The Laharum Football Netball Club senior football coach was among dozens of firefighters and community members who responded when harvest operations sparked a blaze at Laharum on Monday afternoon.

Country Fire Authority crews, private units and Forest Fire Management Victoria personnel used tankers, fire-bombing aircraft and other machinery to control the fire.

Mr Miller was on the back of a water cart when a gust of wind pushed flames in his direction, trapping him.

He was rushed to Melbourne’s The Alfred hospital with arm and leg injuries. Mr Miller said an operation on Christmas night went well, and he remains in the hospital’s burns unit recovering.

“They’re just trying to figure out a plan because my wife is 39 weeks pregnant. We’re trying to figure out if I can get to Horsham and get closer to see her if she does happen to go into labour,” he said.

“I couldn’t believe it. A truck started the fire and we had no idea how that happened. I was on the back of the water cart and this massive gust of wind came along and the flames got pretty intense and we couldn’t get away from it.

"I was stuck there trying to protect myself with the hose and that didn’t really do too much.”

Mr Miller said he was holding up alright given the circumstances.

“It’s probably one of the toughest things I’ve ever had to experience,” he said.

“I’ve had a bit of bad luck and bad injuries with football, but to be burnt is a completely different pain and rehab process. It’s not something I would ever want anyone to experience.

“Because I haven’t had to have skin grafts, the (recovery) time frame is probably going to be a bit longer. I have to wait until the burns heal and then I’ll see what work and physical activity I can do from there.”

Mr Miller has had a horror year with injury, breaking his leg twice during the football season.

But he remains upbeat.

“I’ve had a pretty horrid run the last 12 months or so but it is what it is and I’ve got light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

“What keeps me upbeat is there are a lot more people unfortunately worse off than me. You just have to sit in your room for 10 minutes and you see the other burn victims walk past and it’s pretty bloody bad.

“You hear all these stories. Especially the nurses say there’s a lot of burn victims that come through because of barbecues and stuff like that, and you hear that on the news but you never expect it to be yourself.

“But stuff happens and you just have to keep on top of the positiveness.”

Mr Miller said he had been overwhelmed with messages of support.

“The response from people – people I haven’t spoken to in years and people I never thought I’d hear from again – who have sent me get well messages, it’s just been amazing,” he said.

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