Their friends no longer live beside them but they have not been forgotten by the residents of St Georges Parade in Mt Victoria.
They gathered last Friday to unveil a plaque, remembering October 17, 2013, and the terrible toll it exacted in their street.
The plaque also pays tribute to the emergency services personnel and the community fire unit workers whose efforts ensured that no lives were lost, although nine houses were destroyed (seven in St Georges Parade and two others on the Darling Causeway).
Resident Margaret Gough, who was asked to unveil the plaque, said the street was a wonderful place, where everyone had "total respect for the differences of our neighbours" but had a common love for "our beautiful surroundings".
"We really feel the fickle nature of fire," she said, standing in front of one of the empty blocks whose owners have moved away. "We grieve for the loss of so many of our old neighbours who have found a place elsewhere."
But she said the last 12 months had shown the community's "fortitude, or guts if you prefer it, the ability to get up and get on with the job at hand".
Several of the residents still marvel that their properties were saved on that day. Pavel Puskar, from number seven, was overseas at the time, and his neighbour, Greg Hall, from number nine, was in Sydney. But their properties were spared.
Geoffrey Harris, from Closeburn Street, was a member of the community fire unit who watched the fire travel downhill along the cleared power line path.
Once it hit the bottom, "it sped uphill for half a kilometre and within minutes the houses were on fire", he said.
The Blackheath and Mt Victoria RFS is holding a meeting at Mt Victoria on Saturday to help the community prepare for this fire season.
The meeting, at 2pm at St Peter's Church Hall, is free of charge and will include essential information about creating and implementing bushfire survival plans, and the opportunity to register with the Fire Brigade for free property safety inspections. Complimentary afternoon tea for attendees will be provided.
Further information from the event co-ordinator, Emily Hamon, at Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre on 4787 7770.