Spread across multiple regions, a series of fast-moving fire fronts burned more than 400,000 hectares statewide—destroying homes and infrastructure, killing thousands of livestock, and burning vast tracts of bushland.
With a State of Disaster declared in 18 local government areas, large-scale evacuations and multiple firefighting operations were launched.
For two RedR Australia team members, Amanda and Nic, the emergency hit close to home. Even as the fires threatened their local communities, both found themselves at the heart of the response effort.
Amanda—supporting her community’s response in Alexandra
Amanda lives with her family in the north-eastern Victorian town of Alexandra, fondly called Alex by locals. In the lead up to the fires, the town had been sweltering through record temperatures.
“We heard about the fires burning in Longwood. And while that sounds far away, we could see smoke billowing in the distance and were glued to any news on the Vic Emergency services app,” she said.
Soon it became clear that families in Alex would need to prepare to leave.
“We decided to enact our fire plan, which was to leave early. I packed up our basic belongings which we had stored in a fireproof carry safe and took the children to Melbourne,” said Amanda.
Then late that night, the weather changed. The wind shifted direction and intensified, turning the Longwood blaze towards Alexandra. The Vic Emergency services app status was upgraded, advising residents to evacuate immediately to Melbourne.
Two days later, Amanda returned to Alex. The fire had torn through the outskirts of the town—destroying a reported 20 homes—but the main township had been spared by a mere 400 metres. Firefighters had formed a containment ring around the town, protecting its infrastructure and residents from far greater loss.
“Driving back into Alex, we saw burnt-out hills and farmland. Homes and buildings were reduced to ash and countless wildlife and cattle had succumbed to the fires. We have many friends and people we consider family who have suffered enormous loss,” said Amanda.
With her children remaining in Melbourne for a few extra days, Amanda drove to the local relief centre to donate supplies, volunteer her time and bear witness to the shock and grief of her neighbours.
“It was clear to me that my skill set, whilst not one to fight the fires, was one that would be greatly beneficial in coordinating the outpouring of donations, offers of help, initial needs assessments and just talking with people,” she said.
It wasn't just instinct guiding her—Amanda's humanitarian training gave her a practical framework to respond to what she was seeing.
“My Essentials of Humanitarian Practice (EHP) training with RedR Australia was so valuable upon my return to our community. I was able to draw on the coordination methods I learnt in the course and some of the useful tools, such as adapting to and creating community-level systems to assist the established community groups on the ground,” explained Amanda.
Nic—responding to the bushfires as a volunteer firefighter
With other parts of Victoria hit hard, another RedR Australia staff member was called into action. For the past five years, RedR Australia's Director of Operations, Nic Sutherland, has also served as a volunteer firefighter with the Country Fire Authority (CFA). When the Victorian fires took hold, his Mt Eliza Fire Brigade was deployed to relieve teams in two of the hardest-hit areas.
“The first deployment was to the Longwood fire near Alexandra for two days, nearly a week after the fire had started. Our primary task was to ensure smouldering hotspots were fully extinguished,” said Nic.
His second deployment was supporting the response to the Dargo fire. Nic’s strike team was in reserve in case the forecast wind change landed, placing the town of Dargo under threat.
Thankfully, the predicted change didn’t happen and the threat subsided, meaning the strike team could stand down after 48 hours.
In his five years with the CFA, Nic has responded to 168 calls. He notes that good communication skills, calmness under pressure, and a safety mindset are key to success, three qualities he says have been critical in his work at RedR Australia too.
“Good communication is pivotal to a productive and cohesive work environment, but in emergency response people also need to be adaptable for different cultures, even within Australia, and different situations,” said Nic.
For Nic, these qualities aren't siloed—they cross over constantly between his two roles. Calmness under pressure has been tested in both settings, whether managing a smouldering bushfire or navigating international humanitarian crises at RedR Australia. A safety mindset, he says, is just as essential in humanitarian operations as it is on the fireground.
Underpinning both roles is a depth of experience that stretches back further still. "For both my work with RedR Australia and the CFA, I've been able to draw on my previous experience in the British Army," said Nic.
It's a reminder that RedR Australia's people bring more than professional qualifications to their work. As climate change continues to drive an increase in disasters across Australia and globally, that breadth of experience matters.
With a roster of specialists experienced in frontline international response—many of whom also have deep domestic expertise—and as a member of the Australian National Emergency Management Stockpile Panel, RedR Australia stands ready to support all levels of government and response agencies across all phases of the emergency management continuum.
