Police have charged a man with dangerous driving causing death in relation to the road crash that killed Victorian firefighter Mat Kavanagh.
Mr Kavanagh, 43, and a Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMV) colleague were involved in a two-vehicle crash on the Goulburn Valley Highway on January 3.
The father-of-two was remembered as a "well-loved guy" who was doing the "critical work" of putting out unattended campfires the day he died.
Authorities confirmed on Friday that his death was fire-related.
Mr Kavanagh is survived by his wife Jude, six-year-old son Ruben and four-year-old daughter Kate.
"It's a devastating loss," FFMV chief fire officer Chris Hardman said on Friday.
Police said a car and a ute collided head-on along the Goulburn Valley Highway at Thornton about 1:45pm.
Emergency services were unable to revive Mr Kavanagh, who died at the scene.
His colleague, a 47-year-old Narbethong man, was treated in hospital.
The driver of the other car, a 46-year-old Alexandra man, was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition.
He was charged with dangerous driving causing death on Monday.
He was remanded to appear at Wangaratta Magistrates' Court on April 28.
Another FFMV firefighter, Bill Slade, died on Saturday after he was hit by a falling tree while working to contain a blaze near Omeo.
The 60-year-old was a veteran firefighter who had recently received recognition for his 40 years in the field.
The death toll for this Victorian bushfire season now sits at four.
Buchan man Mick Roberts and Maramingo Creek timber worker Fred Becker also died during the fires.
