Volunteer firefighter Steve Burridge yesterday accused council of being “disrespectful” to anyone involved in the February 7 inferno.

But council has since apologised for the gaffe and said it was not aware of the requirement to lower flags.

Mr Burridge, a member of the Bonegilla CFA, was horrified to see the flag raised at Noreuil Park when he drove past at 10.30am on Sunday and later again at 1pm.

Should Albury Council lower the Austalian flag to half mast on the anniversary of Black Saturday? Comment below.

“Given it was the worst natural disaster in the nation’s history, I just find it totally disrespectful for the council not to acknowledge the national day of mourning,” he said.

“Put aside the lives that were lost ... it’s also about the volunteers or anybody who helped.”

On the day of the fires, Mr Burridge, a CFA volunteer of 12 years, remained on call in Bonegilla.

He didn’t attend any of the major fire events but knew colleagues who did and remained scarred by what they saw.

Mr Burridge said the council should have acknowledged the national day of mourning, as declared by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, especially after North East residents John and Sue Wilson were among the 173 people killed in the fires.

City general manager Les Tomich apologised for any offence caused but said the council did not receive any formal notification of the requirement for the day of mourning.

“Albury City has learned that the Victorian Government issued a request to Victorian councils,” he said.

“We understand that ... many other councils across the country were also not aware of the day’s requirements.”

Mr Tomich said the council had established a new process to ensure it was informed of any new directives to lower the flag in the future.