Flags at half-mast for fallen firefighters Flags will be flown at half-mast on Victorian government buildings after two firefighters died while battling a large bushfire in the state's alpine region. Premier Ted Baillieu says the flags will be lowered as a mark of respect for the pair - a man in his 30s and a young woman in her late teens - who died on Wednesday in rugged terrain. "The tragic loss of these two firefighters will affect all those who have been fighting these fires and protecting Victorian communities," he said in a statement. My thoughts and the thoughts of all Victorians are with their families and loved ones at this time. The two DSE firefighters were killed when a tree fell on their vehicle as they battled the Harrietville fire burning near Mount Hotham. Towong Shire Council Deputy Mayor David Wortmann said his son witnessed the incident. "My 19-year-old son was in the crew," he told ABC Radio in Melbourne on Wednesday. The vehicle in front of my son, a tree fell on it and the two firefighters were killed. He said the girl, a university student, was from an outstanding family. "I just felt so sorry for him and his crew to have witnessed and experienced such a tragedy," he said. Police say the pair were struck by the falling tree around 3.35pm (AEDT) and it took until after 8pm to reach them because of the fire and hazardous conditions. The deceased man is believed to be from Corryong and the young woman from Tallandoon. Australian Workers Union (AWU) Victorian secretary Cesar Melhem said the two DSE firefighters were unsung heroes. They have died heroes, which will be small comfort to those that grieve for them. DSE and CFA firefighters have been making the most of mild weather conditions to control hotspots and build containment lines around the fire. But crews have had to trek for more than two hours to get to hard-to-reach locations, while others have rappelled in from helicopters. Fire officials believe it will continue to burn until significant rainfall.