Colin Brown began loading bales of hay into his truck as the fires started to flare up.
The Gippsland resident lives far from the devastation of Victoria's ongoing bushfire crisis, but he already had a plan to help.
He is among many farmers who travelled from far and wide to bring relief to their struggling comrades who have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of stock.
But it's not just the financial toll that's devastating, it's the pain the stock felt dying in the fires themselves.
"The biggest thing is the community and the farmers," Mr Brown told AAP.
"Basically the animals need food quickly. The animals are the backbone of Australia."
One farmer told AAP the fire claimed at least 1000 of his father's stock, including dozens of lambs who were ready to be sent to the stockyards next week.
The lambs lay in the front of their property completely burned.
About 150,000 hectares have been burned in the Longwood fire, which has led to a mass livestock loss, Ruffy CFA Captain George Noye says.
He's been working with some locals to euthanise at least 600 sheep who survived the blaze, but were badly injured.
Farmers say they are waiting for Agriculture Victoria to arrive in town to help treat injured stock that are in agony.
"The longer we leave those animals laying in the paddock, the messier that job's going to get," Mr Noye adds.
"And there are animals that are still alive, it's inhumane."
The community came out in droves on Sunday, filling a scorched paddock with hay bales, while more donations were left at the local town hall.
Trina Dudley made the trip from Echuca with a trailer of hay.
She told AAP it's important to support one another during difficult times, adding that the donation was about community spirit.
"The volunteers and firefighters have done a really good job to save houses and livestock," Ms Dudley says.
"I know they wouldn't be there without that help."
It's a heartwarming gesture, fifth generation farmer Colleen Furlanetto says.
Agricultural businesses Elders, Rodwells and Nutrien Ag organised the hay bale collection, which is managed on the ground by Ms Furlanetto.
"I've had farmers who have lost their homes and are coming here to feed their stock," Ms Furlanetto told AAP.
"Farmers love their animals and what they are having to do with their animals is just heartbreaking beyond relief."
For many farmers, the donations would help bring life back to the community, she said.
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