Peter and Pamela Curtis live in North Albury and have been building their new house on the almost 60ha property at Walla Road during the past two years.

They were forced to put down more than 30 head of beef cattle seriously injured in the fire.

Among the cattle killed was the mother of the newborn calf.

The calf was found the morning after the blaze, lying in a paddock but its distressed mother would not go near it.

Mr Curtis said the calf, which had been named Fire, was “a little miracle”.

The couple have been bottle-feeding the newborn male twice a day, travelling in from home to care for it.

Mrs Curtis said the calf was gaining strength.

She said it was expected to be in perfect health soon.

Fire’s traumatic start to life has ensured him a future as a pet at the couple’s farm, where the frame of their new house was saved by a quick-thinking and generous neighbour, who extinguished flames lapping at its side.

His own shed was engulfed by fire while he battled to save the Curtis’s home.

The couple said that they were extraordinarily grateful for the efforts of their neighbour.

Mrs Curtis said she had been amazed by the community’s rallying efforts in response to the devastating firestorm.

“You wouldn’t come across this in Albury,” she said.

“We’ve had people coming and going since Friday, offering support and help and asking if they can do anything.

“It’s unbelievable, the community spirit in Gerogery.

“Even people from as far as Walla have come out.”

Mrs Curtis said the community’s response had overshadowed the ordeal of the fire.

“It makes me want to move out here even more,” she said.

“I hadn’t realised people were so friendly.”?