Black Saturday Bushfires, 2009

Nine's Tom Steinfort is one of the interview subjects in tonight's season premiere, I Was Actually There.

The second season begins with the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009.

Steinfort was the first TV reporter into the Marysville area following the fires.

Nine's own former anchor Brian Naylor and wife Moiree also lost their lives in the Kinglake area.

As temperatures hovered in the mid 40s, bushfires of unprecedented ferocity tore across Victoria. One hundred and seventy-three lives were lost, thousands were left homeless and entire communities destroyed. Premier John Brumby would describe it as "by a long way, the worst day ever in the history of the state."

I Was Actually There collects personal stories from survivors, first responders and community members who faced the catastrophe. They share the terror and heartbreak of that day, as well as the extraordinary resilience and luck required to make it through.

Even with warnings, nothing could counter the scale and speed of the fires when they arrived.

Townships including Marysville, Kinglake and Kinglake West were overwhelmed. Jason Lynn recalls, "I heard the noise first … it was like something coming through the bush, like a monster."

Through the devastation, unexpected stories also emerged. While evacuating citizens from above, Police helicopter rescuer David Key was surprised to find animals tagging along: "There were deer, a koala … They probably sixthsensed that, yes, they're heading into safety. We'll follow them."

Kinglake restaurateur Isabella Laudisio remembers the moment she learned her father had perished in his car while trying to escape town. "It was just really surreal. It's like, can it possibly be happening in just one normal day?"

For local police officer Cameron Caine, some of the worst moments happened after the worst of the fire fronts had passed through: "In the first hour and a half, I located 11 bodies. I couldn't fathom the size and the scale of disaster within 12 hours."

Sixteen years later, the towns and survivors are still recovering from the events of Black Saturday. "Living through trauma is like quicksand," says Laudisio. "You try and crawl out and you go further down."

Interviewees:

Glen Fiske Captain of the Marysville CFA, lost his wife and son
Karen Barrow Firefighter with the Kinglake CFA
Jason Lynn Kinglake West resident, stayed and fought the blaze
Juliet Moore Kinglake West resident, escaped the bushfire guided by a Victoria Police helicopter
Sharen Donovan Marysville B&B owner, trapped in town
Isabella Laudisio Kinglake restaurant owner, lost her father
Cameron Caine Police officer, discovered many of the victims
David Key Victorian Police Helicopter rescuer
Tom Steinfort Nine Network news reporter