A training day escalated into a "no-win" emergency very quickly for Country Fire Service (CFS) officer Peter Ikonomopoulos as he and his colleagues scrambled to save 400 people from impending disaster.
The Port Augusta-based firefighter was passing on skills in South Australia's APY lands in 2017 when a bushfire burned towards Pukatja.
The fire intensified with wind speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour, which forced Mr Ikonomopoulos to take control of the situation and evacuate the community to the town's football oval.
"We had to drop everything and protect the whole community with two fire trucks and two vehicles," he said.
"A fire like that, you can't put it out, you've just got to protect the path that its coming towards.
"It was a no-win situation, we just protected what we could.
"I did think at one point that we might lose people, especially when the fire started to pick up and burn elements of the community."
An aged care facility was burning.
Mr Ikonomopoulos tried to create a protection barrier by backburning but was almost engulfed in the flames.
"I was quite fortunate that the other CFS members had a wealth of experience and knowledge," he said.
"We were just thankful that we prevented a disaster from happening."
Mr Ikonomopoulos is among six South Australian CFS workers who have been presented with bravery awards of The Royal Humane Society of Australasia for their efforts that day.
He attended a ceremony at Adelaide's Government House with fellow recipients Ross Haustorfer, Ant Williams, Tim Cooper, Dudley Dagg and Nicoli Ackland to be presented with bronze medals by SA governor Frances Adamson.
"The award was very humbling, but I think all emergency services and volunteers should get one as well," Mr Ikonomopoulos said.
Zero hesitation
Mr Haustorfer, who is Terowie CFS brigade captain, helped evacuate residents from their homes and tried to protect properties as the fire got closer.
He said it was an emotional day to be back with his colleagues and receive the medal.
"This has been a pinnacle moment in my career since there was so many people to protect with such little resource," he said.
He said it was "very daunting" but the officers were confident with their skills and knowledge.
"Due to our location, we didn't have the time to do the things we normally would," he said.
"We had to make calls on the fly otherwise, the outcome wouldn't have been very nice."
