Despite only being mayor of the Blue Mountains for five weeks, Mark Greenhill is a safe pair of hands as bushfires bear down on his communities.
Mr Greenhill praised residents for heeding the warning and leaving the mountains early on Wednesday morning.
"What's been remarkable is the resilience of the community because we're in both a disaster and a recovery phase, we've already lost 210 homes," he told AAP at the Springwood Sport Club, which is acting as a community evacuation centre.
"We still confront the prospect of losing more today."
Mr Greenhill said despite the significant property loss he hopes the communities can maintain the zero fatality rate so far.
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Like everyone in the mountains, the mayor is frustrated overnight rain had actually slowed the pace of back burning operations.
"We just can't cut a break," he said.
Mr Greenhill has been mayor for five weeks but has a background as a Rural Fire Service volunteer, has served as deputy mayor and been on the council since the 1990s.
The father-of-four lives at Warrimoo, which was also under threat on Wednesday.
The Blue Mountains City Council has launched a special mayoral fund with proceeds going directly to bushfire victims.
*People can donate online at www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/yourcouncil/bushfireemergencyinformation/mayoralrelieffund
