Dozens of buildings were destroyed, including businesses, farms and about 30 homes, but the community's response to the disaster has been described as "nothing short of extraordinary".
For farmer and ex-firefighter Michael Sudholz, the bushfire was too fast and erratic to defeat.
"At about 1:30pm, the app came up [indicating] that there was a fire at Grass Flat," he said.
Michael's wife, Lynette, was burnt on her forearms as she saved her rescue puppy and attempted to find her four cats that were lost in the inferno.
She managed to drive away from the fire through thick, blinding smoke while petrified of hitting another person.
Michael said the fire destroyed about 250 hectares of agricultural land and about 300 trees on his property.
The fire began at Grass Flat and swept towards Natimuk and Quantong with force, blackening multiple farming properties and destroying many houses.
While Natimuk fire brigade captain David Sudholz fought the blaze, his wife was bunkered down at home, where it was too late to leave.
"We tried to flank it, but we realised Natimuk was in the direct line of the fire," he said.
David said his crew could not match the fire's speed as it roared straight towards town.
"By the time we got back, flames were already crossing the bridge," he said.
Firefighters successfully protected the Natimuk aged care facility, where clients were not evacuated, as flames licked at its back door.
David, whose home survived the fire, said he was immensely proud of the community.
"There were so many people helping," he said.
"Farmers with private units, brigades from across the district, people on tractors cutting firebreaks.
Supplied material courtesy of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The resilience of Natimuk's 500 residents has been tested by a fast-moving fire that tore through the Wimmera town and its surrounds in early 2026.
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