In the hours after a firefighter was tragically killed during the summer bushfires near Jingellic, it was difficult to even get an ambulance to the town.
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There were three people in the truck when it was hit by extreme winds and rolled on December 30.
While Samuel McPaul died at the scene, another man who suffered burns ended up at Jingellic's emergency welfare centre under the care of community safety officer Mary Hoodless.
She told the National Natural Disaster Arrangements Royal Commission on Tuesday that despite trying to call for an ambulance, they were told at first that paramedics were not allowed to drive on the roads into Jingellic during the fire.
Eventually a member of NSW Ambulance arrived.
"Because we're on the border, we're never sure if those services are going to come from Victoria or NSW - you can get an ambulance from either," Mrs Hoodless said.
"The ambulance officer threw me some burns bandages and said 'you're doing the right thing, I can't stay, I've got another six to go to'."
An Ambulance Victoria helicopter arrived later that evening and transported the man to Alfred Hospital for treatment to his burns.
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Mrs Hoodless was also asked about how the Jingellic emergency welfare centre was set up and what services it provided.
She said volunteers rushed out to buy groceries to make lunch for 50 people on the first day, but that quickly grew and they were soon making 400 meals per day.
With a diesel generator, it was one of few locations with power and the community's source of information.
Mobile phone reception was gone within a couple of days of the fire starting on December 28, but Mrs Hoodless was fortunate to have working internet at home.
"The community just had to make the most of what information it could get," she said.
"Not everyone has satellite or WiFi NBN.
"We have it at our property and we found a lot of people were coming to our house and perching on our veranda to get their information."
She drove to many Jingellic properties to make sure people were informed, then also had to rush back to her own home three times to help defend it as the fire came closer.
Mrs Hoodless said the coronavirus pandemic made it difficult for the community to gather after the fires, and not many had taken up formal mental health services, but believed there was good support for each other.
Commissioner Mark Binskin thanked her for providing a unique view of what happened during the bushfires.
"We appreciate the stress of reliving this causes months down the track, but it's important for us to get that community understanding," he said.
