TORONTO -- A pregnant volunteer firefighter鈥檚 social media post has gone viral after she defended her decision to fight the bushfires currently sweeping Australia.
In , Kat Robinson-Williams argued, 鈥淚 won鈥檛 just stay behind. No, I don鈥檛 care if you don鈥檛 like it 鈥� I love my country. I love my mates and if that means I鈥檓 needed on the ground, then I鈥檒l always make the way as long as I am physically able to help.鈥�
Robinson-Williams is 13-weeks pregnant. Since the proud mother-to-be posted her story earlier this week, she鈥檚 been inundated with supportive comments -- some of them from fellow female firefighters.
The spotlight is 鈥渁mazing for the (fire) service and the crews on the ground,鈥� Robinson-Williams said during a phone interview with CTVNews.ca. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 do it for the attention. I just posted it for my friends and it kind of blew up,鈥� she chuckled.
Robinson-Williams had originally taken to social media because some of her friends and family had told her to stop firefighting.
As for the potential health risks from smoke inhalation, she wears the standard breathing masks and 鈥淚鈥檝e cleared it with my doctors 鈥� so if I鈥檓 able to do it, then I鈥檓 going to be there regardless.鈥�
'IT'S MY WAY OF GIVING BACK'
Fighting fires is second nature to Robinson-Williams, a 23-year-old childcare worker, who鈥檚 been volunteering to fight fires for the past 11 years.
鈥淚t鈥檚 my way of giving back to the community because the community over the years has given me so much,鈥� she explained, adding her managers at the long-term daycare facility have 鈥済raciously let me go to the fires.鈥�
To those who say she鈥檚 being reckless, she shot back saying, 鈥淵ou know all the risks going in. And you rely on your training and they prepare you so well for these situations.鈥�
People with experience fighting flames are especially needed as wildfires continue to rage across Australia's drought-stricken east coast and have taken at least four lives. Estimated hundreds have fled their homes for the second time in a week.
Robinson-Williams, who volunteers with New South Wales Rural Fire Service, has worked in crews of about 50 people, including local and national firefighters, police officers and paramedics.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just something I鈥檝e always done. My family are all firefighters,鈥� she said. Her grandmother has been at it for 50 years and is still going; and her father has 25 years鈥� experience under his belt. Her brother and brothers-in-law, uncle and husband also volunteer to put out fires.
Her mother, who鈥檚 volunteered to fight fires for 30 years, helped to put out fires in 1995 as she was pregnant with Robinson-Williams.
So for Robinson-Williams, it would be strange if she shirked her responsibilities to her community when it was at risk.
鈥淢y house is under threat. My friends鈥� homes are under threat 鈥� it鈥檚 been hairy but it鈥檚 worth it,鈥� she said.
She explained that most people she knew were also volunteer firefighters. 鈥淚t鈥檚 phenomenal to see so many families -- brothers and sisters, mums and dads -- all in the service. It鈥檚 great,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the most rewarding thing.鈥�
Robinson-Williams says she鈥檒l be putting down the hose when she鈥檚 closer to 30 weeks pregnant with her 鈥渓ittle firefighter in the making.鈥�
