This is according to Mid Coast NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) district officer Stuart Robb, who looked back on the first anniversary one of this area's worst natural disasters.

The term 'season' was quickly replaced by 'crisis' when 430,000 hectares of bush in the Mid Coast and Port Macquarie-Hastings local government areas were burnt (about 30 per cent of bushland), 150 homes were lost and 63-year-old Julie Fletcher died at Johns River as a result of the fires.

"As far as size and duration it was pretty significant," Mr Robb said.

"It was certainly an eye-opener for a lot of people, these conditions were unprecedented.

"Our first fire kicked off on July 18 at Lindfield Park (Port Macquarie) and we had two declarations during that period that lasted 122 days in total. So we didn't wrap things up until early February.

"Normally we have a significant fire event and it's punctuated by a weather event after three or four weeks of operations.

"This was unrelenting day after day and like Groundhog Day for all the firefighters involved."

While the Port Macquarie-Hastings community experienced the fires during winter, it took MidCoast residents a few more months to get used to smoke and ash.

In October, bushfires at Darawank and Crowdy Bay threatened homes.

But it was the events of Thursday, November 7 that will live on in the memories of Manning residents.

The Hillville bushfire took hold and by Saturday, November 9 (dubbed 'Black Saturday'), homes and properties in Bobin and Rainbow Flat were destroyed or severely damaged.

Between November 7 and 14, there were 58 bushfires in the district that exceeded five hectares in size.

During this time, 500 firefighters from several agencies were on the ground alongside 200 fire trucks, 22 aircraft and 125 types of heavy machinery.

"Those firefighters were from our local communities across Australia and around the world from Canada and New Zealand," Mr Robb said.

The Hillville fire and later the Rumba Dump Complex fire forced the evacuation of Old Bar, Wallabi Point, Harrington and Tinonee residents. Evacuation centres were set up in Taree and Wingham, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Premier Gladys Berejiklian momentarily dropping by.

About 80 operators were used in the incident management team at the height of the crisis for operations, planning and logistics.

"Like any operation like that we need to ensure we get resources to crews on the ground to do the job they need to do," Mr Robb said.

"That could include fuel, water, accomodation and a range of things that happen in the background of the fire fight."

The Wauchope control centre was the base for the localised response to the fires.

"The day-to-day operations were run as far as what we were going to do, how we were going to deal with the fires and how we convey the messages out to the communities to ensure they stayed as safe as possible," Mr Robb said.

Mr Robb said the NSW RFS received 3500 incident calls in a six week period.

He said the bushfires highlighted the fact firefighting agencies have a limited capability.

"It's one of the first times all those firefighting capabilities were being stretched," Mr Robb said.

"It highlights the impacts communities can have in preparing for fires.

"We talk about fire season after fire season the importance of having a fire survival plan so you know what to do in the event of a fire and ensure your property is prepared."

He hoped landowners will learn from the bushfires and do their part to prepare their properties in future.

"Every one of those properties that are prepared and reduces or prevents fire from spreading means the size of fires and extent of them have a better chance of being controlled under those conditions," Mr Robb said.

Times of crisis certainly show community spirit as Taree and Wingham showgrounds were inundated with donations from across the region and State. Local Rotary and Lions clubs established a bushfire relief fund and raised more than $500,000 for victims.

In the coming days, more stories, videos and photos from the crisis will be featured on our website.

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