The Dunedin City Council rural firefighter was part of a New Zealand crew fighting Victorian bushfires in 2006 when a fire swept over them, seriously burning three of his companions.
Mr Still and three Dunedin colleagues are scheduled to fly to Victoria tomorrow to help the Country Fire Authority in its battles.
The fires have already consumed about 300,000ha of land, taken nearly 200 lives and decimated towns.
Last night, 23 fires across the state were out of control.
Mr Still, a specialist crew boss and 4WD tanker driver, said he had learnt some valuable lessons from his 2006 experience.
"All the signs we didn't know then, we know now."
Also flying out to help with the tragedy are Gareth Bowen, who was also deployed to fight Victorian bushfires in 2006, and Tony Ludlow, both members of the voluntary rural fire force, and Kevin Marsh, a former rural firefighter now working for City Forests.
The men's roles will mostly be in management and specialist positions.
They will not know details of their roles until they arrive in Melbourne.
Mr Still, who will leave behind his partner and two children for the two-week deployment, admitted he was apprehensive.
"But I like doing it. I want to go over there and help them out. It's terrible watching it on TV and not being able to do anything."
Principal rural fire officer Graeme Still (Craig's brother) led a Dunedin team which assisted during the 2006 fires and sympathised with his Australian counterparts.
"I feel truly sorry for them. To have to go in to those houses, those remains, and find whatever they are finding."
He was not personally prepared to leave Dunedin this time because the city itself was experiencing extreme fire conditions - there was a fire ban in place over much of its area - but was confident the deployment of three of his team did not compromise operational capability.
The four men will fly to Wellington tomorrow, where they will meet another 49 New Zealand firefighters.
