More than 500 mourners have gathered for the funeral of volunteer firefighter Katie Peters.

Friends and family have paid tribute to the larrikin sister and workmate tragically killed in the Harrietville fire, near the Mt Hotham ski r last week.

As the bells tolled at the service firefighters at the fire ground joined mourners in one minute's silence.

Politics was put aside as Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu joined Opposition leader Daniel Andrews as part of a guard honour which also included Katie's fellow Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) firefighters.

Eulogies were given by an uncle, fellow firefighters and a mate who worked with Katie in Canada.

She was described as having a love for life, an infectious personality and the rest of the life still ahead of her.

Ms Peters, who grew up in the Mitta Valley, died alongside her colleague Steven Kadar last Wednesday.

The pair were killed when a tree fell on their emergency vehicle as they fought the Harrietville bushfires.

DSE Chief Fire Officer Alan Goodwin spoke at the funeral.

He said it took a special person to be a firefighter and Katie Peters was" very special".

Katie Peters' uncle urged mourners to "treasure your children every day".