Update: Monday's street party for hundreds of Balmoral residents and emergency crews has had to be postponed until the fire danger has eased.
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"Unfortunately (Wingecarribee) council will not be able to approve the function due to the current fire conditions," Balmoral fire captain Brendon O'Connor said.
"The date will be announced as soon as we can."
Weather conditions are expected to worsen over the weekend and early next week, with a very high fire danger rating issued for the Wingecarribee, Wollondilly and Illawarra.
Party organisers were advised of the council's decision on Saturday afternoon, by which time preparations for the party were well underway.
Thousands of dollars worth of party hire equipment, catering and live entertainment had been donated to the event, which was meant to bring some Christmas cheer to the community after fires wiped out at least 25 homes and damaged more.
Earlier: The captain of Balmoral Fire Station saw first-hand what happened when fire tore through the Southern Highlands village just before Christmas.
Now he's hoping to lift the spirits of hundreds of heartbroken residents with a street party on Monday.
In a post on the brigade's Facebook page, Captain Brendon O'Connor described the Balmoral firestorm as "hell on earth".
After warding off five attacks in as many hours from the south-west on Thursday, December 19, crews backed up the following day to protect the village, after easterly winds brought the Green Wattle Creek fire back again.
We endured 10 massive hits and we're still standing.
It went from bad to worse on Saturday, as forecast hot and windy conditions raised the fire danger to catastrophic.
"The fire front hit us four times; twice from the west, once from the south and the final blow from the east," Capt O'Connor said.
Flames leapt as high as 150 metres, crowning above the trees.
"At one stage we were being hit from the east and the west at the same time, with minimum support - only a few trucks and the most amazing and brave firefighters."
The station's firefighters held their ground for five hours until reinforcements arrived, only to run out of the tank water that the town runs on.
The number of homes and businesses lost remains unconfirmed.
In the days since the fiery devastation, Capt O'Connor has been full of praise for the men and women who dug deep to protect the village over those three gruelling days.
"Thank you to the crews that made it to us before the fire cut off the village, thank you to the brave residents that prepared well and also endured the onslaught and saved many a home also, I take my helmet off to you all.
"We endured 10 massive hits and we're still standing."
Capt O'Connor is now trying to organise a village party for December 30 at Elms Place, a little street in Balmoral with just five houses - all of which firefighters were able to save.
"I know this is a tall task to ask considering the time of year and not much time left but if anyone was able to donate tables and chairs for the day for at least 300 residents and maybe marquees also please," he said.
As well as party equipment, the village will require food to feed hundreds of people and entertainment.
"We are a small but strong community and with your generosity we could help brighten the wonderful residents of Balmoral Village in the beautiful Southern Highlands who did not get much of a Christmas," Capt O'Connor said.
To donate the details are: Balmoral Bush Fire Brigade Donations Account. BSB: 062572 ACC: 10079726
