HELP is on the way for property owners whose fences were destroyed in the Yarrabin fires that tore through the area over the past two weeks.
Volunteer based organisation, BlazeAid, sent a team of volunteers to Nimmitabel yesterday (Monday) to repair fences that were damaged by the fires which spread an estimated 12,125 hectares.
The fire was contained with favourable conditions on the weekend and now the clean up begins.
As emergency services focus on rehabilitation and mopping up any pockets of hot material in remote locations, the team of volunteers from BlazeAid will look to repair the 700 kilometres of fences lost or damaged by the fire.
BlazeAid Founder and President Kevin Butler said it would take between three and five months to repair the fences with as many as 700 to 1,000 volunteers lending a hand.
"At any one time we will have 20 to 30 volunteers on the ground. ," Mr Butler said.
The first strike team of professional fencers and long term BlazeAid volunteers arrived in Nimmitabel on Monday.
They will be staying at a basecamp set up at the Nimmitabel Showground where they will be given a bed and fed.
Mr Butler said most of the volunteers were caravaners but expected some would travel from Sydney, Canberra and the coast to lend a hand, as well as locals.
"if you want to volunteer we have a simple philosophy - 'Just come'," he said.
"There is so much to do. There is fencing, cutting trees on fence, pulling out old wire. We need skilled and unskilled volunteers."
For farmers who need help, Mr Butler said all they had to do was put their hand up, ask for help and register.
He said local organisations had been phenomenal in assisting BlazeAid set up in Nimmitabel including Lions Club who would be helping with cooking and feeding volunteers, Tom Webster and John Harrington and mayor Dean Lynch who have facilitated BlazeAid to come to the area.
Mr Butler said donations of materials such as steel posts and wire were welcome as were tools and tax deductible donations which would allow BlazeAid to purchase more equipment and materials.
He also said a Telstra Mobile tower was needed for better mobile reception for the volunteers.
For more information or to donate head to www.blazeaid.com.