As soon as their pagers beeped, CFA volunteers dropped what they were doing and went to battle the blazes threatening their homes.

Some left from the pub, others rushed from their farms. Their mission was simple –  don’t let the fire reach the town. 

Hawkesdale group officer Pat Noonan said it was a phenomonal community effort. 

Residents evacuated at 11.30pm.

“People were going around the town doing door knocks to get everyone out,” he said.

“Around about half-an-hour after that the police called in and they had been notified that the town needed to be evacuated. We told them how everyone had already been around and done it.

“We had a Midfield Meat water tanker sitting out on the road for asset protection. It was sitting there waiting for direction where to go. We sent it up Greens Lane so the tankers could be filled up.” 

He said there was a real fear the fire could reach the town. 

He said it came very close to houses and there was a lot of fencing lost.

“It burnt around about three kilometres from Hawkesdale,” Mr Noonan said.

“If the wind hadn’t changed around to the west a little bit it could have burnt the northern part of Hawkesdale.”

He said there were plenty of sleepless volunteers who had worked tirelessly throughout the evening co-ordinating efforts.

“It was a combined effort,” he said.

“It’s good that everyone is out there to help each other. It’s a very close-knit community.”