![Heart clear as fire stirs community Heart clear as fire stirs community](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/XJLgPnEdnKaFugZzKyL6Sw/00602de2-441a-4f38-ad97-077802eb6976.jpg/r0_258_4948_3041_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
THE devastation wrought on other parts of Australia by fire has been replicated in the Upper Murray in recent days.
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Both sides of the Murray River in that area have been left charred by a fire which continues to create alarm for authorities.
Tragically the blaze claimed the life of Morven Rural Fire Service volunteer Sam McPaul on Monday night at Jingellic on the NSW side of the river.
It has since spread across a huge swathe of the Upper Murray with houses lost and its hub of Corryong left isolated.
While there is still much to unfold and the weather forecast is grim over coming days, it is heartening that the community has been quick to rally to help those in need.
Appeals to help Mr McPaul's family with donations have been established through the RFS and website GoFundMe.
Individuals have offered various help ranging from free haircuts to co-ordinating a fodder drive for livestock.
Albury Wodonga Regional FoodShare gathered together supplies to help those in need with pallet loads of consumables trucked to Corryong by Plummer's Freight.
The federal and Victorian governments have also responded rapidly, yesterday opening access to emergency payments for those living in Towong Shire.
That means relief assistance for adults and children up to $1960 for eligible households is available and those with damaged homes can access up to $42,250.
Authorities have also set up a regime of community meetings, with the first held at Cudgewa, Corryong and Walwa on Wednesday.
Further forums have been slated for Tallangatta Valley and Tallangatta on Thursday.
With mobile phone services down, Corryong's water supply limited and power expected to be off for days it is clear infrastructure has been badly affected by the blaze.
That underlines the importance of the meetings and getting firsthand information.
Our thanks goes to the firefighters and other professionals in the field but also to those generous spirits being willing to assist so promptly.
It is testament to our region's selflessness.