Police stories

While the world watched on in horror at the apocalyptic images of people in Mallacoota being forced to the water's edge by fire, emergency authorities started working on a rescue mission.

Believing Cann River out of harm's way, 23 Victoria Police officers were sent to assist the local one-man police station with setting up relief and recovery for surrounding townships.

Years of drought had primed the bush surrounding the township or Orbost for a bad fire season. And as the hotter weather of December began to take hold, the town started its anxious wait.

The devastation of the bushfires in East Gippsland and the north east of Victoria made the summer of 2019/2020 an historic emergency response challenge for Victoria Police.

While police worked long hours for days on end during the bushfire disaster, community groups and businesses generously supported them along the way.

Reflection piece by Detective Sergeant Leeanne Trusler - Victorian bushfire remembrance

As fires ravaged in regions of Victoria's east and northeast, dozens of communities that were threatened and destroyed or isolated were crying for help.

The black smoke is suffocating, the radiant heat is overwhelming, flames are licking the house and barrels of fuel could explode at any moment.

They worked long shifts to keep the community safe through the bushfire crisis, but it was the off-duty efforts of police that made some of the longest-lasting impacts.

While the world watched on in horror of the apocalyptic images out of Mallacoota, emergency services started working on a rescue mission.

As people fleeing the fires in Mallacoota boarded the HMAS Choules, Senior Constable Trent Mongomery expected to see relieved faces but they were in shock.

The moment Bairnsdale Constable Greg Coates finished work the evening of the fires, he raced home to his wife and two young children to defend his own house.