It’s a tourist area – many houses don’t have landlines like us” she says. Panicked parents with young kids moved at rocket speed.

Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra in the state of New South Wales on 31 December 2019 AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke billows from a huge bushfire that has torched over 200,000 acres of land in East Gipplsand, Victoria on 2 January EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Residents look on as flames tear through bushland in Lake Tabouriee, Australia on 4 January on 4 January Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Boats are pulled ashore as smoke and wildfires rage behind Lake Conjola on 2 January Robert Oerlemans via AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighting helicopter tackles a bushfire in East Gippsland, Victoria on 31 December EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighter gives water to a parched koala in Cudlee Creek, South Australia AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters tackle a blaze as it tears through a farm in New South Wales on 21 December AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The sky is turned red over East Gippsland as fires continue to rage through Australian bushland on 4 January Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A kangaroo near bushfires in Nowra AFP/Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures An aerial view of a bushfire near Bairnsdale State Government of Victoria/EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters work to tackle a blaze on the outskirts of Sydney on 31 December 2019 Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighting helicopter dumps water on a bushfire on the outskirts of the town of Bargo near Sydney Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Children play at the showgrounds in the southern New South Wales town of Bega where they are camping after being evacuated from nearby sites affected by bushfires AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A satellite image of the Batemans Bay showing smoke and fire from wild bushfires European Union, Copernicus Sentinel Data via REUTERS Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The afternoon sky glows red from bushfires in Nowra AFP/Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Burning embers cover the ground as firefighters battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The sky glows red as bushfires continue to rage in Mallacoota, Victoria Jonty Smith via Reuters Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The remains of burnt out buildings along a main street in the New South Wales town of Cobargo AFP/Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters try to protect homes around Charmhaven, New South Wales NSW Rural Fire Service/AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Wildfires rage under plumes of smoke in Bairnsdale Glen Morey via AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Business owners stand in front of their shop which was destroyed by a bushfire in Cobargo EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A helicopter dumping water on a fire in Victoria's East Gippsland region Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning/AFP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Think smoke from bushfires fills the air in eastern Gippsland Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures "Carmelised" snow caused by dust from Australian bushfires is seen near Franz Josef glacier in the Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand Reuters Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters hose down trees as they battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke billowing from a fire burning at East Gippsland, Victoria. More than 800,000 hectares have been burnt in East Gippsland EPA/DELWP Gippsland Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke billowing from a fire burning at East Gippsland EPA/DELWP Gippsland Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Fire clouds are formed over the mountains' range near Bredbo, New South Wale, Australia December December 31, 2019. Picture taken December 31, 2019. LIFES.A.BREEZE via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. LIFES.A.BREEZE LIFES.A.BREEZE via Reuters Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke and wildfire rage behind Lake Conjola Robert Oerlemans via AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A house and van are seen destroyed after bushfires ravaged the town of Bilpin, west of Sydney AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A helicopter fighting a bushfire near Bairnsdale in Victoria's East Gippsland region State Government of Victoria/AFP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Fire and Rescue personal run to move their truck as a bushfire burns next to a major road and homes on the outskirts of the town of Bilpin Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Amy, left, and Ben Spencer sit at the showgrounds in the southern New South Wales town of Bega where they are camping after being evacuated from nearby sites affected by bushfires AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighter sprays foam retardant on a back burn ahead of a fire front in the New South Wales town of Jerrawangala AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Two bushfires approach a home located on the outskirts of the town of Bargo Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Property damaged by the East Gippsland fires in Sarsfield, Victoria EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Property under threat from the East Gippsland fires in Sarsfield EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The main street of the New South Wales town of Bombala is pictured shrouded in smoke from nearby bushfires AFP via Getty

The last thing Lynn did before heading to the evacuation centre was try to save her absent neighbour’s elderly cat, Bonnie. But Bonnie wouldn’t let Lynn anywhere near her. “She bit and scratched. So we had to leave her,” Lynn says, sighing.

Despite Australian prime minister Scott Morrison playing down the bushfire crisis and his role in response, or backbenchers in his government denying any climate change link, this is the biggest natural disaster Australia has ever faced, far exceeding any other bushfires, which Australia sees annually. These fires are unique for their ferocity, frequency and prematurity in the bushfire season.

They’ve covered an area the size of South Korea – 10.3 million hectares, 25 people are known to have died and the economic impact will likely exceed $4.4bn (£3.4bn).

Experts estimate that a billion animals have been killed in the disaster.

Australia wildfires: Firefighters film blaze surrounding them in terrifying video

The smoke has reached New Zealand and even Argentina. And they’re not over – a current brief reprieve will see weather conditions deteriorating again later this week.

Among such heartbreaking headlines, small stories of resilience and hope are emerging. And one of them is Bonnie the aged cat.

As Lynn entered the Batemans Bay evacuation centre, inside a football ground, among the 4,000 people, and dozens of dogs, cats and horses, there was one large, elderly cat who’d been wrestled into a small cage by two persistent neighbours: Bonnie.

Bonnie has been left for dead until she showed up at the evacuation centre (Glenn Tester)

It was a rare moment of joy for Lynn on a “terrible day”. Images of Batemans Bay residents sheltering on the beach went viral, but the reality was different. “We were told to avoid the beach – you might be safe from flames but you can’t breathe,” Lynn says.

Inside the evacuation centre, nobody was prepared for the scale of the disaster. There wasn’t enough food, water, or hope. “Volunteers were amazing. But people were upset, scared and looking for anyone to blame. I was in tears. People I knew hugged me, weeping, saying, ‘I’ve lost my home and everything I own.’ That happened several times.”

There was no power, no petrol and no phones. They were trapped. Lynn and Barry found an elderly neighbour, 88, wandering around alone and confused. Together, they fled.

“The evacuation centre was so dreadful, we decided to walk across the road to the tennis club.”

Lynn and Barry Brown had to leave their home and belongings behind

They couldn’t have picked a worse time. “Suddenly, the sky went completely orange, then, in daylight, it turned pitch black. You couldn’t see in front of your face. You were breathing ash. We went out of the frying pan and into the fire.”

Sirens suddenly sounded from every corner. The deafening crack of blades thundered down from above. Lynn looked up. A helicopter was waterbombing the caravan park opposite the evacuation centre - she heard gushing and cracking. The three pensioners were completely exposed.

“We’re all old people. We’ve been through a lot in our lives. We’d never seen anything like this. We were so very frightened.”

In the evacuation centre were recovery workers like Amanda Lamont, who’s been volunteering for the Australian Red Cross for 10 years. During this crisis, she volunteered at the Red Cross’s evacuation centre in East Gippsland, Victoria. Mattresses lined the floor, tears flowed down faces, and “raw emotion” permeated the smoke-polluted air.

Amanda Lamont is a volunteer with the Australian Red Cross and a volunteer firefighter

“It’s a sad place,” Amanda says. “But we ensure it isn’t too morose, by creating an atmosphere of safety, comfort and hope.” Among the people waiting to hear if homes have burnt to the ground, a defiant optimism exists. “There are enough good stories to keep people in good spirits,” Amanda says.

In that moment, her own emotions feel unimportant. “It’s about being present with people, witnessing their elation, their devastation, whatever it is – it’s not about me and what I might feel. It’s knowing that person has someone with them.” The Australian Red Cross has an excellent debrief process, she says, whereby a mental health professional checks in on the psychological wellbeing of volunteers shortly after the event. It has kept her coming back for a decade.

In addition to volunteering for the Red Cross, Amanda is a volunteer firefighter – a country as big as Australia relies on volunteers to defend their local communities; residents often train up to manage fire risks on their own properties. When asked why she volunteers, Amanda says: “Something needs to be done, why wouldn’t I do it? I can so I do. If my house is on fire, it’s volunteers who help – there are no paid firefighters where I live.”

Graeme East, 67, has been with Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria for 50 years. Speaking of this year’s devastation, he says it’s “pretty gut wrenching”. Faced with his own neighbours who’ve lost everything, he says: “It’s tough. You wish you could do more, but you just can’t.”

Members of the Australian Red Cross have been volunteering at evacuation centres in crisis-hit areas (Alex Hahn)

Some have turned to crowdfunding pages to help desperate friends or family.

Lauren Crocker, 29, set up a GoFundMe to help her parents, whose house in Lenswood, south Australia, was lost days before Christmas. “This house was the fruit of my parents’ labours for 22 years and the home I always thought I’d grow old in,” she writes. “Anyone who knows my parents know they’re the most stoic, caring and selfless people and would never ask for help.”

Her parents are currently sheltering with her in Brisbane, almost 2,000km away. On Christmas Day, with just two bags of possessions left in the world, they called upon some of Australia’s famous larrikin spirit to see them through. “After someone passing away or illness, it’s the next worst thing you can tell people,” Lauren says. “So we tried to have a giggle about it.”

Lynn and Barry are now safe in Sydney with family.

They’ll soon return to Batemans Bay. “There’s nothing left to burn there,” Lynn says. “We live there because we love the wild. When you think about it, it was craziness, living there among those gumtrees we adored.

“They’re all gone now.”