Only a week before what was described as the most catastrophic fire day in a decade, Benalla CFA was fighting an out-of-control fire at Goomalibee.

While still working to ensure that fireground was safe, temperatures peaked above 40°C and high winds fuelled a fire in Longwood, which spread quickly.

Subsequently, other fires started to spread across Victoria, and CFA resources were stretched.

Benalla CFA members were deployed to different areas of the Longwood fire, which would end up covering an area comparable in size to Melbourne.

Benalla Fire Brigade 1st Lieutenant Ben Reaburn said that as well as the actions of those on the front line, a co-ordinated effort between incident control teams, other emergency services and lots of volunteers behind the scenes was the reason many lives and properties were saved.

Sadly, one man, Max Hobson, died in the Longwood fire, and more than 150 structures were lost — many of them people’s homes.

Mr Reaburn said the way affected residents adhered to advice, the work of the CFA and other emergency services and the incredible support from local people and businesses meant those numbers were not much higher.

“We were deployed to the Longwood fire,” Mr Reaburn said.

“We also had a few of our own little fires pop up in places like Tatong and Stewarton, which we dealt with.

“We had some members go as far as Bonnie Doon, and then others were down closer to the Longwood area.”

Mr Reaburn said the Benalla group, which includes several local CFAs, had five tankers and one field command vehicle fighting the Longwood fire.

“The Goomalibee brigade had done a lot of the hard work in the Goomalibee fire,” he said.

“But on occasion, where they needed help, we also went out and helped there, but only as required.”

Mr Reaburn said that as of Wednesday, January 14, the Benalla group was no longer needed at the Longwood fire.

“So, from the day it started (Wednesday, January 7) until yesterday, we had crews working days and nights, rotating in shifts,” he said.

“It was a tough day on Thursday (January 8).

“It was almost perfect fire conditions, and there is only so much we can do.

“That day the CFA chief officer (Jason Heffernan) said our job is to go out and help people, but he feared the following day we might not be in a position to do that.

“But our members were working very hard in trying conditions, and did their best.”

Mr Reaburn said the other thing the brigade was thankful for was the amount of community support.

From water and food donations, to free meals and much more, the Benalla and many other communities went over and above to do what they could.

“It's fantastic,” he said.

“These incidents bring out the best in people, and the community spirit has just been phenomenal.

“People want to help and wanting nothing in return.

“And that's what we're all about. So to see the community behind us and our group has been quite heart-warming.

“It's been great.”

Mr Reaburn said he wanted to thank all the CFA volunteers, and everyone involved in the fire response, as well as the community.

“Thank you to everyone who put your hands up to help,” he said.

“It's not just the firefighters, it's support staff that are doing all the organising of crews in the district.

“It's a whole team of people, and I just wanted to thank everyone for their efforts at a trying time when it was very close to home.

“And the groundswell of community support was great.

“The amount of people that wanted to help us out was quite flattering at times.”

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