CFA volunteers have rallied to defend the record of their former chief, Russell Rees, after he quit last week.
Mr Rees has been criticised by Black Saturday's Royal Commission lawyers for failing to do his job on February 7 last year.
Commission lawyer Jack Rush QC criticised Mr Rees for being "divorced from fundamental aspects of his responsibilities" on Black Saturday.
But Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria president Gary Lyttle said Mr Rees had done an outstanding job in the face of extreme events.
"To think he was blamed for Black Saturday when we had so many fires on that day, when it was an event we had never seen before, is grossly unfair," Mr Lyttle said.
"He ... implemented minimum skills training, spray systems on trucks, low (tanker water) level warning systems and many other reforms. He has been an outstanding chief officer, who ensured that when you go out on to the fire ground today you know the person next to you is well trained."
