Volunteer-based organisation BlazeAid has set up a camp at Wauchope Showground to help fire-affected residents in the Hastings.
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BlazeAid works with families and individuals in rural Australia after natural disasters such as fires and floods. Working alongside the rural families, volunteers help to rebuild fences and other structures that have been damaged or destroyed.
Vice-president of BlazeAid Christine Male said while the Wauchope camp has been "slow to get rolling" they are starting to get the the "word out we are operating".
"People can come into our office in the showground, register , we take their details and get some information about the impact of the fire," said Ms Male.
She said things are "hard" on the ground in the region.
"I think it is important that we keep in mind that this fire has come at the end of five or six years of drought," she said.
"So property owners were under stress and under pressure before the fire and this has just compounded all the problems from that.
"It is an overwhelming situation at the moment.
"If we just take it slowly and methodically I'm sure we can help."
Ms Male said it was encouraging to see the number of local people registering as volunteers.
"It really is heartwarming, it makes life easier for us," she said.
BlazeAid Wauchope camp coordinator David Edgerley said while the camp has taken longer than usual to set up due to Christmas he is hopeful word will spread about it.
"A lot of the people who were in difficult circumstances have already started doing their recovery and we are not getting anything like the level of recovery assistance requests that we normally would in these circumstances," he said.
"I'm concerned there are heaps of people who need fencing help but have given up whether the camp was coming."
Mr Edgerley said it was important to remind people that BlazeAid do more than just "fix fences".
"Nominally we are fixing fences but we are giving support to farmers who are in a terrible situation," he said.
"We have people who come in and are crying and they don't know what to do.
"Our first priority is giving them a bit of hope."
To register for BlazeAid help visit Wauchope Showground. Or you can call 0459 628 160 or email blazeaid.wauchope@gmail.com.
