A woman has fought through thick smoke and fierce flames to drag her mother out of their burning home in south-east Victoria.

The woman, aged in her 30s, returned home after dropping her children at school on Tuesday morning to find flames coming through the front window.

What remains of the Yarram home. Credit:Allan Rodgers

Her mother, aged in her 60s, was alone inside.

The woman tried to open the front door, but was pushed back by the flames.