Barry Sinclair has been a volunteer with the Country Fire Authority in Stanley for about 20 years.
Having seen many fires come through the northern Victoria area he knows what is needed to help defend the town.
This time the scale of destruction across the state has left few resources at his disposal as he helps lead the effort to protect his community of about 300 people.
When the last fire came through the area, Mr Sinclair had 76 trucks protecting the town; this time with resources spread thin he had only 12. It's no wonder he is grateful to have an ACT taskforce of 90 including firefighters, SES volunteers and intensive care paramedics joining the fight to save the town.
''It's bloody good, our resources at the time were stretched to the limit,'' Mr Sinclair said.
The ACT group has been split into two teams, working 12-hour day and night shifts as part of the round-the-clock effort.
The night crew ended up staying on for an extra four hours as they battled new outbreaks in Dederang. Eight hours later they were back on duty, leaving from their Beechworth base.
The day shift has helped protect Stanley for the past two days, yesterday defending a large stretch of containment lines.
ACT Fire Brigade district officer Stephen Gibbs is helping lead the Canberra taskforce. He said the situation yesterday had stabilised.
Crews were conducting backburning overnight as they sought to make the most of the cooler, still conditions to help solidify containment lines in the rugged, mountainous country.
''I've been really pleased, the taskforce has been really motivated, the crews have worked extremely hard,'' Mr Gibbs said.
This group of 90 will not be the last to help support the Beechworth area, with a 101-member taskforce set to arrive in Beechworth late today to take over the tiring work.
Katrina Sharp is leading Stanley's volunteers, helping to feed and look after the local volunteers and Canberra taskforce.
She said every woman in town had offered support to help keep the effort going.
''I've got to find things for people to do, because everyone wants to do something. People can't give enough or do enough,'' Ms Sharp said.
She said locals were delighted to have the ACT crews around.
''They've been fantastic, they are so pleased with what we're doing for them and what they can do for us, we let them know every time.''
David ''Rexy'' Reno is a volunteer firefighter with the ACT Rural Fire Service. He said the reception for the ACT crews was overwhelming.
''It's great to have people say well done, it really makes us feel good and we know we're doing something right,'' Mr Reno said.
Taking time out of his job at Bunnings, he said many of the locals still remembered the ACT crews from the last time they were there three years ago. He said the cooperation between the two groups would help cement a bond between Sinclair, Canberra and those helping from NSW.
''We've all banded together to save a state that has been in absolute crisis.''
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