Fast forward more than a decade, and he's now leading field teams, coordinating operations and helping protect communities and the environment across Victoria.
Originally from South Australia, Mitch moved to Victoria with his family in 2005 and finished school in Stawell before taking on a variety of jobs, from farm work and civil construction to repairing walking tracks in the Grampians after major floods. It was there, working alongside fire crews, that he first discovered a career he hadn't considered before.
"I had no fire experience at all, but after talking to the crews and seeing the work they did, I knew I wanted to give it a go," Mitch says.
"I saw people from all over Victoria coming together to help communities during bushfires, and I wanted to be part of that."
His first season was anything but quiet.
Within weeks he was deployed to fires across western Victoria and Gippsland, before spending months battling fires after lightning ignited multiple blazes across the Grampians.
Learning fire behaviour, adapting to unpredictable hours and developing new skills was challenging, but the training and support from experienced crew members gave him the confidence to grow.
Over the years, he progressed through qualifications including Crew Leader, Operations Officer and Sector Commander.
From the Grampians to the Loddon Mallee.
After four seasons in the Grampians, life took him to the Loddon Mallee region, where he accepted a seasonal role in Avoca after meeting his now wife in Maryborough.
A leadership role during the COVID Working for Victoria program helped develop his management skills and ultimately led to an ongoing position with the department.
For the acting Workcentre Operations Coordinator, no two days are ever the same. One day he's grading roads or managing fuel reduction works, the next he's responding to bushfires or leading crews in the field. It's the variety, the teamwork and the sense of purpose that have kept him motivated for more than 13 years.
His advice for anyone considering becoming a seasonal firefighter is simple: "Take the leap. The training and support are there, and you never know where the opportunity might take you."
For Mitch, what started as a seasonal role became a career filled with challenge, purpose and opportunities he never imagined.
Forest Fire Management Victoria is recruiting ongoing and seasonal forest firefighter roles for the 2026/27 season from 2-26 July 2026.
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Page last updated: 14/07/26